Can't see the Wood for the Trees - overview

Can't see the wood for the trees uses nature as our coach, and nature's landscapes as metaphors for our lives.

The book chapters tackle sayings we use when stuck that also refer to nature as shown below:

In the book, I suggest that if you can relate to the saying then the saying will also have the potential to provide you with some insight to the situation. Which means, if you can't see the wood for the trees, the wood will have the answers - more below.

The book launch took place outside in nature four landscapes in Fife where the book was written. With engagement too from people in Australia, America, Wales, England and closer to home here in Scotland via LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

It was a very blustery day which means much of the insight gained was either about:

• Finding safe harbour until the winds have settled
• Connecting with our own wildness/power  

That's how nature works - ever changing and yet with constant patterns we understand and can relate to. Patterns that help us make sense of the problems we encounter in our lives.

Here's a few thoughts about the insight gained on the day, and a few of the live videos posted on Facebook and LinkedIn on the day to engage with those unable to be there.

Let's start with a reminder of why nature is such a great coach.

One of the tools in the book asks us to consider what we'd do if we were in the situation described by the saying. Which means solutions when we can't see the wood for the trees would include those shown below.

The action then is to take these potential solutions and translate them into options in the situation you're wanting more clarity on. See more here on this saying.

Another LYL tool described in the book involves going for a walk. This video is the culmination of a 30 minute walk as we moved from a landscape that depicted the current situation, through a midway stopping point, to this very very very blustery headland which provided huge shifts in everyone's thinking - you'll find more about the process here on the Facebook post.

The final chapter in the book, the antidote if you will, is going with the flow. Not a reactive going wherever the flow takes you but a proactive type. (I've written a little more about this over on my Purchasing Coach site)

Whilst it is supposed to be a metaphorical flow I couldn't help but get my wetsuit on and do it in reality to round off a great day ;-).

I love this image of headed for the ocean which is the question I suggest you need to ask yourself if you're ever unsure which direction to go in life ie "Am I headed for the ocean?"

If you're interested in learning more about Landscaping Your Life coaching or workshops, or even a facilitated strategy day such as this team do get in touch alison@alisonsmith.eu.

Anyone wanting to participate in the book launch raffle, with a prize of a free coaching session with me, have until Monday the 8th October to get over to my JustGiving page for the RNLI - 1 raffle ticket for every £1 donated. Because just like the RNLI I support people who are stuck to get back on track.

Alison Smith
Speaker, coach, trainer, author  - more on services offered here 
Landscaping your life to get back on track 

Stockist of the book can be found here.

Nature as our coach

If nature is your coach she doesn't have words only landscapes to communicate to you with.  Landscapes that, if you use them as metaphors for your life, have insight, solutions, suggestions, truth and wisdom contained within them.

Today as I reflected on the above insight I invited the landscape I was in to be my coach, which resulted in this video:

Coaching Question from Nature: How can you blow away the clouds or even rise above them so you can appreciate and accept your essence and light in the world?

These videos and all the vlogs in the Landscaping Your Life YouTube playlist offer such coaching from Nature.

One from last week also resonated with many people over on Instagram:

Coaching Question from Nature: How can you ensure you connect with all that you have in common, rather than what divides and separates you from others?

If you can't see the wood for the trees, are stuck in a rut, up a creek without a paddle, are treading water, or out on a limb, or perhaps feel like a fish out of water the recently published Can't see the wood for the trees offers coaching advice from the very landscapes contained within these sayings.

Which means if you're stuck in a rut - the rut will have the answer, if you can't see the wood for the trees it suggests the wood will have much to say - after all as David Wagoner in his poem Lost suggests "The wood and the trees ... are not lost .... you must let it find you."

More on stockists of the book here. 

Alison Smith
Landscaping Your Life

I've written a post today over on my Purchasing Coach site about what more traditional coaching is, and how it works.

You don't need to be able to see the wood for the trees

One of the reasons I love the Landscaping Your Life process is that nature always has more to give, and our mind will always find the insight from nature it needs to, in order to get a different perspective on the current situation.

I’ve written about and explored ‘not being able to see the wood for the trees’ time and time and time again and yet.... last week whilst in Derwent Water I had an epiphany that I’m sure I’ll share in many a coaching session from now onwards. It really resonated with me at the time that’s for sure.

Do let me know what you think. 

Look through the square window

I sat on the sofa one morning with the cat on my knee, and took this image.

I realised it represented what we often do in life - assume how we're seeing the world is the same world everyone else is seeing.

The problem is someone else might be seeing something different

Or this

Or this

None of us appreciating that our own memories, beliefs and preferences determine the shape of window we're looking through, and the direction of our attention.

Play School had it right when in the 70's they offered us a square, round or arched window to go through. Little realising they were reminding us that we each have a preference of how we perceive the world.

The picture below may be a better representation of all of the above pictures - that is, my original view can be seen along side the others. The issue is, it required me to stick my head out of my window, and set the camera to panoramic view, and then hold the camera steady as I took in the full view.

In life as in nature.

Next time you think you're seeing the full picture - think again, and remember it's only the view out of your window.

Alison Smith

Landscaping Your Life

Using nature to inspire change inside and out