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confidence coaching goal setting inspiration life coaching marathon training motivation personal development wellbeing coach

Discipline, Self-Belief and Hard Work to Reach that Finishing Line!!

Hello there you!

Do you need the motivation and discipline to move forward with your goals?

Dublin Marathon 2013!

This is a photo of myself, my race bib and my medal after I ran and completed Dublin Marathon in 2013 (I ran my first Dublin Marathon in 2010)

How did I feel? Delighted, relieved, exhausted, sore, but proud!

How did I make this happen?

I spent 4 solid months training 6 days per week, booked a few 5k and 10k races as part of my training plan and followed a great marathon book (that book was my training and nutrition coach)

Looking back it was hard work (results always take determination, belief in yourself and discipline) and there were plenty of times where I felt like giving up, shed tears and my confidence was knocked. But, I would always focus on the end goal and visualized myself running over that finishing line. That picture was always placed firmly in my mind.

If you want it, you can fly,

You just have to trust ‘you’ a lot

Steve Jobs

When you set goals, you need to have a structured plan, believe in yourself and then visualize it.

Give yourself a pep talk!

Whenever you lack the motivation to move forward with your goals, ask yourself:

  • What can I do differently?
  • Why did I start?
  • How can I make this work going forward?

Running a marathon is HARD WORK and you need to put in that time and commitment. Build yourself up and pace yourself.

Like everything, most of it is all in the mind. What you feed yourself mentally certainly affects your performance.

Be kind to yourself with that self-talk!

When you put in the work, then you get results. It’s all in the preparation, believing in yourself, doing the research and being disciplined.

Keep checking in with yourself and reflect.

Plan of action and final thoughts

I make sure I follow a plan, set goals, have a clear vision and I work hard at what I set out to achieve.

Should you be training for a marathon, working towards a big job promotion, changing career, wanting to lose weight or anything that involves commitment; you need to put in the work, be disciplined, prepare, plan and visualize that end result! But, being kind to yourself too.

  • What changes do you need to make going forward?
  • How can you make that change happen?

You can do whatever you put your mind to. Believe in yourself, lace up those trainers and get starting!

Categories
change growth growth mindset health and wellbeing inspiration life coaching self esteem, personal development, motivation, acceptance success wellbeing

Finding the motivation to move forward with your goals and to finally take action. Here’s how!

Hello there you!

Are you finding it hard to get motivated and taking action? But you’re feeling anxious or nervous about doing so?

I know how difficult it can be to actually start something new. Oh we all have great intentions, ideas in our heads – but getting that ball rolling is always a problem. But, the one thing that is so important about achieving your goals and successfully, is putting in the time, the work, the effort and most importantly ‘wanting’ to change and believing in yourself in the first place.

How taking action can become a success

In relation to my own goals ( I’ll use my successful weight loss story here).  It took me quite some time to actually do it. I had 2 toddlers, I  was tired and when your body is tired and stressed; oh boy do you crave that sugar more. And those cortisol levels are elevated. I just wanted to lose that baby weight!

I tried doing it myself, but failed and back to the start I went. But what was it that changed for me?  How did I make it a success? I did it at a time where I felt 100% ready and to do it properly. I joined a weekly weight loss group and reached my goal and got to my target within a few months.

What made this a success for me? I stuck to group every single week, I believed I could do it and I was surrounded by a supportive community of people who were all there for the exact same reasons.

Yes, there are times when that motivation isn’t there, but it’s ok to have days like that, as long as you stick to your community of supporters. You are only human at the end of the day.

In relation to losing my weight, I still have to work hard on sticking to my loss. How do I do this? I still go to group as it’s a motivation tool to keep that weight off and also the encouragement is huge. Also realising how healthier I feel, physically and mentally. Do I want to return to my old habits? Absolutely not.

How to get that motivation off to a flying start and reaching those goals?

  • Write down exactly what it is you want to achieve
  • Set a time frame (say 3-6 months for example)
  • What is it you want to do specifically?
  • Look up groups and communities focusing on those goals
  • Journaling is a great tool, and it gets those thoughts down
  • Go for a good long walk, to clear the head and to soak up nature
  • Take a step back from social media ( oh I know how much of a procrastination tool that can be)
  • Listen to your gut instinct
  • Most importantly; be ready for that change.

What is it you want to achieve?

What is it that stops you from taking that step forward?


Each step forward counts

Believe you can

And you will!


Thank you for stopping by and remember, you can always do what you put your mind to. And, with the proper support and tools, then you can certainly achieve success!


Categories
acceptance growth happiness health and wellbeing inspiration journaling, gratitude personal development poetry community

New Year, Staying Present and Focusing on the Small stuff…

Hello there you and Happy New Year!

How are you feeling after the festive season? Are you glad to be getting back into a more structured routine?  I’m looking forward to getting back into a more healthier routine (too many sweets/tipples, but I enjoyed it all, and the banter that went along with it)
I had such a lovely time back home in Ireland catching up with family, and my brother who I hadn’t seen in over 2 years due to Covid! I was grateful every day!

Present moment:

“It’s the feeling you get when you are able to be touched

By the simple things in life: watching a child playing,

The leaves falling from a tree”

Richard Carlson

When life stood tragically still in lockdown, I soaked up the outdoors, connecting so much with nature and my family.  I then started to crave nature and became more self aware. I soaked up those giggles from our girls; realising there is so much beauty out there and the free stuff like fresh air, fabulous beaches, sunsets and mountains: are all breathtaking views that are food for the soul! Absorbing the “present” moment!

When you stop striving for “perfection”, you  automatically start to slow down and realise all that beauty was right under your nose (while your mind was full of worry and busy from those to do lists, lots of unnecessary clutter taking up space in your mind)

Poetry outlet:

I wrote the following ‘etheree’ poem as a reminder to absorb those precious little moments…  Being present certainly is the way to do it. Sounds so easy doesn’t it? It is when you practice being present every day but you have to work on it, enjoying the simple little things in life, changing your thought process to a more “positive” way of thinking and being extremely grateful.

Grab it

It

Starts with

Fresh air. Free

Flawless. Simple.

But so powerful.

When you stop. Soak it up;

like sand soaking salty sprays,

gentle yet ferocious waves. The

present is all you have. Grab it, then

bottle it. Capturing every small bit!

Bernie Egerton

Enjoying that fresh air and watching the girls happy out at the beach!!
My eldest loves rolling down those sand dunes… Absorbing it all !

Growing from within, self-awareness being mindful and always learning; are the components to reaching that place of peace and happiness. Getting the most out of life for “you” and yours.

Work on ‘you’ and believe in yourself.  Trust me, the rest will follow!! 

Categories
inspiration kindness

Random acts of kindness can be so ‘powerful’…

Haiku

Kindness is easy

Unfeigned, unforgettable

The ‘kind’ that matters

Connectwithpoetry.com

It can be random, but so powerful at the same time. Have you ever been ready to buy a parking ticket then someone comes along, and hands you theirs as they leave? It happened to me and I was touched by this random act of kindness. Or any type of little acts of kindness? It can be the simple little gestures that really touch you in such a heartfelt way.

During one of my walks recently, I happened to come across this beautiful little tree that was bursting with joy – filled with lots of lovely toys from children, crochet gifts and for anyone to take away if they needed to. It really did put a big smile on my face.

Throughout a time of great sadness in our world and dealing with a pandemic; we find ourselves in a situation like no other – and it’s the little thoughtful things that can brighten your day and give ‘you’ that little bit of a lift and to show there is so much ‘kindness’ out there!


Like a little fairy tree 🧚‍♀️

A little crochet gift to brighten your day 💗

Adorable 💛

We all need a little lift at times and kindness to each other goes such a long way, no matter how big or small. Its the simple little things in life.


Love a cherry blossom tree 🌸

Haiku

Look at shining stars
Twinkling in darkened crisp skies
Small lights of power


Have you a story of a random act of kindness that brightened your day?

Thank you reading my post! Stay safe, be kind, keep smiling, look out for each other and lift each other up ❤