Look up to the sky

Look up to the sky and what do you see - my first vlog in a wetsuit from the garden! I heard Astronaut Ron Garan interview with One Young World yesterday where he spoke of using ‘planet’ not ‘globe’ to describe this wonderful place we all call home. Which then translates well known phrases into a ‘planetary pandemic’ or ‘planetary warming’ which feels different don’t you think? I’m sure this insight was at the back of my mind as I headed to my garden in my wetsuit this morning (as the RNLI have asked us not to swim). Look up to the sky and what do you see? Does the sky look different between all our viewpoints? Do the noisy birds flying through it’s many layers judge one part of it to another? Is one part of the sky more or less important than another? Are we the sky? Are we all parts of it? And perhaps because I joined David Whyte session this weekend on the courage of poetry I’ll end with a poem (of sorts). The sky Surrounding the whole planet Holding us safely within its embrace Trusting us with a precious gift A planet With riches and beauty For us to hold and treasure within our own embrace, and Use the trust wisely. hashtag

I've written a blog on that for Unprecedented times

Over recent weeks, as I've delivered "soft skills and mindsets for unprecedented times" sessions, I have been heard to say "I've written a blog on that" - with over 500 posts on the purchasing coach blog and 200 here you'd like to hope so. 

Here's a list of just some of those very posts that I think would be helpful as we face what were unimaginable situations only a few short weeks ago.

• Lessons from a Sycamore tree - about needing to bolster your foundations for your roots to hold on to.

• Commit to shorter steps - don't give up on your goal just know that the steps we can take at the moment are just shorter or will be making the stepping out much easier when we can do so.
• I don't believe it's raining - a reminder to test the evidence we're using to inform our beliefs.
• Beware building reflected bridges with others rather than real one - now more than ever we need to ensure the bridges we build with others are solid ones.
• 7 keys to a buzzing life - a few hints and tips from the bees about how to keep motivated and enthused.

• The wave - my favourite short story I've written about a wave.
• The stone - another short story about the impact of being off kilter!
• The power of metaphor - interesting applying the insight from Brexit to our current situation.
• Going round in circles - and how to stop it!
• How to have full impact - WOW interesting to apply the insight to having personal impact on our well-being 
• How to see the wood for the trees 
• Is it time to get your head above the parapet - rather than keep it in the sand? 

An index of more logical and less unconventional posts to support mental, physical and emotional well being can be found over on my Purchasing Coach blog.

You may also find this Landscaping Your Life YouTube playlist helpful using nature as our coach  - turn the sound down a little for the first vlog ;-)

Also see my LinkedIn profile for an extract from Can't see the wood for the trees - Landscaping your life to get back on track to help you see the wood at these unprecedented times.

Do let me know if something I've written resonates - and do please also share this index with others who you think might benefit.

If you'd like to be kept up to date with what I'm up to you can sign up for my newsletter here - the Easter newsletter entitled the death of normal is now available.

Keep hold of your float?

Don’t forget to find your float this week.

Some external help to support your resilience, and keep your head above water.

I’ve shared a lot over the last week about #keepingafloat, and was reminded when I went swimming yesterday that keeping afloat is easier with a little external help because:

• Swimming to safety may by beyond us at the moment.
• Treading water can be tiring after a while.
• Floating requires trust and faith in inaction which is often lacking when stressed, and certainly when faced with unprecedented and unfamiliar events.

Which is where the float comes in - a little external buoyancy to hold on to as you’re buffeted by the waves.

Look after you, and take time with your float with week.

Much love

Alison xx

And I've appreciated the positive responses to my equinox newsletter this week - you can sign up here