Controlling the impact

The Thames Barrier was raised for the first time this winter to keep London safe from flooding.

Yet another reminder that we can't control the weather, and yet we can do much to control the outcome of the weather.

In life as in nature

We can't control other people but we can do much to control the outcome of their behaviour on us. That is:

• We can get angry at them, moan about them, gossip about them with others, scream at them or get stressed as a result of their behaviours. 

or

• We can choose more resourceful behaviours, and manage the impact they have on us. 

Don't forget to raise your own internal Thames Barrier when that certain someone is next headed your way - you might just be surprised at the outcome.

Alison Smith
Landscaping Your Life
Using nature to inspire change inside and out

Winter Trees for Valentines

"... the winter trees as they let the wind through, always through."

said Mark Nepo in his interview in Watkins Mind Body Spirit Spring 2016 issue about his book Inside the Miracle.

I've used this image a lot in coaching sessions since reading the interview - often related to relationships with others - which is why I share it today on Valentine's day.

So often in relationships (whether at work, with family, in a loving relationship, or when we're searching for that special one) it seems as if we're more like the summer trees.

I wonder therefore, what would happen if we became more like the winter trees?

The trees

• Summer Trees - are full of leaves, and a strong wind can blow them down as a result of those very leaves.
• Winter trees - with no leaves allow the wind through, and bend with the wind

How we may relate to them

• Summer - head full of 'stuff' - attachments, expectations, judgements, fear, barriers, resistance and control.   
• Winter - flexible and open. 

What will you choose today?

Will you be more like the summer or winter trees? or perhaps autumn or spring make more sense to you * ?

Alison Smith
Landscaping Your Life
Using nature to inspire change inside and out

* Remembering that the power of metaphor is that we each will interpret a metaphor differently. You may therefore find other insights in the summer/winter trees than those shared above. The aim is always to simply get a different perspective on a situation that you require more insight on.

In the right place at the right time

I recently went to Iceland for few days - one aim of the trip was to see the Aurora.

The night of the sightseeing trip arrived, and the forecast looked good:

• Solar flares headed towards Earth a few days earlier 
• No moon 
• Little cloud
• KP 4 

With those criteria met many would suggest we had a higher than 75% probability of seeing something. 

And yet we saw nothing.

The next night I had a choice of whether to go out again on an aurora hunt, or stay in Reykjavik and to go out for a meal. By now the forecast and probability was nearer 50%. 

I chose to spend the night wrapped up very warm, in freezing conditions, looking to the stars. 

The patience and perseverance paid off, and for 20 minutes the night sky moved with ribbons of green light.

As the week progressed, and as the forecast and probability reduced further, the Aurora became more and more spectacular each night. 

A reminder, as I wrote about the other week, that we can't control the weather or nature.

In life as in nature.

That is we too can believe we've got all the right conditions in place for something to happen, and yet for some reason it doesn't! 

The key to ensuring we achieve our goals, despite other criteria not being as promising and the disappointment of the first failure, is to keep putting ourselves out into the environment. To turn up and be where it counts, when it counts. I certainly wouldn't have seen the aurora from the restaurant on Reykjavik. 

Although sometimes, just like Tim Peake on the International Space Station, you have to go a little further to truly experience what you're aiming for.

Alison Smith

Landscaping Your Life

Using nature to inspire change inside and out