Beyond The Madding Crowd

So Maureen, Just what do you do?

Are there times when you take for granted that your job title conveys everything you do?

 

I know I do, and then I am totally blown-away when I find myself having to explain to people exactly what it is I do.

 

It was pointed out to me only last week by someone I have known for several years that unless they knew me, they would have no real idea as to what I do and what my business is about.

 

To say that I was taken aback by this was an understatement. It also made me stop and think that if one person was having difficulty in understanding what I do, then maybe there are lots of other people out there with the same query.

 

WOW – this was a scary thought! How many people are not aware of my services and how much business I am not getting because my message is not clear enough?

 

So today, I thought I would try to remove some of the ambiguity about what I do and make it as clear as possible – to everyone – what it is I do and the aims of my business.

 

My business card currently states my job title as:

“Lifestyle and Raw Food Coach”

 

However, even looking at this, I can now see that there is some room for confusion.

So what do I do? And what is “The Breathing Space” all about?

 

The tagline on my website (the writing under the images in the top left of the opening page) state “The place to come to when you want the chaos to end”. So what does this mean?

 

My aim for my clients is to remove as much of the chaos and sense of overwhelm for them through coaching as is possible/practical. There is so much going in people’s lives that they are so busy “doing” things that they have forgotten what it feels like just “being” themselves.

 

Most people are effectively running on “auto-pilot”.

 

Therefore, one of my key aims is to help people streamline their day and their lives in order for them to function more effectively, be more in control and to put them back in the driving seat.  

 

Through personal coaching I help people workout the most effective strategies for their situation to allow them to move forward in a calm and positive way.

 

So what is “Personal Performance Coaching”?

My Coaching Philosophy

Coaching is:

• A positive process, tailor-made to suit the agenda of each individual client
• A totally holistic process addressing the needs of the whole person
• Founded on a unique, productive, interactive relationship between coach and client based on the 100% commitment of both parties
• A means of motivating and facilitating people to achieve their true potential through setting and achieving self-defined goals
• A partnership which challenges clients to recognise and build on their strengths, explore their current reality and find positive ways to make changes and move forwards
• A means of providing a fresh perspective on each client’s situation and exploring a range of options
• Designed to keep clients on track, celebrate their successes and achieve their desired outcomes

In short, Personal Coaching is a two-way conversation whereby the coach, through careful questioning, provides the client with the opportunity to explore their situation in a safe and non-judgemental environment with the aim of seeking a range of options or solutions to any issues the client may be having.

 

Personal Coaching

 

I currently offer a range of Personal Performance Coaching options. Topics can be related to general life coaching OR Raw Food Coaching OR; or my four core areas of Personal Time; Personal Space; Personal Energy; and Personal Self-Care Or a mix of all of these.

 

Current Options are :

 

1-2-1 coaching by telephone (single or multiple sessions)

Personal coaching packages (3 – 6 months duration)

Group coaching packages (30 day period)

 

Full details of my coaching options can be found by CLICKING HERE

 

Workshops

 

I have created (but not yet delivered) a range of workshops/ inter-active days around four

core topics of personal time; personal space; personal energy; and personal self-care.  

Full details of the workshops can be found by CLICKING HERE

 

HOT OFF THE PRESS

 

I have recently added a new Personal Coaching Package to my portfolio, which is not yet on my website: “Chaos to Calm in 4 sessions”. This particular packaged will focus a whole session on each of my key topics per session (Personal Time, Personal Space, Personal Energy, and Personal Self-Care).

 

In addition to 4 x 1 hour sessions, there are also workbooks for each topic that will assist in helping clients to explore the topics in greater depth and which can be returned as a reference document at any point in the future after the coaching sessions have passed.

 

To book the “Chaos to Calm in 4 sessions” package just CLICK HERE

 

I currently have space for one or two more clients, so if you are interested in any of the above options then please CLICK HERE to find out more.

 

I hope this goes some way to clarifying just “what I do” and hopefully be able to help you in some way in the near future.

 

Think Positive and Keep Breathing!

Maureen

Postive Self-Care - Part II

In November last year, I wrote a post about looking after yourself in a positive and conscious act of self-care.

 

Having just revisited this article, I have realised that I am guilty of ignoring my own advice and suggestions.

 

For some time now I have been suffering with shoulder and neck pain, headaches and stressed-related bruxism (teeth clenching/grinding). I have seen several people within the medical profession (an osteopath, a cranial osteopath, and a physiotherapist), however these all take time, money and none really provide any real solutions for me.

 

I was about to give up on myself when I realised that actually the only person that can help me, is me! So, with renewed hope to find a solution, I have made an appointment to see my dentist to explore options and if that fails then I will seek assistance from my local GP.

 

To this end, I thought I would re-post my previous article as a reminder that we are all responsible for our own health and that nothing is more important.

_____________________

 

Positive Self-Care – Taking Action

 

I don’t know about you, but I find it easier to look after, and be more concerned about the health of friends and family rather than looking after myself.

 

This may be due to using other people’s heath issues as  buffer to hide from your own problems, or it could be just that you are so used to putting others first that you have forgotten how to look after yourself.

 

I am aware that for some people the concept of self-care can seem rather indulgent and selfish. However, if you do want to be there to support your friends and family in their time of need, then making sure you are in a fit state to provide this has to be your Number 1 priority.

 

So, when I say self-care, what do I actually mean? Self-care can take many forms and works on multiple levels, including (but not exclusively):

 

-                      seeking professional healthcare rather than ignoring nagging symptoms

-                      taking time for yourself – even just 15 minutes a day of “me” time

-                      relaxing in a hot bubble bath for 30 minutes (or more)

-                      eating a healthy diet

-                      meet up with friends to relax and unwind

-                      have a manicure or pedicure

-                      have a massage

-                      journaling – daily if possible

-                      exercise regularly

-                      visit favourite places (galleries, cinema, park, club etc)

-                      spend quality time with partner, family, friends etc

 

This list is not exhaustive but you get the idea.

 

To put this into some sort of perspective:

 

I have suffered with chronic headaches on a virtually daily basis for over 30 years or at least as far back as I can remember. I initially went to the mainstream medical profession but to no avail, other than they informed me the headaches were not life threatening.

 

I can go for ages trying to ignore the pain or just taking over the counter headache medications. Even though continual pain can be very debilitating, it usually takes a spate of really bad headaches before I look at doing something more positive about it rather than just taking another pill.

 

So, whilst my headaches are not migraines (although some come very close), and also not life threatening (having had several brain scans) - it doesn’t take away the negative effect that my constant headaches have had and are continuing to have on the quality of my life.

 

So, rather than just accept the lack of diagnosis of the mainstream medical profession, I have continued to seek a solution to my problem. I have therefore investigated various forms of alternative therapies, unfortunately with limited success, but the ones I have tried include:

 

-                      acupuncture

-                      osteopathy

-                      cranial osteopathy

-                      McTimoney Chiropractor

-                      Zero balancing

-                      Nutritional therapy

 

Currently I am trying massage to see if releasing the tension in my neck and shoulders will reduce the level and frequency of the headaches.

 

So, the bottom line is – never give up on your health, even if the medical profession does not have the answer.

 

My question to you is – are you ignoring a personal health issue, and if so, why?

 

Sometimes self-care can seem too much like hard work particularly if you feel like you are getting no where fast. However, I urge you to consider all the options available to you.

 

Your health and well-being should be your Number 1 priority. So my task for you this week is to start looking after yourself better and seek help if appropriate.

 

Never forget that you are a truly special and wonderful human being and looking after you is THE MOST IMPORTANT gift you can give yourself. 

 

Until next time

 

Think positive and keep breathing!

 

Maureen