Reading time: 602 words = 2 minutes or so....
If you are reading this in UK you will no doubt have been experiencing a lovely spell of weather - a veritable heat wave in fact! Wherever in the world you are, I hope you take time to relax and enjoy some chill time. Or would this make you feel guilty? More of guilt anon...
Traditionally, June is a busy month in the life of a professional speaker and for my part, it's been a hectic month of work ranging from Essential Competitive Life Skills, A Pink Champagne Charity Luncheon with Business Consort, stress-proofing the minds of some 200 CIMA accountants to Interview Skills with university candidates.
One of our PSA prospective members and my new Twitter friend Ali Turnbull from Fit to Print said, "Eilidh, you put the canin candidate." What a kind comment! Thank you Ali! Certainly one of my key objectives when I coach people to speak is to be can=did and to empower them to think positively and face their fears with a "can" attitude.
As a result of speaking all over the country this month, I have spent many hours on trains and tubes. My mother had alternative thinking when it came to parental guidance, "A stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet." So not surprisingly I speak to people I do not know all the time and have met many fascinating travelling companions as a result. I see life as one big speaking opportunity!
One such stranger, Anne-Marie works within the NHS. As we chatted on the Heathrow Express last weekend, she told me that having been brought up as a Roman Catholic in Ireland, she carries feelings of extreme guilt associated with just about every aspect of her life. This is no criticism of Catholicism or religion, however for whatever reason unwarranted guilt does seem to pervade and spoil the lives of many people.
Do you experience guilt? At some point we all do don't we? And possibly rightly so. Have you felt this way recently? Maybe you should ask yourself why? Everyone likes to be listened to. Do you listen to yourself - your positive self? Do a check-up from the neck up! In some cases your bad feelings may have been justified but in many others they will not be.
My advice for when you feel GUILTY for no apparent good reason? Do some brainwashing - some mental gymnastics - some alternative thinking:
G = Give
U = U (yourself)
I = Indulgent
L = Leisure (and pleasure)
T = Time
Y = Yes (Y = Yahoo! Y = Yipee!)
Simply see GUILT differently. Why not? I expand on this concept in Chapter 6 page 91 of my book, "Love you Life... Survive the System..." entitled "Ideas to Make your day Fun!" and on my Blog this week. Please join in the debate. Or post on the Confidence Club. There are diverse topics to choose from.
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Now, let's all head back into the sun (antipodean readers I know this could be a challenge!) share some guilt-free quality time with friends and family... and maybe even a stranger!
Have fun!
Why not tell a friend about "Talk Confidence International?" Thank you!
Comments
i agree with giving yourself more leisure (and pleasure) time. the world's system wants people to work longer and creates more stress etc. i think having a simple way of life brings true happiness, because there's less things to worry about. E.g. being outside with nature.
16-Jul-2009 02:37 PM