Change
Too many of us have minds that never stop working and bodies that don’t work enough. Reclaim your balance and your freedom. Move. Find your mental quiet.
– Written by Natalie Snodgrass Tan, Quiet Space Ltd
Coaching
Need a boost with time management and prioritisation? Here’s an easy tool for you.
Everything you do has an impact and varying levels of difficulty. Where do you need to focus your effort?
High effort, but high impact: PLAN how you’re going to do this. How can you break down the task into manageable chunks?
Low effort, high impact: IMPLEMENT. These are your quick wins! How many can you get done today?
Low effort, low impact: CONSIDER how it would make you feel having done this. Good? Do it. Is it necessary? Do it.
High effort, low impact: KICK OUT already. If you think there’s some compelling reason why you need to do it, consider whether it’s actually in the right category.
I like to use this exercise with my clients. It’s a great way to focus, particularly when you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. Draw the chart on a large sheet of paper. Write down all the things on your to-do list on post-its for easy rearranging and categorisation. Assign a category to each of them and stick them in the appropriate quadrant of the chart. Now challenge yourself to get everything in the right category. It helps with a coach guiding you 😉
– Written by Natalie Snodgrass, Quiet Space Ltd
Coaching
What if everything were possible? What if I told you it is, and it’s waiting for you?
– Written by Natalie Snodgrass Tan, Quiet Space Ltd
Coaching
Here’s the first of what will be a mini-blog series of bite-sized things to ponder.
Today’s prompt is:
None of these things requires talent. Want success? Go get it. You’ve already got it inside you.
– Written by Natalie Snodgrass Tan, Quiet Space Ltd
Articles
I’ve been mulling over the topic of identity a lot in recent weeks following some pretty intense client sessions, and thought I’d share some of my thoughts.
One thing I’ve been introducing to clients has been the idea of the self-concept – your collection of beliefs about yourself – and how this can affect your perceptions about how others view you. Those of you who know your Carl Rogers will be familiar with his theory of self-concept, comprising self-image (your view of yourself), self-worth (the value you place on yourself), and the ideal self (the person you wish you were). Unless these components overlap, people will find themselves out of balance with respect to how they relate to their world, leading to unhappiness, dissatisfaction and lack of confidence.
Your self-concept isn’t immutable; it’s something that develops and changes throughout life as you grow and learn. It’s shaped by all sorts of factors, such as your environment.
I’ve lived a life on two different continents since having relocated to the UK nearly two decades ago. For the first few years after moving I felt a bit lost in the in-between, never knowing if I was coming or going. I didn’t only speak differently; I acted differently depending on whether I was here, or there. What had been home was full of hardwired associations with family, school, and childhood traumas, and I found myself falling into all the old patterns when with family and friends. On the other side I was anonymous; free to rewrite my story.
I’ve found it helpful both in my own life and when working with clients to think about identity not as a single entity, but rather as a “community of selves” that come to the fore in different arenas of your life. You’ll probably recognise this if you consider your own life: do you see yourself differently depending on where you are and the people you’re interacting with? Do you see the dedicated athlete? The corporate professional? The strict parent; the stubborn child; the jokey friend; the weekend warrior?
Sometimes some of these identities may seem to be in conflict. Perhaps you’re a highly-respected expert in your particular industry but find yourself unable to assert yourself in social situations. Or perhaps you’re the life of the party, but the idea of public speaking sends you into a cold sweat.
But you can learn to choose which aspects of you you’re going to allow to take centre-stage at any point in your life and in whatever circumstance. You can learn to own your identity and define how you want to see yourself; to realise that you’re not any single one of the labels that you or anyone else gives you. You’re much richer and more complex and more beautiful than that, and you have the power to choose which mantle you’re going to put on – and when.
Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself;
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)
– Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass
Has this resonated with you? Get in touch.
– Written by Natalie Snodgrass Tan, Quiet Space Ltd
Coaching
Something a little different, about the importance of self-care. Did you know coaching can make you happier?
– Written by Natalie Snodgrass Tan, Quiet Space Ltd
Career development
The recipe:
1) Meet new people.
2) Get out of your comfort zone.
3) Dream bigger.
4) Progress, not perfection.
5) Take control of your fear.
6) NOW is the time.
What are you waiting for? Start here; start now. Get in touch for a chat about how Quiet Space can help you soar.
– Written by Natalie Snodgrass Tan, Quiet Space Ltd
Coaching
On Friday I met two coaching clients and a key theme in both sessions was their perceptions of other people’s opinions and judgments.
Confidence and good self-esteem can be such a hard-won thing – particularly for women. We see in other people the things we don’t believe we measure up to, and our insecurities make us believe that they are judging us on what we see to be our inadequacies. Sometimes we put on masks to be the people that we think we ought to be.
We can unlearn all these unhelpful thought patterns, and learn to give ourselves the freedom not only to be who we really are, but to realise that we are all that we need to be.
You are enough – and not only that, you are loved, and you are amazing. Never forget that.
– Written by Natalie Snodgrass Tan, Quiet Space Ltd
Career management and planning
Last week I was on the night shift at Radcliffe House, University of Warwick, as part of a work shadowing arrangement. Radcliffe’s recently undergone a big refurb and I love the new decor. Recognise any of these delegate archetypes?
Warwick Conferences has been kind enough to let me come on board for a while so that I can find out what goes on behind the scenes at their award-winning training and conference centres. I’ve only been with them for two shifts so far but have already learnt loads from their fantastic staff about ensuring a fabulous customer experience.
I’ve been consciously setting out to embrace new learning experiences for some time now and getting insight into the hospitality industry is all about preparation for my longer-term dream for Quiet Space – a transformative retreat in the Warwickshire countryside, for when life gets a bit too much and you need some help with regaining headspace, peace and balance.
The vision? The Quiet Space would offer coaching as a core part of its transformative experience, alongside yoga and meditation, guided walks and runs, great food, and spaces designed to soothe the soul and mind, with music, a beautiful library, and a creative studio. Things are, of course, going to evolve over the next few years as I continue to learn and grow. I wonder what it will look like when I get there?
What are your long-term goals, and how are you laying the foundations now for realising those future dreams?
– Written by Natalie Snodgrass Tan, Quiet Space Ltd
Career development
Tonight’s photo is a throwback to York Minster in 2000. I was at University and at the weekend we’d decided to visit the cathedral. I remember the day clearly, standing there in the middle of so much history, craftsmanship, faith and dedication.
Today, it’s making me think about the kind of legacy we leave. Often this brings to mind some sort of physical legacy, but much more importantly than that it’s about who we are and how we continue to touch people’s lives after we’re gone.
Some questions for you:
1) What matters to you and what kind of legacy do you want to create?
2) What do you want to be remembered for?
3) What are you doing, each and every day, to build that legacy?
4) What might you need to help you build your legacy? And how could you get it?
– Written by Natalie Snodgrass Tan, Quiet Space Ltd