New Year, New Beginning and a Time to Plan for the Road Ahead

January is that time of year when people like to make resolutions - to embark on new projects, fulfil a lifelong quest, learn new skills, adopt healthier lifestyles, make all-round self-improvements and so on. It goes back to the ancient Romans who began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.

Those who find themselves in the frame of mind that ‘2013 will be The Year’ will find no more rewarding a read than Nuala Duignan’s just published Charting Your Life’s Roadmap in an Uncertain World: Choose Happiness Daily. It is a book that is filled with practical advice and tools to measure how your life is performing across different areas.

“New Year is an ideal time reflect on your achievements, celebrate your wins and consider your goals for the coming year and beyond ... a good time to start thinking about fresh starts, ... Time for a reality check.” according to Nuala Duignan. But for many people, the spirit of good intention that pervades at this time of year gets lost in the mists of reality, as the daily grind takes its toll. January becomes February and before we know it another year has passed. Although our lives have moved on, we remain in much the same quandary as we were before; uncertain about our future and where we are going, or what we should be doing.

This is where Life Coaching comes in. Resolutions become unstuck because people lose focus on their goals. What we need to do is to ‘check in’ periodically - not just in the New Year - and take time to consider our overall situation: where we are at with our lives; how far we have come and how much of the journey that we have set for ourselves remains.

“Our attitude is our window on the world and it is within our self-control.” Central to Nuala’s prescription is the idea that we should choose happiness daily. True happiness is not something we attain when our lives have reached a certain level of ‘perfection’. Rather, happiness is the comfort of knowing that we are in control of our lives, satisfied with what we are doing, solving various problems as we continue along our chosen path.

The book is interspersed with testimonials from people that Nuala has worked with in her capacity as a Life Coach. It also contains words of wisdom in the form of quotations from famous people and historical figures - Martin Luther King, Michael Caine, Theodore Roosevelt, Judy Garland, Henry Ford, George Elliot to name but a few.

Nuala Duignan is a qualified Life Coach whose expertise in this area is drawn as much from her own background and experiences, as from her professional training in this field. Born and raised on a farm in Co. Roscommon, she had a varied career, running her own Health and Gourmet catering business, working in the construction industry and the field of medicine (both general and psychiatric), before she took up Life Coaching. She says that it was her experience in the medical field that motivated her to pursue Life Coaching as a career.

She now uses her accumulated work experiences and coaching skills to help move individuals, from where they are currently to where they want to reach. Previous articles that she has contributed to The Job Seekers Blog are available to read here.

Charting Your Life’s Roadmap in an Uncertain World: Choose Happiness Daily by Nuala Duignan is published by The Manuscript Publisher and available now in all good bookshops. It can also be purchased online. RRP €12.99.

Nuala Duignan can be reached via her website - www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com. She is also on Facebook. 

Self Esteem by Nuala Duignan

Good Self esteem is one of the most essential components of a human being's personality. It is basically the image you have of yourself in your own opinion. You have a good opinion of yourself, you have high self- esteem, you have a bad opinion of yourself, you have a low self- esteem.  It is the foundation of our life and something that helps us immensely in living a life that is worthwhile. Until and unless you believe in yourself and your abilities it is almost impossible to achieve success in any walk of life. In other words, we simply need to value ourselves for what we are and what we are capable of rather than wanting to be what we are not.

Low self esteem, on the other hand will affect all areas of life including our career, work, family, relationships, social life, health and what not. It creates an overall unfulfilling feeling whereas on the contrary high self esteem gives us immense confidence and belief that I am sure has the potential to take us a long way in life.  Since we know that this is an extremely important issue and that thousands and thousands of people suffer from low self esteem throughout the world regardless of their health, wealth and knowledge, we need to figure out some important and easy ways of increasing our self esteem. Some of the most effective ways I believe are as follows:

1. Keep a Victory Log
This one is one of my favorite ways of keeping my self-esteem high. Maintain a log book where you jot down all your accomplishments throughout life. It does not matter how big or small your accomplishments may be, you just need to remember what you have accomplished. It maybe the extraordinary skills you possess or the beautiful possessions you have. It might be good grades that you had received or a trophy that you had won. It might be a financial reward that you might have been given or a promotion that you received. It might even have been an approving glance from a person of the opposite sex or the day you scored a hat trick in the school game. It could just be any positive accomplishment that you have made in life.

Just make sure that you have all written in your log book starting today. We all have high and low times and what we need in low times is some spirit lifting. Go through your log book every time you are feeling low or are having any negative thoughts and you will see how this log will give you the great moods once you start thinking of all the good things that have happened to you in life. It simply serves as a reminder of the fact that you have done it before and there is no reason that you will not be able to do it in the present and in the future.

2. Honor Your Abilities
Sit in a quiet place and think of the great abilities and skills that nature has gifted you with. Stop blaming yourself for all the wrong things or even the right things for that matter. Just do not blame yourself. Simply look at the good things and the positive things in your personality and in your life. Be grateful to God for all the great things that you have in yourself and honor it. Remember, if you want the world to honor and love you, you need to honor and love yourself first.

3. Do the right things
Always try to do the right things in life. We all are grown up people and have the conscience to differentiate between the wrong and the right. Make sure that you do your best to do the right things. Believe me you are going to feel a whole lot better when you know that you are doing the things worth doing and the things that are good for your character, health and well being.
To give an example, I personally feel great when I wake up early morning, pray, have a good breakfast, exercise, read the newspaper, work hard, do my daily chores and set my priorities right. I feel that I am doing all the important things that I need to do in order to keep myself energized and to keep my self- esteem at a higher level.

4. Mingle with Positive people
Always mix, meet and mingle with people who are positive and energetic, people who have a positive image about themselves, have confidence in themselves and a positive outlook on life. We need to build our network of friends where we are surrounded by good, enthusiastic, determined and positive people.

5. Be Kind
It is really not possible to feel good about ourselves if we are inconsiderate, mean and selfish. It is essential to treat others with respect and with love. The more respect and love you give, the more you get it back. Everyone has a special quality and a special resource through which one can contribute to life. Be kind, be humble, help the poor, help the under-privileged and be a part of a noble cause whenever and wherever possible in order to be of help and support to the world and at the same time be worthy of respect and value in your very own eyes. This will pick you up and place you on top of the world.

6. Be Honest, hardworking and productive
Another important factor that helps in raising self esteem is to be honest, hardworking and productive. Again it seems quite contrary to have high self esteem when a person is dishonest and unproductive. When one is honest, there is a satisfaction that is felt within him resulting in a great self image. At the same time, it is important to be a hardworking, sincere person that results in high productivity and again leading to high self- esteem.

The above are some of the major ways that you can use to raise yourself image and self-esteem. Always keep in mind that self- esteem is not what others think of you but what you truly believe about yourself. It has to be genuine respect for oneself. In other words it is self respect.

Hal Urban says "Self Esteem is how we genuinely feel about ourselves, regardless of what others say. And how we feel about ourselves is closely related to how our character develops. Ultimately the development of personal character is both a choice and responsibility." Before we conclude, here is a little reminder:
"To establish true self-esteem we must concentrate on our successes and forget about the failures and the negatives in our lives." Denis Waitley

"NEW YEAR, NEW START" - Life Coaching Services

Contact Nuala Duignan now for a personal consultation and have a chance to get going urgently with Action Steps towards empowerment in 2010.

Read some of Nuala's artices or view her web site at: www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

You can also visit her Testimonial Page to hear what others have said.

Contact Nuala to arrange meeting this week at: 087  2532675 or info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com 

Positivity in the Face of Adversity

For so long things had been going so well economically.  There was cheap credit, booming property prices and tremendous jobs growth.  Now, all is changed utterly.  We’ve had the credit crunch, the failure of the banking system and long dole queues.  We have gone from boom to burst and it has affected us all.   It’s like we were sold a false vision of what’s important, and in the process became blinded to what really counts.  We now have a chance to look with new eyes at our lives and what we’re about.  There is more than physical blindness.  There is blindness that comes from self-obsession and a false vision.  We now have the chance to reflect on our values and on what is important to us.  How clear is our vision? 

We must bear in mind though, that all this negative news can get over-emphasised by the media. Fear can act as a means of persuasion. Are you allowing the media persuade you into a doom and gloom mindset? 

We can indeed feel helpless, negative and lethargic, sometimes, even frustrated and resentful by the situations we find ourselves in.  We can live in fear which is determined by circumstances we perceive as beyond our control.  The opposite of powerlessness however is being in control.  An ability to tackle the situation head-on.   It is a calm conviction about who we are and our ability to deal positively with our current situation with success.  Why not begin today, Begin by asking yourself the following three questions:-

1.    Have I got my health this morning that I can get out of bed and live?

2.    What can I do to help others less well off today?

3.    What am I most grateful for in my life?

Those few queries to yourself will help you realise there is more reason to be optimistic than you previously considered.  Why not begin today to become more aware of your blessings.  Instead of remaining in a negative mindset, why not change the mindset to living with joy and positivity. 

Socio Economic shifts have been known to affect health so therefore, it is imperative on each one of us to look after our thought processes thus looking after our health.  We should celebrate the good things which are very often the simple things we have in our lives.

People who did not “buy into” the Celtic Tiger will cope with recessionary times.  They are more aware of aspects of life that have great meaning.

For a personal consultation or if you feel you could benefit from some guidelines on working on the positives in your life, why not give Nuala, Qualified Life and Business Coach a call to arrange a consultation.

Dips.  Life and Business Coaching and Train the Trainer, FETAC Level 6 

Tel. 087  2532675

or info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com

View web site at:

www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Regain Control and Balance in Life

I'm writing this as every news channel is forecasting “doom and gloom” for the economy, not just in this little country of ours, but world wide. You can however manage to “switch out” by recalling nice memories, and simply enjoying a deep breath, always realising that when things seem hopeless there is always chance for optimism and opportunity. When situations seem impossible things can become possible.

It has become an almost iconic sign of our times – the dreaded stress word, yet it is still an epidemic that nobody seems to know that much about. Many people appear to be suffering from it, yet nobody knows exactly what causes it, or why. There is, as yet no magic pill we can pop to make it go away! The general consensus, however, is that it is our body’s non-specific reaction to the demands put on it. Stress seems to affect everyone in different ways – from tension headaches to spot outbreaks of the common cold. So, what can we do about it? This is where the assistance of a Life Coach can benefit you.

What does Life Coaching do?

Life Coaching offers you that time, space and encouragement to focus on yourself, what your difficulties really are, and what you would like to achieve. This process facilitates the possibility of real change in your life.

A Life Coach does not provide the answers, as only you know what changes you need to make. However, coaching encourages you to figure things out for yourself with a view to leaving the past behind and moving towards a more fulfilled future.

What is important to remember is that you set the agenda, not the Coach. This is about your life.

Are there aspects of your life about which you feel you have no choice?

Do you know what is really important to you?

Are you looking over your shoulder all the time at the negative things that happened to you in the past?

Is your happiness something that is going to happen when you achieve this or that or when you retire?

Do you worry a lot about tomorrow, next week or next year?

• Life Coaching is a one-on-one interactive relationship based upon confidentiality and mutual respect where the Coach is a skilled listener hearing all that is said but also that which is unsaid.
  
  
• Your Life Coach prompts you to focus on real issues you may be having and encourages understanding and self awareness.
  
  
• Life Coaching is an ongoing process based upon open communication and it is a means of exploring choices and gaining new perspectives in a safe environment.
  

The reasons for life coaching are the ones bouncing around in your head at this very moment. The question though now, is:- “are you ready for the rewards that come with taking the game of life to the next level?”

Life Coaching is about choosing your goals and taking the necessary route to achieving them.

Nuala Duignan is a Professional Life Coach.

Diplomas in Life and Business Coaching and Train the Trainer, FETAC Level 6

Tel. 087 2532675 or e.mail

info@nualaduignanlifecaoch.com

www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Dealing With Unemployment

As many of this week’s readers are aware, losing your job will be one of the most traumatic things that will happen you in life.

When you first get the news that you’re losing your job, you might break down and become overwhelmed with emotion.  It’s as though the news is just too much to bear.  Coming to terms with the reality of unemployment can indeed be a painful experience.  For anyone who has invested time and energy in their work-life and education, losing their job or being unable to secure one after you have completed your second or third level education is devastating. 

You may go numb for a while.  That’s because the body has a natural defense mechanism to protect itself from the shock.  It temporarily “shuts down” to give you time to adjust.  Following on from that shock, you can decide to use this as an opportunity to follow a dream you’ve had for many years and set the steps in motion towards reaching that goal.  You may decide to become involved in areas like volunteering (become aware of the many ways you can make a valuable contribution within your community and further a-field) or working on becoming an entrepreneur.

It is the attitude you adopt that will be the deciding factor for your progress from here.  This attitude can be developed and strengthened over time.  You must re-build and maintain positive self-belief.  In the case of job searching it will help to:

·       Gain a new job competence by up-skilling.

·       Do not run away from challenging roles that may come your way.   If a particular job appears to be beyond your talent and you are tempted not to apply, stretch yourself beyond your “comfort zone” and face it.  It will only give you an impetus to try harder next time. 

·       A specialty is very important, find your “centre of excellence” and be able to convey this clearly to prospective employers.  Acknowledge your own talents and goals.

·       Set realistic goals and targets for yourself, you will need focus and direction to drive forward. 

Still Reason to be cheerful following Redundancy

·       Be thankful for your health each day, enjoy it, it’s precious.

·       There’s real value out there now, go after it and use it.

·       This new opportunity can be the fulfilling of that dream you’ve always had.

Instead of asking yourself “why should I keep going?” ask yourself “why should I not keep going”?  It is in realizing that you are greater than your current situation or your current reality that you begin creating change and forward movement in your life.

Following on from this adjustment, it’s time to look to the future.  You will be successful with the right attitude.  Why journey alone? Call now for the assistance of a Life Coach and you will have the support you need to get started.

Nuala Duignan,

Dip. Professional Business and Life Coaching

Dip. Train the Trainer, FETAC, Level 6.

Tel. 087  2532675

View Testimonial page on

www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

The Secret of Looking Good and Feeling Great!

“The most attractive thing anyone can wear is a smile, something money can’t buy and shops don’t sell! Looking good comes as much from within, Confidence, happiness and joy, that inner beauty”.

Your Clothes Tell a Story...

Your clothes say so much about you. What you wear can tell people “I am confident,” “I am successful,” and even, “I am happy with who I am.” And who doesn't love the feeling of putting on an amazing outfit and leaving the house knowing you’re looking as good as you feel?

Everyone at some time in their lives finds themselves in a rut; you may feel that your own personal style is out of date, dowdy, boring or just doesn’t reflect who you want to be! You want to make the most of yourself and be the best you can be every day but don’t know where to start.

With a little guidance from a style coach you can learn the secrets of true style! advice on the best clothes to suit your individual body shape while bearing in mind your everyday lifestyle to help you create a style that works and is achievable every day!

When you have the right ideas on grooming your self-confidence will be boosted and your self esteem will be raised to a new high and you will feel really empowered! You must always remember that you are more than just an image in the mirror - “looking good is only half the picture”! It’s great to look good in the mirror but why stop there when the most important image is the one we see in our mind’s eye! The mind / body link – the way we see ourselves on the outside has a huge effect on how we see ourselves on the inside, and vice versa!

You can undertake the process of looking good and feeling great, step-by-step with the assistance of a Style/Life Coach. I can set goals around what you’d like to achieve and you will start to see a clear picture of the style - and life - you’d like to create. Everything that we create starts from within (a picture in our minds) - You can visualise the end result you desire and then we can create a tailor-made Action Plan for making your dream a reality!

You will learn how to recognise styles which will enhance your figure - no matter what your age, height or dress size! As your coach I can also help you to analyse and “de-clutter” your current wardrobe - I can help you to make the most of what you already have, and instead of feeling you must go on a shopping spree I help you to create a frustration-free, colourful and exciting wardrobe with what you already have! You will learn how to save time and money by shopping with effectiveness and efficiency - no more expensive mistakes and a wardrobe full of guilt! Open the doors to a selection of outfits and accessories which help you to look and feel your best, no matter what the day holds in store!

You can re-gain a state of inner confidence and grow in self-esteem. True “style” comes from a combination of inner and outer confidence - Style Coaching offers endless possibilities and is always focused on YOU! As your Style Coach I can tailor my range of services to suit your needs. I recognise and enhance the very best in every client, even (and especially) when people cannot see it for themselves. I can offer them advice, guidance, support and encouragement and help them understand why certain styles and colours work and empower them to make their own choices and to grow in confidence.

Style Coaching focuses on every client as an individual and I aim to facilitate the client in finding and expressing their own sense of style – a style which suits their personality and is unique to them, but that also takes into consideration their body shape and very importantly, their everyday lifestyle! With my guidance you will avoid mis-purchases.

“I really enjoy working with clients who need to develop their individual style strategies. I have the privilege to witness every step of their transformation; they walk taller, smile more and love the way they feel with their newly developed sense of style. It is very gratifying.”

It’s not about always dressing up,

it’s about feeling great when you look in the mirror.”

If you feel ready for refining your look, I am here to help. My philosophy is that everyone can look good no matter what size or shape.

Call Nuala, Dip. Life and Business Coaching at: 087 2532675 or info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com

View my web pages at:
www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

DON’T WORRY – BE HAPPY

Not in the clamour of the crowded street,

Not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng,

But in ourselves, are triumph and defeat.”

~ Henry Longfellow.

We can all create a Happiness Contract for ourselves which shows us how to identify and release blocks to creativity, entrepreneurship, and to living a life we love.

Did you know that somewhere in the back of your mind - beneath a pile of thoughts - there is a “Happiness Contract” with a lot of small print, i.e. rules, conditions, laws, and beliefs that dictate what it will take before you'll feel happy?

On closer inspection, you will also find other contracts buried in your mind like “The Success Contract” and “The Abundance Contract” and the “Love Contract.” These contracts are statements of belief which influence how much joy you think is possible and how much is just too good to be true.

By rewriting your Happiness Contract, or any other personal contract, you can instantly improve your chances of living a more inspired life.

• What makes you happy?
• What do you like doing?
• Where can you include more of this in your life?

Why not try and smile at at least one stranger today. For the less confident this may be a challenge – but you can do it!
Happiness comes from many sources, including expressing ourselves creatively. What are you going to do this week to express yourself? A smile costs nothing, however it brings great richness to the recipient. “It costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive it, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.”
Dale Carnegie - How to win friends and influence people

Have you ever heard it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile?! There are many health benefits to being happy (despite the problems you may and have), including increasing your sense of wellbeing and pleasure with each and every day. Smiling also improves your health by boosting your immune system and lowering your blood pressure. It’s a great stress reliever and increases your attractiveness.

Smiling into your golden years can actually promote longevity. In a study on optimism published in General Psychiatry, of those over the age of 65, optimists were 71 per cent less likely to die from certain causes than that of pessimists. A life full of smiles also exercises muscles in the face, which helps prevent drooping and saggy skin!.

A vision of happiness and smiling makes us attractive

We are drawn to people who smile. We want to know happy people and figure out what is making them smile. Frowns push people away, but a smile draws people in.

Smiling and being happy changes our mood.

Next time you are feeling down, try tricking your body by putting on a smile. There's a good chance you mood will change for the better.

Being happy and showing it, helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn out and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you will be better able to take action.

Being in a happy state of mind boosts your immune system
When you smile immune function improves, possibly because you are more relaxed.

When you’re happy, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Sit for a few minutes and take your blood pressure. Then smile for a minute and take another reading! Note the results!! Being happy makes you look younger The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day instead! – you’ll look younger and feel better.

Having a happy demeanor and smiling makes you seem successful

Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted and to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently, more positively. Smiling helps you stay positive. When we smile our body is sending the message, “Life is good”. Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling. My favourite affirmation is, “I’m so happy I can’t stop smiling”. It always helps to put a smile on my face. If I don’t feel like it, I try to “fake it until I make it!”. I pretend I am happy by smiling anyway and usually I find I am feeling better instantly. Practice smiling. When you are exercising, taking a walk or looking at yourself in the mirror tell yourself things are real good.

Forgive everyone for everything: Hold no grudges. Forgiveness is a gift to yourself. YOU created the stress in your life by getting angry, and only YOU can instantly remove that stress by granting forgiveness. Expressing your forgiveness to the other person is optional - that forgiveness is required in order to live a happy and joyful life. Don't forget to also forgive yourself for everything you regret ever having done or not done.

Dance Lightly With Life: Life does not have to be a serious undertaking. You will make mistakes, you will feel regrets, and eventually, you will die - so what?.... Happiness comes from dancing lightly with life and enjoying the moment. We only have this moment so why not BE HAPPY!

Do call me now if you having difficulty in seeing the bright side of life despite the difficulties you may be having.

Call Nuala, Life Coach at 087 2532675
E.mail Info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com
View my web site at
www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Getting Things Done –Work/Life Balance

“I just don’t have the time”! A very common phrase which you are, I’m sure very familiar with. The fast pace of life today and everyone wanting to do the most they can, means that you don’t always get done what you would have liked. However, some people seem to get more into their day than others, and you never hear them say “I just don’t have the time”. To them it’s never a time problem, but rather what the time is used for. How about you?

You really cannot manage time, but you can manage how you use that time. Everyone gets the same amount of time in each day!. You don’t have 30 hours today just because you feel really busy!. If your goal is strictly to get more things done, why not review this thinking to not just getting things done but getting the right (appropriate for you) things completed or review how you manage the focus of how you use your time. Prioritise your tasks in order of importance/urgency.

Far too many of us seem to go through life just “going through the motions”. We have developed our daily habits over time, and our habits have become our life. We may have never actually taken the time to think about what we want and why we want it. How about you?

There’s a very common saying, “I will believe it when I see it”. however, success in life works in exactly the opposite way. You need to believe that you can accomplish what you want before you see how to achieve it. The saying is then a lot more powerful when you say “I will see it when I believe it”. What you want to accomplish? If you don’t believe you can accomplish what you want, why not consider the assistance of a Life Coach who can assist you along the way.

Nuala Duignan is a Professional Life Coach.
Diploma in Life and Business Coaching.
Diploma in Train the Trainer, FETAC Level 6.
She can be contacted at 087 2532675

or e.mail:

info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Web Site:

www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Is Your Life Working For You?

“It is never too late to be what you might have been” – George Elliot

Success depends on facing facts.
It depends on realising what's making you achieve success, and then realising what is stifling your success. Sometimes recognising the things that aren't working in your life can be painful. You might try to make excuses for them, or hide them. But in reality these things will keep you from the life you want to live.

Do you want to be active and strong? ... Then you have to stop making excuses about your weight and lack of exercise.
Do you want to be in a loving relationship based on friendship and respect? ... Then you have to stop rationalising why your partner is so unsupportive.
These things can be painful to look at because the truth is, that you have to do something about them in order to make your life work.
Plain and simple, you will have to do something uncomfortable “outside of your comfort zone”.

Successful people do not waste time in denial. They face situations head on. They look for the warning signs, they find out why things aren't working, and they go about fixing them.

You, too, must be willing to recognise bad situations and decide what the appropriate action will be to remedy them. You will have to deal with circumstances that are uncomfortable and challenging in order to achieve your goals. To make it easier, learn to seek these situations out.
Commit to finding out why things aren't working and learn what will fix them. Once you start the process it will be much easier to continue. Once you tackle one thing in your life that isn't working, you will gain enough confidence to tackle some of the more difficult situations. But you must decide to take action. Trust that making changes to the situation will ultimately bring about the best results.
Sure, you might go through a bit of discomfort during the change, but in the end you will triumph! Trust that you won't make matters worse by owning up to what is not working in your life, and going about fixing it.

So are you ready to admit the things that just are not working out?

Relationships, a job you thought would be wonderful, your finances, your diet? Make a list of the things in your life that are working against your success and ask how the situation can be improved. Commit today to tackling even one of those issues and be brave.
By facing what is not working, you can only improve your life!

Take Charge of our Life!

Is life happening to you or are you making life happen? Many of us go through life on automatic pilot doing the same job, taking many things in life for granted, and we may not be living up to our full potential. Then our job becomes redundant, we suffer a loss, we get bored or become overwhelmed with stress. Can we cope?

Not long ago, I had one of those weeks where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. I mean everything - both, personal and professional. Try as I might I couldn’t get anything to go my way. This series of failures sapped my energy and killed my normally optimistic attitude!. At one point, in a fit of anger, I cried out, “what else can possibly go wrong?” At that moment – as soon as the words came out of my mouth – everything that could go wrong started flashing through my mind. My thoughts turned negative and, admitting defeat, I just sat and stewed over my circumstances.

But deep inside of me a little voice cried out. It pushed through my anger and negative thinking and said, “you have got to stop focusing on the negative. Don’t you know that you become what you think about? You’re just making things worse. You are a winner and winners don’t quit. Get out of that chair and start looking for solutions.”
That was a wake-up call. I knew that I had to change my thoughts. I had to start focusing on the possibilities and find the opportunities. I had to will myself to get up and fight back. I could not allow my adversity to keep me down.

The reality is, sooner or later we are all going to experience, setbacks, defeat, failure, and even tragedy. Nobody is immune. And when it happens it won’t always be easy to maintain a positive attitude, keep your enthusiasm, or see the opportunities? You decide! When it happens to you, like me, there is a real possibility that you will become overwhelmed, you will feel self-pity, and you will cry out – “why me?.

Later, after I had regained my composure, I thought about the voice that had given me the wake-up call and thought Why not try next time by immediately saying “why not me?”. It occurred to me that this voice was one of the keys to dealing with failure. Where had it come from? How did it find it’s way through my clouded, negative thoughts and get my undivided attention? How did I know that I needed the wake-up call? How do we develop this voice? Is this where successful people find the will to keep going?

After thinking about this more, the answer became clear. That internal voice that lifted me up when I was ready to quit was a result of all of the positivity I had developed and worked on before the negativity found me. The learnt positivity “equipped me” to get back up again. In reality, successful people, through regular reading and self-training, have simply taught themselves to be persistent and to get up when knocked down. They have learnt through experience that even though they cannot always change their particular circumstances, they can change how they respond. And on their worst days, when they are blinded by frustration, depression, and anger, they have developed a little voice on the inside that delivers the wake up call, “stop whining, get up, keep going, you are a winner and winners never quit.”

If life has happened to you, working with a life coach can get you back on track with focus and clarity. A life coach works with you for a period of time to get you re-ignited about your life and move towards the life of your dreams. A life coach is not a therapist or a consultant. A Life Coach is not there to give you advice or tell you what to do. On the contrary your coach works with you to help you to recall and identify what is truly important to you. It’s about setting goals, motivating and overcoming challenges.

Most of us know what we should do but lack the motivation to get started and follow through. Many times what seems like a huge mountain to climb can, with the help of a coach, be broken down into smaller more achievable tasks week by week.

A life coach is in “the change business”. If you are looking to change some things in your life – business or personal - it’s a great place to start. Most coaches work one on one with clients but many of us also offer workshops and group coaching programs to give clients an introduction to the benefits of working with a coach.

• What do you want out of life?
• What do you dream of? Don’t be shy. This is a serious question because if you’re not working on your own dream right now, you’re more than likely working on someone else’s. Think about it.
• Where do you want to be three or five or even ten years from now?
• What do you want to be doing? Write it down and now that you know what you really want
• How are you going to get there?
• What is your plan? Work out a strategy.
• How will the pieces fit into the big picture?
• What steps do you need to take?
• What changes do you need to make?

If you feel you could benefit from the assistance of a Life Coach and help you realise your great potential why not call me now at: 087 2532675

Or

e.mail to: info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com

View my web page at: www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

The Law of Perseverence

Perseverance conquers all obstacles!

Like the Law of Certainty, the Law of Perseverance is one of the secrets to making things happen! The person who is willing to continue, no matter what, succeeds.

The Law of Perseverance is the willingness to take actions every single day on your dreams and never stop. Even if these are little baby steps, every single day you make another step toward your dreams. The Law of Perseverance means, “Let neither pain nor pleasure interfere with perception of purpose.” You will be challenged in life. You will be ridiculed. You will be told you can’t succeed. Pay no attention. Pay attention to the vision you have! Hold on to that dream! Do not lose the dream. Those who lose their vision perish. Those who hold their vision conquer! It is the Law of Perseverance that makes things possible and makes all of your dreams come true. Never give up on your dreams. Follow the Law of Perseverance.

All that we are is the result of our thoughts.

-Buddha

Those who are the most energized and on track, however, are the ones who are heading toward an inspired destination, and working toward a defined purpose. These men and women organize their lives in the direction of their heartfelt inspirations. Consequently, everything takes on more meaning and becomes more fulfilling.

• Follow the dream in your heart
• Trust your heart, never deny it a hearing.
• You already know the essence of the dream in your heart, but you may not know that you know it.
• When you find yourself wavering and wandering, it’s a sign that you’ve tuned out the wise guidance from your heart and soul.
• Your motivation miraculously increases once you begin to follow the dream in your heart.

There is no substitute for action. Begin now.

In persevering with the dream in your heart you’re bound to meet adversity along the way, maybe, but you’ll face challenges like these no matter which road you take. And since, no matter what you do, you’re guaranteed to experience both pain and pleasure in your life, you might as well choose the path that offers the most fulfillment and ultimately the most enlightenment.

Focus on your primary aim. The more you focus on your purpose or your primary aim for life, the more you attract the people, places, situations, and resources that can help you on your journey. In fact, staying focused on your primary aim, or ultimate purpose, is the most effective way to get there. You may be tempted to put more energy into the obstacles and diversions on your path than you put into your heartfelt mission. But if you do, attending to these obstacles and diversions, along with their temptations, could become a habit. This may lead you, sooner or later, to decide falsely that you can’t follow your dream. You don’t need to fall prey to this illusion! A tightrope walker is a great example of someone who keeps his or her eyes on their primary aim rather than just on the road ahead.

An obstacle is something you see when you take your eyes off the goal.

- Anonymous

When you know where you’re going, and you follow your heart and soul’s guidance, you’re certain to have a more fulfilling journey.

When you are not focused on your primary purpose, the winds of change and indecision can toss you about like a rowboat in a storm.

When you follow the dream in your heart
you are energized,
inspired,
and
motivated.

When you focus and persevere on your primary aim in life, you jump hurdles with ease.

When you focus on your healing, you heal.

When you follow the path of your inspirations, your body is strengthened, your mind is sharpened, and you are immersed in the healing power of unconditional love.

When was the last time you experienced a crisis? Did it seem like it was the end of the world? Did you feel helpless, frustrated, burnt-out or just down and depressed? Did you say to yourself, "This is the last straw. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired “ This has got to stop. I can't go another day like this."? If this has been you recently, then you better keep reading. Everyone experiences moments where outer circumstances appear to be an overwhelming crisis. To many, these circumstances dominate and rule their lives. To some, these crises leave lasting scars unless they are recognized as truly being blessings. When the worst crisis becomes your greatest blessing, you heal. Nature does not deliver a crisis without an accompanying opportunity or misfortune without a blessing.

Some people have crises that drag out for years. Others seem to nip their crises in the bud almost immediately. It's not the outer circumstances that necessarily create the crises. While they may elicit the crises, it is a person’s reaction that actually turns circumstances into deeper crises.

Hidden within all misfortunes are the seeds of an equal but opposite fortune. Like our current time in Ireland, in the mid 1980s, hundreds of thousands of people were let go or laid off from their jobs. Some of these people were left without income, some without other career opportunities and more, ultimately, without their families (due in the main to emigration). At first sight, this may have been perceived as a crisis, however, today many of those same people have undergone an in-depth soul-searching and re-evaluation of their lives, only to discover that they genuinely had a dream in their hearts to be, do and have something more than what they were previously experiencing and accepting. Other people have tapped into a more profound purpose for their life than what they were allowing, and are now making their meaningful dreams come true. They are now doing exactly what they always loved to do but never had the guts to do until the crisis occurred.

Crisis are the flip side of the coin of life. Many people have been temporarily devastated by broken relationships only to discover at some later time that their supposed misfortune was a blessing. Their very loss was their ultimate gain.

"Whenever a door shuts, a window opens".

Why should you journey alone? If you are feeling like a little support in taking action on your journey towards your ideal goal

Why not call me, Nuala at: 087 2532675
Or
e.mail to: info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com
Or view my web page at:
www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com
www.linkedin.com/in/nualaduignanlifecoach