Marty's "Living life in chapters" A self development blog

How to keep emotionally safe

2011-02-23T19:04:00.000Z

photo credit: OakleyOriginals Working with people in groups and one to one situations, professionals are obliged to inform their clients on confidentiality. This is a discipline that is focused upon very much in the early stages of training to be a counsellor or psychotherapist. Quite often a conversation begins with “everything we discuss today remains confidential.” The conversation then

How valueable is your currency?

2011-02-20T14:15:00.000Z

photo credit: joeymanley Watching TV this morning, I took interest in a programme I like to watch BBC CLICK. This is a magazine programme that features the latest technology. New technology fascinates me in this fast moving world that we live in. This mornings programme referred to the latest Android mobile/cell phones that can be used to make traditional purchases such as paying for train

Choosing our reality

2011-02-19T13:40:00.000Z

attribution: Jon Bragg This blog is a reaction to Day 18 of Mind Alchemy “My reality is not your reality”. Steven made an excellent analogy in his post regarding the movie “The Matrix”. It is a film I chose to watch in it fullness only a couple of weeks ago. When I have experienced an emotion, I generally think of it as something that that I passively receive. I've been challenged today in

A formula for progress

2011-02-18T20:33:00.000Z

Following what I have written over previous days days, I've been developing the concept of how to progress through our outcomes. There are times when we see apparent successes that people achieve, however, there they can be false. They only appear as true to satisfy the parameters that have been set. For instance: yesterday I wrote about the success of the runner Usain Bolt. I can remember

Are you a Perfectionist

2011-02-18T11:48:00.000Z

photo credit: az1172 I've been thinking more about this subject recently. A few years ago I described myself as a perfectionist (or at least an aspiring perfectionist) and I thought it somewhat noble. I discovered that there are great dangers in this attitude to life. The whole concept is..... click here to read the rest

Do you have Tenacity?

2011-02-16T19:20:00.000Z

photo credit: SmithGreg This is something I believe I have. I was quite surprised when looking this word up at the synonyms there are for it. Application, backbone, courage, determination, doggedness, grit, heart, fortitude... there are many more, but these are one that struck me. When challenged, there is the constant temptation to give up and fall foul of......... click here to read the

What about Integrity?

2011-02-15T21:43:00.000Z

photo credit: m.gifford Dictionary.com reference definition Integrity1. adherence to moral principals, honesty2. the quality of being unimpaired; soundness3. unity; wholeness I'll state how it is today. I've had a challenging day and that has not happened for a while. The way I work with people when they have a challenging day for whatever reason is to encourage them to hold on to their

It is Valentines day. How about "Agape?"

2011-02-14T19:08:00.000Z

photo credit: Jorbasa How do you respond when someone leave you with a message "Love" with a few crosses? I've often done this when writing email type messages to friends. On one occasion, a dear friend was a little concerned. I think that she maybe thought I was making amorous overtures to her! -----------I've now moved my blog to Wordpress under a new domain. I will continue to post a

Letting go your Outcomes - The pinball effect

2011-02-13T12:01:00.000Z

Picture courtesy of The Smithsonian institution http://www.flickr.com/photos/smithsonian/2940633609/ Check out an interesting blog on this Cassiopeia Day 12 of Mind Alchemy and the discussion is around letting go. On the surface of it, this concept seems somewhat against what we want to achieve, however it is about balance and using energy appropriately. It is also about allowing space to

How to overcome the imposter we call "failure"

2011-02-12T14:03:00.000Z

Games: Play Perfect Match and Puzzle & Board Games on AddictingGames Terms of Use Privacy Policy ©ATOM Entertainment, Inc., a MTV Networks Companyhhhh What we perceive other think of us is what forms the belief we have of ourselves. We can look at failure in a different light. It could be described as successfully discovering what does not work thereby clearing the clutter. Eventually, we

Practice effective communication

2011-02-11T18:51:00.000Z

So much trouble is caused in this world due to miscommunication. It can be something quite simple such as "Can you deliver this to........ for me?" I say yes and later discovered that the item to be delivered was within the case, needing the case to be returned which I didn't do. This happened to me last week. It was no major drama, but it occurred for 1 of 2 reasons (or both). 1. The

How to positively process emotions

2011-02-10T19:16:00.000Z

This is simply a no brainer. This also follows on from yesterdays Mind Alchemy session where Steven Aitchison encouraged us so seek our music that motivates and inspires us. Whilst yesterday, I focused on popular and modern music from the charts in recent years, I have a strong connection with classical music. In so many ways I find classical music to be a powerful force to process emotions.

Inspirational songs

2011-02-09T20:38:00.001Z

Day 7 of Mind Alchemy and this is a task close to my heart. Picking my favourite inspirational songs. Music plays SUCH an important part in what makes us tick as human beings. I can get inspired by music in so many ways. It is the ability to experience the whole range of emotions that means so much to me. Sometimes it's a sad song that inspires, simply because it allows us to get in touch with

Capture the moment

2011-02-08T20:48:00.001Z

We face so many challenges in life. This happens for some more than others. If you are anything like I have been in the past, it involves far too much time wishing for better times, remembering better times and realising it had passed all to quickly. It may be a moment when you make a life changing decision. It may be a time when something amazing happens in your life. To get the full

How to organise emotional discipline

2011-02-07T22:07:00.000Z

Working to support people can be hard work at times. I got midway through today and suddenly felt very fatigued both mentally and physically. Getting home from work I found it hard to focus on anything and I considered going straight to bed after dinner. Here is what I did. Meditation... I spent 15 minutes listening to some meditative music through my headphones visualising yesterdays Mind

Creative Visualization

2011-02-06T12:03:00.001Z

Picture attribute courtesy of Pete Hobden http://www.flickr.com/photos/55454187@N08/5155113480/ "The problem with Martin in class is that he is a dreamer" As a young child, that is what I heard spoken about me when I was in earshot and as if I wasn't there. I grew up thinking that being a dreamer was a bad thing. It is of course far from the truth. To create a vision in your minds eye of

Can you keep a good Countenance?

2011-02-05T13:30:00.001Z

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuppini/5155242246/ courtesy of Ricky David. countenance [ˈkaʊntɪnəns]n 1. the face, esp when considered as expressing a person's character or mood a pleasant countenance2. support or encouragement; sanction3. composure; self-control (esp in the phrases keep or lose one's countenance; out of countenance)vb (tr) 1. to support or encourage; sanction2. to tolerate;

What can you do with Feedback?

2011-02-04T20:02:00.000Z

Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/lost__in__spain/2575314016/ Day 4 of Steve Aitchison's Mind Alchemy and I'm really fired up after today's exercise! Writing a personal mission or vision statement is something I've tried to do before fairly recently but I'd say it has lack a little clarity. Today however, and with the timely intervention of 2 endorsements on the facebook

Anticrastination - Using words in a positive sense

2011-02-03T16:31:00.000Z

This is another reaction blog to Steven Aitchisons Mind Alchemy course http://www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog/2011/02/03/mind-alchemy-day-3-your-life-values/ As usual, I'm pretty much free writing this blog entry as I go relying upon my mind being creative for content. First of all, following the module on direction, I found myself analysing how some of my thoughts are "away from". The work

How to Identify your Direction

2011-02-02T11:54:00.000Z

Today's blog is inspired by the free training set up by Steven Aitchison's "Mind Alchemy". It will be pretty likely most of my blogs over the coming month will have that very same motivation. Completing the day 2 exercise gave me real food for thought. Identifying key elements of what we want to achieve and how we word that in our mind really does display the elements that can hold us back.

The Wheel of Life - A response

2011-02-01T12:01:00.002Z

Hi Folks! New month and time for some aesthetic makeover on my blog page. What do you think of the new theme everyone? I'd not been happy with the old one for a while and feels this new style reflects a little the blog title "Living Life In Chapters" Two things to mentions today. If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend that you sign up for Steven Aitchison's "Mind Alchemy" course.

Will you take part in an experiment I'm setting up?

2011-01-31T15:09:00.001Z

Yes, this is my second blog of the day and not something I usually do. I prefer to set blogs as one per day, but I feel a little intrigued and excited about something I've come up with. This will take no more than half an hour of your time. Here is what you need: - An A4 sheet of paper and a pen. An envelope. Use of a calendar or diary. A lit candle and a coin, or something that will make an

What is the definition of intelligence?

2011-01-31T11:37:00.000Z

Intelligence is a word that I believe many people have a different concept of. A favourite definition for me is "not necessarily knowing the answer, but knowing where to find it!" We now have the massive benefit of the internet. I use it to such a large extent now. This is from simple things such as searching for the spelling of a word. I use the net to clarify my knowledge on some subjects.

The Coaching Academy - An Evaluation

2011-01-30T21:49:00.000Z

It was about a month ago whilst researching for inspirational material that I came across the possibility to attend a 2 day training event with "The Coaching Academy". I registered my interest and received an invite. My thoughts were, I've nothing to lose. Simply a weekend of my time plus the cost of travel. My thoughts were: the minimum to gain would be to network with lots of people with a

Life Coaching, Corporate, Business & Executive Training Courses | The Coaching Academy

2011-01-29T23:11:00.000Z

I didn't mention them before because I wanted to evaluate. So far, first day has exceeded my expectations. Really down to earth folk with what appears a genuine desire to help and encourage. No full blog from me in the mean time whilst I lap up the new learning. I pretty sure I'll have lots to write about soon. Life Coaching, Corporate, Business & Executive Training Courses | The Coaching