zigzag of handprinted stones in the forest depicting the path of a hero

Zigzag Trail Of Life

 

“We must be willing to let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

Joseph Campbell

 

I came across this zigzag trail of beautifully hand painted stones on my walk earlier today.  It depicted the path I’ve travelled on for the last few years.  When I decided to throw myself into being an explorer whole-heartedly, I didn’t realise how many zigzags I’d face!    

There were times when I faced so many obstacles that all I wanted to do was to hibernate like my favourite creatures, the hedgehogs.  But that wasn’t an option.  I had stepped beyond the point of no return and there was no looking back.  And I soon learned that the more challenges I took on, the easier the decision to take more challenges became.  It was as if I was building a new muscle I didn’t know I had!  

Every time I faced another puzzle on my zigzag trail and decided to tackle it like my life depended on it, I found a hidden strength or a forgotten resource I hadn’t thought of before.  Very often, a new mentor appeared on my path; literally from nowhere!  

I persevered until I found my new path.  My current reality.  A reality that’s aligned with who I am, what I stand for and what I won’t tolerate.  A reality that’s congruent to my core values.

And I found myself being the mentor for a younger version of me today.  Someone who described what he was experiencing, and he took me back a few years.  He showed vulnerability in sharing his story and found someone who’d been there.  Exactly what I did back when I became an explorer. Who knows who this young man will inspire and mentor a few years down the line?  

 

When the status quo isn’t leaving you fulfilled, what do you do?

When the call to adventure comes, you have two options: 

💥You either choose courage and follow that call.  When you do, you will connect with who you really are and what you stand for.  You will sense a kind of ease and freedom in living your everyday life.  You will become a better version of yourself and become more attractive inside and out. 

💥Or you choose comfort and conformity and numb the pain by finding distractions in the form of work, food, alcohol and material possessions.  You can be sure that you’re doing exactly as others want you to, and that you’re pleasing everyone else, but yourself.

If you choose courage, be warned!  The path to finding fulfilment is not a straight one!  

Finding this path isn’t for the faint hearted!  Only enter if you’re willing to: 

  • become an explorer
  • have your deep-rooted beliefs challenged
  • step outside your comfort zone
  • let go of certainty
  • trust your intuition
  • get out of your head and reconnect with your body
  • have the courage to let go of your perceived security which in-fact is keeping you stuck! 
  • And most importantly…. Enter this path only if you trust yourself and are willing to trust the process…  

If you’re wondering about the process, reach out and I’ll explain.

 

Love and strong coffee

Vafa x 

heart shaped stone with dream etched on

You’re Never Too Old To Dream

 

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”  Walt Disney

 

I Found this beautiful stone amongst hundreds laid out on my walk today and I thought of the e-mail I received from a client recently.
 
“Thank you for helping me give myself permission to dream again” he wrote.
 
The email gave me a warm fuzzy feeling on one level! It reiterated the reasons I love doing what I do.
It also saddened me… At exactly what point in our life, do we remove the permission for ourselves to dream?
 
Have you ever considered how much of a more free and fulfilled life you would lead if you believed in your dreams and took steps towards fulfilling them?
 
What sort of a message are you sending your children when you tolerate a mediocre existence and regularly sacrifice on who you want to be and how you’d like to live?
 
Yes; trust me… they know how you show up! They’re more perceptive than you give them credit for!
Please remember, you’re never too old to dream new dreams…
 
Just imagine… What would it mean to you to live the life of your dreams?
 
Call me if you like my style, and if not, there are plenty more coaches out there whom you may like better.
But please invest time in yourself and pursue your dreams. Because when you do, it’s a different kinda life you’ll be leading. You only get one life and it so deserves to be lived well ✨💫✨

 

Love and strong coffee

Vafa x 

Trust the magic of beginnings

Trust The Magic Of Beginnings

 

 

“And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.” Meister Eckhart

 

I shared this post on our Mind Superheroes facebook page yesterday. 

I was delighted to receive quite a few private messages.   A few friends and associates texted to say how the post inspired them to start new projects!

It was the first proper day back to work for me yesterday.  I had a few scheduled calls with clients and my business community.

In every conversation, I sensed ‘HOPE’ for a new beginning.  The new year does that to us.  We get a new lease of life!  We get a chance to start over and become WHO WE WANT TO BE.

Although it was the first day of homeschooling for children in England.  There was intent in making this year a brilliant one by their parents.  I love the community I’m a part of.  No matter how tough times get, we still remain optimistic.  We look for what we have and what is in our power to do to thrive.  We support and champion each other.  

This is the beauty of surrounding ourselves with people who inspire us, not those who drain us.  

 

One thing if for sure…

It’s been tough for most of us to have had some of our liberties removed by the events of the recent months.  But our freedom will never be stripped away from us without our consent.  We  

  •  are still in charge of our lives in how we respond to each event.  
  •  have full control over our thoughts and therefore our actions.  
  •  can choose our spoken words carefully.  Because we know they have a direct effect on how we will feel and how we strive for results.  

As always, investing in our physical and emotional well-being is key to keeping a positive mental health. Whatever that looks for you.

 

For me, that will include:

  • Staying connected with my optimistic community.
  • Sharing laughs, cuddles, kindness and loving gestures with mini me and the rest of the family on video calls.
  • Journaling the small, steady actions I’m getting to the habit of owning.
  • Taking my daily walks even more so, when it looks miserable out there and I don’t feel like doing it.
  • Listening to music to lift my mood and mummy dancing around the kitchen
  • Keeping hydrated.
  • Having a healthy diet with a sprinkling of cake to keep me sweet
  • And what never fails me! Read, listen and invest in personal development

 

NOW is a brilliant time to trust the magic of new beginnings 

  • Take stock of what you’ve achieved in the last year and be sure to celebrate your wins.
  • IMAGINE where you would like to be in life and work at the end of 2021.  
  • WRITE a letter to your future self and take yourself through that journey.  
  • MAKE building small, consistent habits your new norm.

You’d be surprised at the magic that’ll unfold at the end of the year.

What are your plans for the upcoming year?  It is your birthright to create a life of your choosing.

Reach out if you’re feeling a little wobbly and need listening ears.

 

Love and strong coffee

Vafa x 

Vafa expressing joy gratitude and freedom infant of Donnington castle in Newbury, UK

Create Opportunities

 

“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.”  Bruce Lee

 

I love this quote.  I heard it and it resonated so deeply I had to share it!

When you start dreaming about a better future, hold onto that dream; make it bigger, better and brighter and walk towards it.

Don’t look for excuses to stop making progress and blame circumstances when the going gets tough. YES! Change isn’t easy, but well worth the discomfort in the long run.

Your unconscious mind is constantly looking for evidence to support your thoughts, your words and your feelings. It wants to ‘keep you safe’ by getting you to repeat the same unresourceful behaviour, and instead, it’s sabotaging your growth.

Your words become your world, and your thoughts become your actions. So, be mindful of creating excuses that are responsible for YOU standing in your own way of success, happiness and fulfilment.

When thinking about a better future, look for opportunities, not obstacles and laugh in the face of fear to keep the momentum going.

Does this quote resonate with anyone else? What’s your story?

This is a picture of me looking for opportunities of growth in every conversation.

Call me when you wish to create more opportunities

 

Love and strong coffee

Vafa

Vafa opening a bottle of champagne celebrating graduation obtaining NLP coaching diploma from UKCPD

Get The Life You Wish For

“Get The Life You Wish For”…  I so often heard the voice inside my head say this phrase.  Especially when I came face to face with situations that put me at a cross roads where my values were being tested.  Then I came across this passage from Daring Greatly by Brene Brown.

 

 “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasures you seek.  Own the fear, find the cave and write a new inning for yourself. For the people you’re meant to serve and support and for your culture.  Choose courage over comfort, choose whole hearts over armour and choose the great adventure of being brave and afraid at the exact same time.” 

 

If you’re looking for what’s missing in your life or in need of new direction, if you’re defined by the measures of success that someone else has imposed on you or if you’re feeling guilty for wanting more, then please know you’re one of many who think and feel this way.

What are you doing to get the life you wish for?

I was reflecting on the time I used to wish for a better life during a graduation ceremony with a difference and congratulated myself for stepping inside the cave even though it was scary, unknown and uncomfortable.

For choosing whole hearts instead of armour, even though it deprived me from aspects of my old, secure world; and for choosing courage over comfort which scares me and makes me feel very alive every day!

Are you feeling stuck or are you living a life that makes you feel alive?

We only get one life; let’s live it on our terms

 

Love and strong coffee

Vafa