Fearful? What are you assuming?
When I was 17 I thought nothing of walking a mile home by myself after a post-pub curry late on a Friday night. 19 years later, I felt afraid running solo along a country lane close to home on a bright, clear-skyed Sunday morning. Booze and youth, the critical difference? When I decided to write this post I thought I was going to invite you to take a moment to reflect on where in your life fear might not be justified and what extra joy, professional gain, sense of achievement... Read More
Are you nourishing yourself enough?
Are you nourishing yourself enough both professionally and personally? I ask because it’s been part of several coaching conversations recently. My coachees have discussed it in terms of professional fulfilment as well as nourished minds, bodies and relationships. According to the OED, the verb ‘nourish’ is many things and key words are: strengthen, maintain, nurse, cherish, support and foster. Professional nourishment I’ve had the pleasure... Read More
Affirming & Acknowledging
It was optimistic of me to expect to have 60 minutes solo for a peaceful and uninterrupted bath and yoga practice one Saturday morning recently. I really should have left the house and gone to the 8am Kundalini yoga class as planned. Standing in the tree pose with my hands at heart centre and my eyes open, my six year old danced around like a loon determined to be noticed. I was determined to carry on but couldn’t close my eyes to ignore her else I’d have toppled... Read More
Loved for saying no?
In a column last month (“Just because you can doesn’t mean you should“) I suggested that capable, busy women like you need to be picky about the way you spend your time. I offered the mantra ‘just because you can doesn’t mean you should’ which caused Christine to get on the blower to delve into my ideas on how to say no – one of the mantra’s necessary and implicit skills – for her latest feature in a Gulf magazine. So here’s how to say no and be... Read More
Last night of the passion
Picture the scene: Saturday morning, about 8am standing in my kitchen stirring a pan of porridge (I’ve just discovered it’s so much better done this way - instead of the microwave - and it’s a great excuse for not multi-tasking for it has to be stirred continuously) listening to BBC Radio 3. Something I hear causes me to grab my iphone and promptly text husband who’s left the house to watch the first Rugby World Cup match, in peace. Text to husband: “Last... Read More
Thinking & Doing Fathers
A couple of months ago a new client (not Samantha Cameron) passionately described how ridiculous it is that women are assumed, by their partners, to be The Oracle when it comes to children - particularly in the early days of parenthood when in reality you’re both learning together. In this month’s Mothers Work! mailing I’m offering some pointers on how to get your partners contributing (more) to family life, particularly on the thought front because that... Read More
