1. "Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity." - Simone Weil
All of life is here when we pay attention - Freya Blom
In a world where attention is a commodity, broken into pixels and soundbites, paying deep, focused attention is indeed rarer than ever. Coaching involves paying deep and present attention, so I am lucky enough to experience flow in this way on a very regular basis, but not everyone does my kind of work, which got me wondering about the people I am connected to...
When was the last time you received focused and deep attention? What did it feel like?
So many of us focus on trying to pay attention to the right things (and of course, that is an important focus and skill to hone) yet very few of us consider the impact that the lack of deep attention being paid to us creates. If you have not felt deeply seen or heard recently by yourself or by someone else, do take some time to reflect on why that is and what that means for you, the quality of your experience of life, and your results...
2. "We tend to look at burnout as though it's something to pity: 'Oh you're burned out, you poor thing.' Rather than saying: 'Wow, your body really knew what to do there and helped you by forcing you to stop." - James Curry
For many people, it's only upon reaching a breaking point that they finally listen to what their bodies have been trying to tell them all along. That they are organisms, not mechanisms. That they need and deserve and function optimally with rest. That what dictates their energy is actually how they are fed, exercised, and rested. Remember, Olympic athletes, take breaks. Rest and recovery days are in fact seen as important training days in their overall schedule. In our hustle culture, it is far too easy to see work as the overall schedule and try to fit life around it.
3. Accepting reality opens the door to true progress.
So many of us inhabit parallel lives, forever fantasising about how things "should" be/have been. Being at war with reality (or in love with a fantasy) is like trying to quench your thirst with a mirage. Accepting the reality of a situation means giving up the secret hope that the past (or indeed some people's behaviour) will miraculously change. When we slow down and accept what is, we can far more quickly and efficiently identify and move towards fulfilling our actual needs and desires now.
4. What is toxic positivity?
Toxic Positivity is: Putting shiny sticking plasters over deep wounds; Handing our resources and responsibilities over to the promises of magic wands and gurus; Sprinkling empty affirmations over shame and pain.
Positive affirmations are like a glass of wine - they might feel good at the moment but the effects wear off soon enough and then the feelings you were trying to avoid resurface much like a hangover. Doing the deeper work overtime is learning to love drinking water instead of wine. As our desire for intoxication lessens, we come to value and love our life-giving water.
5. The October Article is out and this month it is "Some ways we sabotage ourselves without realising (and what to do about them)"
So many of us sabotage ourselves, and while some traps are obvious, there are other more sneaky ways in which we treat ourselves unkindly and hold ourselves back. This month's article looks at two unhelpful perspectives and ways of thinking… issuing ultimatums, and magical thinking. I would love to hear how these resonate for you…
Read the full article here:
P.S...Here are three more ways you can experience my work... 1 - Tailored Resources - simply let me know via email what you are working through and I will send you some helpful pointers and materials
2 - Half day Deep dive - four hours of deeply focused time working through whatever it is you want to bring 3 - Full day immersion - this is a sacred time for magical unfolding, where we get to explore whatever emerges with no limit on where the time takes us
I love to connect - please do leave a comment or share with someone you think this might benefit.
