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Every relationship has different needs and there is absolutely no one size fits all solution. It takes time, effort, and patience to build and maintain a healthy relationship but I want to share the 7 things that I think are important: ✅ UNDERSTANDING: We all have different likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. Accepting each others traits in a positive way and understanding what makes the other ticks (and what doesn’t!) [...]

Mind over matter is the extreme urge and willpower to fight against all the odds, even in the hardest of situations.  It can be anything from climbing Mount Everest, learning something new or even remaining calm in a moment of adversity.  Sometimes our bodies just want to give up but something in our mind tells us to keep going, no matter what.  This to me is mind over matter.  One [...]

So many people go through life and never achieve their potential or realise their dreams.  Usually it’s down to a lack of self belief or even self sabotage.  The good news is that you can avoid this! 5 ways to avoid killing your potential: 1. Don’t wait until you feel ready.  If you keep thinking ‘I’m not ready’, you will never ever give something a go.  Give yourself a good [...]

Self worth is a topic that often comes up during life coaching sessions.  When I ask my clients to identify their value and self worth, they struggle to answer.  However, they can quite easily tell me when they don’t feel valued, appreciated or respected.   Self worth comes from within.  It’s a positive belief that you’re as worthy as anybody else and it can only be obtained and measured by [...]

To succeed in life we sometimes have to take action to increase the odds of it happening.  Success is the result of positive habits, but also of a winning mindset.  Developing self awareness and identifying where you lack, and replacing those gaps with empowering habits, will help you succeed in your personal and professional life.  You can live your best life by making small positive tweaks, that over time add [...]

So many people have dreams, but never take the steps needed to turn them into goals.  Ask yourself this, are you actually living your life or do you find yourself constantly daydreaming about something amazing that you want to work towards?  We all have dreams and aspirations, but did you know that almost 78% of us fail to achieve the things that we dream about?    Here are 7 reasons [...]

“You’re so lucky” How many times has somebody said this to you?   Whether it’s in relation to a holiday, lifestyle, job or your health and fitness.  I find it quite frustrating to be honest.  I’ve gained all of the good things in my life from working relentlessly hard and looking after my mind and body.  It wasn’t easy.  I spent 11 years living away from my home and family, [...]

Mental Resilience is the ability to adapt to change and uncertainty when life throws you a curveball.  Resilience helps you remain calm and flexible during times of crisis.  It gives you the mental strength to solve problems, move forward, and remain hopeful even when you are facing setbacks.  Being resilient doesn’t mean you experience less grief, distress, or anxiety than others.  It means you use proven coping mechanisms and skills [...]

Quitting doesn’t mean you’re a failure.  It means that you need to work on your mindset and habits to stop yourself from quitting.  Our minds are used to taking the easy option; choosing to sit in front of the TV after a long day at work instead of doing some exercise or seeing friends.  We’ve evolved to avoid pain and seek comfort so when we try something new our brain [...]

SHIT HAPPENS We all have those days or weeks when everything goes to plan.  The sun’s shining, you’ve nailed the to do list and finally the weekend is approaching.  Nothing can take the spring out of your step or put a dampener on your day.  Then boom…. Shit happens. It just simply arrives. No warnings. It hits you like a steam train. There’s nothing you can do about it. You [...]

Whether you like it or not life is full of challenges.  There is pressure and expectation everywhere, which can make you feel overwhelmed, anxious or stressed.  People often contemplate seeking the assistance from a Life Coach when they reach a critical point or suffer a traumatic event in their personal or professional life that requires help.  Some want to simply get more out of their lives, face their fears or be [...]

We all aim to be happy in life, but not everyone succeeds.  It’s not about avoiding sadness, it’s being able to embrace the negativity that sometimes comes our way, while enjoying the positive things in life.  Sometimes we all wish we could be happier.  It’s a known fact that we make ourselves miserable without even realising.  We think about how things in our life didn’t turn out as we hoped.  [...]

Burn out is extremely common in today’s busy life.  There are so many distractions around us that we never really get a chance to completely switch off and recharge.   Tell tale signs of burn out are physical and emotional fatigue, insomnia, negative feelings, snapping at people and lack of focus.  Burn out isn’t just about being exhausted or stressed, it’s a deep rooted sense of disillusionment with pretty much [...]

We all face stress of some kind in our lives, whether it’s on a personal or professional level.  It’s a well known fact that stress is related to bad or negative thoughts and feelings.  Stress is usually caused by a situation or event that puts pressure on us, or by our reaction to being placed under pressure.  Either of these situations can be very uncomfortable physically and mentally and can [...]

Feeling like you are bored or stagnant in life is more common than you may think.  I'm working with a few clients at the moment whose life looks perfect on paper but actually feels like a stuck record.   It’s quite common to create a life that looks good on the outside and try to be what other people want, or expect you to be.  However, admitting to yourself that [...]

A ‘mood hoover’ is someone who sucks the energy, life and positivity out of a person or group and replaces it with their own negative thoughts or mood.  They only have to speak to you for a short time but they will physically and mentally drain you, completely changing the atmosphere, in a bad way.  You will notice that they always complain or moan about stuff.  They will focus on [...]

What is Self-Love? It’s a fact of life that we all need love in some form in our life.  A sense of attachment and affection towards somebody or something.  Valentines day is literally everywhere you look at the minute, but I want to focus on the most important type of love; Self-Love.   Self-love is something that is quite often neglected by my clients.  They love everything around them but [...]

What are your goals in life?  If I asked you where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years time, would you know the answer? Setting life goals gives you short term motivation and long term vision.  It may not always be easy or run smoothly, but the fact that you’re challenging yourself makes life a little bit more interesting.  Without goals you stumble around, never truly knowing where [...]

Work takes up a significant amount of your time and if you’re unhappy, you need to make a change.  Being unhappy at work can have a huge knock on effect to your home life.  If you’re anxious, stressed or bored at work you will almost certainly feel the same at home. Four tell tale signs you’re unhappy at work: 1.   You clock watch.  Busy eyes don’t have time to [...]

A bucket list is a fun and effective way of making sure you do the things you enjoy in life or visit the places you’ve always wanted to see.  How many times have you said to yourself, “one day I would love to do that”, but you’ve never actually got around to doing it?  It doesn’t have to be something outrageous or expensive, it could be something very simple.  Actively [...]

Gratitude is an emotion where an individual expresses gratefulness or appreciation for what they have in life.  It encourages people to feel more positive, deal with adversity and reminds us of what is truly important in our lives whether that be friends, family or even our health. I’m writing this blog whilst the COVID 19 statistics rise (again!) and the outlook for Christmas and the New Year is looking a [...]

"Life is all about Choices" This has been one of my favourite sayings for as long as I can remember.  I think it’s because I genuinely believe it.  We make choices every single second of our lives.  There are the obvious ones such as what you eat, what you wear or what you say.  The less obvious ones such as what you think or what you focus on.  Then there [...]

It’s a well known fact that fresh air can make you feel better.  I love the great outdoors and everything it has to offer, and I’m at my happiest when I’m out for a long walk in my wellies, with my wife.  It gives me time to relax and the space to completely switch off.  We talk about the most bizarre things when we are out walking and we connect [...]

We all love to be comfortable.  We all possess a natural inclination to stick with the status quo and resist the unknown.  It gives us a sense of ease and convenience.  It’s the easy option isn’t it?  Do you hide away from tough issues, refuse to take risks or steer clear of difficult conversations at home or work?  If the answer is yes to any of these questions, you're probably comfortable.  If [...]

So far in my life, I have given a fuck about lots of people and things.  I’ve also not given a fuck about lots of people and things.  Can you guess which one has made more of a difference in my life?  It doesn’t mean I’m rude, insensitive or have a lack of empathy, it means I’ve learnt to accept that I can’t control everything in my life.  As soon [...]

Work/life balance is key to a healthy and happy life.  Having a successful career may be important to many of us, but it’s also important to find a good balance between your job and personal life.  A healthy work/life balance is paramount for your wellbeing.  It also ensures that you have the opportunity to get the very best out of life.  If you’re happy and balanced outside of work, it’s [...]

Confidence and self-esteem stem from positive thinking and believing that you can accomplish great things.  Your confidence and the belief you have in yourself can show in many ways; your behaviour, mood and the way you carry yourself.  More importantly it allows you to get more enjoyment, pleasure and fulfilment out of life.  Surely it’s worth reading further! […]

Goals are part of every single aspect of life: what you want to achieve at work, your relationships, even the way you use your free time.  A goal can be anything that you set for yourself and work hard to achieve.  The SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time Bound) method is one of the most effective tools to help you achieve your goals, whether they are short or long term.  [...]

Listening to others is important in both your personal and professional lives.  Active listening involves listening with all your senses.  It requires focus and effort, whilst allowing you to fully understand others and connect with them.  It’s the key to all effective communication and if you don’t listen properly, messages can easily be misunderstood which can cause confusion or even upset.  Taking the time to listen to your loved ones [...]

Do you feel as if you are living a full life?  Do you jump out of bed feeling motivated most days?  Are you looking forward to something special?  Are you living your life the way you envisaged?  If the answer is no to any of the above questions then you aren’t living a full life.  You are just getting by.  Going from day to day doing the same thing not [...]

People tend to use the word can’t when it’s related to something that stresses them out or they think they aren’t good at.  For example, getting on a plane with a fear of heights or going caving with a fear of confined spaces.  These type of stresses can make us anxious, so we aren’t willing to give it a go.  For any type of success, attitude is equally as important [...]

Is your Business struggling to achieve it's full potential? Do you feel like everything you've worked for is heading south? Did you know that Business coaching focusses on accelerating the success of the individual and the organisation?  A Business Coach will assist and guide you to take a business from where it is now to where you want it to be.  Ultimately my aim is to help you discover your potential, [...]

Questions prompt reflection.  They ignite curiosity, which create ideas, which lead to decisions.  Purposeful questions can help you think in new ways and find answers that aren’t immediately obvious.  They improve your self-awareness, giving you the ability to adapt to your environment more effectively.  Internal thoughts can be brought into the spotlight by asking yourself thought provoking questions.  We can never have all of the answers, that would be far [...]

Your immune system is made up of various organs, cells and proteins and plays a constant role in your body, battling against anything nasty that could make you ill.  It can’t fight everything, so particularly strong germs or ones that your body has never seen before can beat your immune system and cause illness.  There is no magic immune system booster, no matter what people tell you.  However, there are [...]

Ideas are worth nothing unless you act on them.  How many times has somebody said to you “That’s a great idea, you should do it”.  What typically happens?  Most of the time - nothing.  The idea remains an idea because you don’t have the time, resources, money or courage to take action.  Turning an idea into reality is never an easy thing to do.  It’s your idea and no one [...]

Living a healthier lifestyle will make you feel better, both physically and mentally.  Most of us have indulged a little (or a lot!) over the festive period and are feeling slightly sluggish and lethargic, so thoughts turn to losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle.   Here are some things to think about if you are looking to adopt a more healthier lifestyle: 1.  You don’t have to eat less, [...]

Toxic people are dangerous to your self-esteem, your inner thoughts and ultimately your mental health.  They can sometimes lurk in your closest inner circles without you realising, simply adding no benefit to your life.  These are the people who play manipulative games with you and give you the run around no matter how hard you try to make things work with them.  It can be anyone from a partner, work [...]

Are you thriving or surviving? You only get one shot at life so you need to give it the best chance you can.  Bad experiences or any type of trauma can very quickly change your outlook on life from thriving to surviving.  So what are the differences: Thriving If you’re thriving you’re high on life, you challenge yourself daily and your goals are in sight.  You’re happy and have a [...]

Learning something new can start a whole new chapter in your life.  It can give you focus and you never know, you may discover a hidden talent.  Though we continue to learn through experience and life in general, we don’t necessarily choose to learn for the sake of fun or curiosity.  Why not?  Are we too comfortable with what we do?  Are we set in our ways?  Do we lose [...]

Today is Mental Health Awareness Day and this year's theme is 'mental health for all'.  The last 6 months have been pretty tough on everyone and lockdown has had a huge impact on our mental health.  Even those who are mentally strong have struggled at some point over the last 6 months.  Everyone, no matter who you are will experience tough times at some point in your life.  I went through [...]

Staying positive is sometimes really hard, especially in the current climate.  During lockdown I, like many others worried about the impact it would have on my business and livelihood.  More importantly I worried about the affect it would have on the emotional and mental health of my family and I.     I think at some point every single one of us has struggled to remain positive since March.  You [...]

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses! Every day I meet people with huge amounts of talent and wonderful dreams, but something holds them back from taking a step forward and realising their true potential.  Instead, they find themselves watching others excel in their careers or following their dreams and passions.  They make excuses not to do something and don’t understand or know what is truly holding them back. Here are 6 of the [...]

We all crave happiness in many different forms.  Some people relate happiness to success at work, the ability to provide for their family and enjoy a certain quality of life.  For others, being happy is dependent on a social network; perhaps a partner or a strong network of friends who provide support and are fun to be around.  Happiness can also be found in the “things” we crave for, or [...]

I often get asked if counselling and Life Coaching offer the same help.  The very simple answer is no, they don’t. A Life Coach can’t help everyone and seeking help from one is not always the best solution.  You might think I’m a bit silly to say that given my profession, but one thing I strongly disagree with is taking on clients who I know will benefit from a different [...]

How many times have you found yourself saying yes to someone or something when you’re really thinking no?  You then waste time and energy thinking of ways to get out of what you’ve agreed to, causing huge amounts of stress or anxiety. Many of us struggle to say no, fearing anger, possibly upsetting someone or just the uncertainty of what their response will be.  These feelings can stem from our [...]

Negative thinking serves absolutely no purpose at all.  It drains your energy and steals your inner strength.  The more you let negative thoughts control you, the stronger they become.  It’s not always easy to turn off negative thoughts, especially when they accumulate and start to affect how you process information.  Negative thinking has absolutely nothing to do with you as a person.  These type of thoughts don’t define your character [...]

Every day from the moment we wake up, we live our lives caring what other people think of us.  It’s human nature to want to be liked and accepted, so we tip toe our way through life doing things to please others.  Quite often you will do, or not do what you want, because you’re concerned about what others think of you.  Every time you do this it’s holding you [...]

Lockdown has taught me to appreciate the simple things in life more than ever.  Long walks in the countryside.  Growing our own vegetables.  Enjoying morning coffee with my wife.  Being able to see friends and family freely (when we can!).  Having time to read or listen to podcasts.  The list is endless to be honest.  These things surround us every day but we just never seem to get the time [...]

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘take back control of your power or regain your inner strength?”    Sometimes situations, circumstances or even other people can dictate how you feel or how your day goes.  If you constantly allow this to happen you can find yourself in a downward spiral and before you know it you lose your personal power.  That ‘thing’ that makes you feel confident, fearless and strong. [...]

Negative mind chatter affects every single human being, from Olympic Athletes, to Astronauts, to you and me.  It influences your mood, hampers your ability to concentrate, has a negative impact on your behaviour and can make you angry and unhappy.  Did you know that 90% of our daily thoughts are ones we’ve had before and 80% of these are negative? Are you plagued by negative thoughts when it comes to [...]

A lot of men I know (including me) struggle to show their emotions or feelings, no matter how bad things get.  I know this may sound old fashioned but men like to be the strong ones, the breadwinners and the ones who can protect their family against anything.   Many of ‘us blokes’ keep a lot of our emotions and feelings close to our chests, but this can sometimes be [...]

Before…. I’ve always been fascinated with the human body, in particular how nutrition can influence its performance and general wellbeing.  I’ve been a meat eater my whole life and apart from breakfast, I rarely eat a meal without meat.  I enjoy the taste of meat, so plant based diets were just not for me. Just before Christmas I watched ‘The Game Changer’ documentary, which studies the benefits of a plant based diet [...]

Self refection is a process by which you can grow your understanding of who you are, what your values are and why you act and think the way you do.  It’s an important tool to help understand the great and not so great experiences you’ve had in life.  Self reflection isn’t about sitting and dwelling on the past or talking to yourself negatively, it’s about discovering how to improve as [...]

Having a positive mindset is key from the moment you wake up.  The way you start your day sets the tone for the rest of it.  If you want a happy and positive mindset you need to have a happy and positive start to that day.  You have 2 options from the moment you open your eyes; you can either jump out of bed and make the best of your [...]

COVID-19 is impacting everyone across the world and we now find ourselves spending 95% of our days in the house, not knowing how long it will last.  I love the outdoors and get cabin fever, so from day one this has been a challenge for me.  I’m a positive and energetic person but even I’ve struggled to motivate myself some days.  It’s absolutely impossible to stay positive all of the [...]

Now might seem like an unusual time to talk about staying positive, given the current situation with Coronavirus.  If you’re not already self-isolating there is a high chance you will be in the coming months so staying positive is key.  This is something we’ve never really being asked to do and I’m not going to lie, if I have to self isolate I will struggle.  Staying positive is the core [...]

Accountability requires commitment, the ability to take responsibility and become answerable for your actions and choices.  It’s not about what you don’t do.  It’s about what you do!  Accountability teaches you to value the choices you make in life.  I firmly believe if you want to achieve your goals or aspirations in your personal or professional life, accountability is the key.    There are 3 main areas in your life [...]

Everyone wants to be happy but how your life turns out is 100% your choice.  You are ultimately responsible for your own happiness.  If you struggle on a day to day basis and constantly feel unhappy, there are some things that you can consciously let go of to improve your life. Here are my 7 top tips on things to let go of to help you live a happy life: 1. [...]

Imposter Syndrome is the fear of ultimately being revealed as a fraud.  Do you ever feel like you’re in over your head in the workplace?  That you aren’t good enough, or perhaps someone will discover that you aren’t really up to the job.  Do you think you got the job because of ‘lucky questions’, ones that you happened to know the answers to at the interview?  Don’t worry you’re not on your [...]

Consistency leads to habits.  Habits form the actions we take every singe day.  Action leads to success.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it was as simple as that? Everything you do, whether personal or professional requires commitment and consistency.  When I launched my business I was told that consistency with social media was the key to getting my brand out there.  It means posting every day with content that will [...]

Life has a funny way of throwing challenges at us whether we are expecting them or not.  There are times when things just go wrong and it's difficult to adjust.  Even positive challenges can trigger distress or worry.  A challenge, whether it’s positive or negative can help improve your resilience and strength.  Learning from life's challenges will help you deal with the next hurdle you face or how to react to [...]

Have you ever wondered how you can improve your life, but not sure how to do it?  You don’t need a complete overhaul or make one big gesture to improve the quality of your life.  Just a few simple changes can improve your overall well being every day and make your life more enjoyable.     7 simple ways to improve your life: 1.   Whatever you do positive or [...]

This time of year sees the winter cold and flu viruses at their happiest, spreading their joy around, whether we like it or not.  Everywhere you turn, someone is coughing or sneezing and it’s pretty hard to avoid those germs completely.  Do you seem to catch every bug going whilst your partner/friend/work colleague just seem to sail through winter snot free? Here are just a few reasons why we tend [...]

Even though Life Coaching has become incredibly popular in recent years there is still a lot of confusion over the role of a Life Coach and how they can help someone.   So what is a Life Coach and what can they do to help you? A coach helps you identify where you are now, where you wold like to be and how to get there.  Coaching is proactive, giving [...]

Success is measured in so many different forms.  When it comes to personal success you have to create your own standards.  Don’t judge yourself according to other people’s definition of success.  You have to decide what’s most important in your life.  It could be a happy relationship, a successful career, or your health and fitness for example.  For most people it’s a mixture of a few things.  Once you’ve made [...]

Change happens everywhere around us, but it isn’t something we like to do.  In fact many of us avoid it completely because we like the idea of consistency.  From our morning routine, to the job we do, or even the meals we eat each night.  The thought of interfering with these daily routines can often initiate unease, stress or anxiety.  Every week my wife asks me what I fancy for [...]

Do you have bad or unwanted habits such as biting your nails, overeating/unhealthy eating, smoking or excessive drinking?  Do you sometimes think that enough is enough and you need to do something about it?   As a certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), I can help you break those bad or unwanted habits.  How NLP sessions helped Jack quit smoking: “I’m a 27 year old man, who had smoked for 10+ years, averaging between [...]

Post-event blues happen to everyone.  We’ve all spent a considerable amount of precious time and effort preparing for a goal or major event at some point in our lives.  Perhaps putting aside any spare money you have to pay for a well needed family holiday, putting hours and hours into preparing for a physically demanding sporting event, hitting send on a huge piece of work you’ve been focussed on, or [...]

Realising your dreams can be a long, undulating path to success and it’s normal to experience challenges or even failure along the way.  However, the key is to not let these challenges hold you back. Establishing my Life Coaching business was no different.  The initial dream of being a Life Coach seemed the perfect use of the skills that I developed during my military career.  Motivating people, building their personal confidence, [...]

It's impossible to go through life without experiencing regret.  Maybe a disappointment, a missed opportunity or a perceived mistake.  Perhaps you did or said something awful and feel guilty about it, or you were on the receiving end of bad treatment.  Regret will do it’s utmost to hold you firmly in place.  It will show no mercy or remorse and will eat away at your happiness, motivation and emotional state of mind.  [...]

A reality check can be a really useful tool to help improve your positivity.  With Rob’s* permission I want to share his Life Coaching journey with you.  Rob’s wife contacted me 6 months ago to see if I could help her husband cope with his depression and anxiety.  Rob was under GP care and with his GP’s approval he was reducing the anti-depressants he had been on for a number of [...]

Challenge yourself every single day! This weekend I cycled 138 miles from Great Ormond Street to Grantham with a fantastic bunch of people, in memory of Naomi Fardell.  Those of you who know me will probably be thinking that cycling 138 miles isn’t a challenge for me.  You may be right but this wasn’t about challenging myself.  It was about being part of a team, raising money for a fantastic [...]

Joe is a ground works construction engineer whose hours are unsociable and long, working around the country.  He told me that when he looked in the mirror or at photographs of himself he simply pushed the unhappy feelings about his weight to the back of his mind.  Subconsciously he knew he couldn’t go on looking and feeling the way he did, but he just didn’t have the motivation to give himself [...]

Real determination means refusing to give up when things get hard.  How many times have you thought to yourself “I’m determined to lose weight” or “I’m determined to change something in my life” and then never seen it through?  Take a moment to think about a time when you were determined to do something.  Did you achieve it?  If not, why?  What made you give up?  Accomplishing goals and dreams [...]

Personal standards are a set of behaviours that we choose for ourselves.  They are reflected in how we treat ourselves and how we treat others.  If we have high personal standards we will always expect to be treated with the highest regard.  If they are low we will accept things for how they are and may even allow others to walk all over us. Always set high personal and professional [...]

Firstly, I want to say how proud I am of my wife for letting me publish this blog.  It’s an extremely personal story, which has taken great courage to share. The menopause will affect every woman and yet it’s still a subject that many don’t discuss.  This is one of the main reasons Nicky decided to let me share our experience with the menopause, over the last 18 months.  She [...]

Everyone makes mistakes and poor choices.  Absolutely everybody.  You’re lying if you say you’ve never made a mistake.  Making mistakes are an essential part of life and I think a key factor to success in your personal and professional life.  Sometimes failure will happen because of your own mistakes, sometimes because of others.  Regardless of the reason why something failed, it’s important that you own the problem and acknowledge your [...]

Body image can be a major contributor to your overall happiness in life.  How you view yourself has a direct bearing on your confidence and self-esteem.  Confidence and health go hand in hand.  They feed off each other.  Having a healthy body image means that you feel good about yourself and will have the confidence to try new things.  A healthy body image is crucial to self-confidence, self-acceptance and self-worth. [...]

I’ve recently completed a 12 week Life Coaching programme with a client, identifying what's stopping him from taking his career to the next level.  We also worked together to create a better work/life balance for him.  My client admitted that he’s been putting things off for years and not being honest with himself.   He felt that as a man, he should be a strong leader and show no weakness, [...]

For those of us who live in the northern hemisphere, the seasonal change has started and springtime has arrived.  You can’t beat that feeling when you wake up, the birds are singing, the light is streaming through the curtains and you realise it’s still only 0700!  The seasonal change tends to give your motivation a kick start, getting rid of the lethargic feeling that winter gives you.  Push bikes are [...]

During my life, in particular my 31 yr Military career, I have lost a number of people who I have truly cared about, so I absolutely understand the heartache and pain that somebody experiences when they suffer a loss or bereavement.  When we lose someone close to us we feel a complete sense of emptiness and an unbearable void.  Some people have the ability to bounce back and cope with [...]

We hear the word Mindfulness everywhere these days, but what does it actually mean and why is it so important?  I practise mindfulness every single day in some form, depending on where I am or what I’m doing.  I can be sat in a chair, out walking, driving or even sometimes in the middle of a tough HIIT Session (true story!).   Mindfulness to me is focussing on being present [...]

Since starting my own business I seem to spend a huge amount of time on my phone and laptop.  I like to respond to queries and my clients immediately, even at weekends, which tips my work life balance the wrong way.  One of my New Year Resolution’s was to have a cut off time for all digital devices each evening and at weekends.  To be honest, it’s something I’m not [...]

Carl Gilbert is 44 years old and is the CEO of Arraquip Steel in Grantham.  Over the last few years the pressures of running his own company have impacted his physical and mental wellbeing.  After seeing the great success I’ve had with many other clients, Carl approached me for help.  After an initial consultation he decided to sign up for a 12 week Life Coaching programme, focussing on strategic organisation [...]

We’ve all heard the saying, “couples who train together stay together”.  Whilst I believe this to a certain degree, when you have young children and busy family lives, it’s not possible or practical to train together every day.  What I do believe is that a shared positive attitude towards a healthy lifestyle in a relationship, has huge benefits. Here are some of them: 1.  Quality time.  Let’s face it when [...]

We all hold onto things from the past.  It could be a grudge towards somebody, a bad experience, a memory or even a feeling.  It’s human nature to blame somebody else for things that go wrong.  For example if it’s the breakdown of a relationship, the anger can hang around and make you think that it’s helping you move forward.  In fact holding onto this anger is extremely unhealthy and by [...]

In July last year I wrote a blog about how Business and Confidence Coaching enabled Leigh to stand on the cusp of launching her life long dreams.  Fast forward 6 months and Leigh has built her own very successful Health and Fitness business, specialising in Obesity, Diabetes and Nutrition management.  Included in the business launch was an introduction to networking, in order to gain brand awareness. Leigh held her hands up straight [...]

Men tend not to talk about their own health, I know I don’t.  Most are reluctant to ask for help or admit they have a problem about anything.  Did you know that more than one in five men have not visited a GP or healthcare professional in the last 12 months, according to a recent survey?  Included in the survey was the fact that a third of men will only [...]

The start of a new year brings reflection, great intentions and a steely determination to stick to resolutions that were probably decided upon after a few gins!  So what happens to cause those New Year resolutions to fall by the wayside?  Before you’re even aware of it, the festive period is over and routine day to day living restarts and those resolutions seem to be a thing of the past.  [...]

In Mar 2018 whilst delivering Life Coaching sessions to a business in London, I met Calli Malpas.  At the time she was working as a Manager for an insurance company and spent her day sat at a desk constantly on the phone, making just enough to get by.  During our session she spoke very openly and admitted that although in general she enjoyed her job, she was no where near to fulfilling [...]

It’s the second of December and Christmas is approaching very quickly.  How many of us have said “I will go on a diet or start my fitness campaign on 1st Jan”, allowing us a guilt free Christmas and New Year?  Did you know that the average person gains 5lbs over Christmas?  Most people convince themselves that it will be ok and the extra pounds gained from the high calorie festive [...]

The festive season is creeping up on us quickly.  All those Christmas parties, the late night shopping for gifts and making plans to visit loved ones.  However, for those who suffer from social anxiety and low self confidence this can be the most traumatic time of year.  Just the thought of a Christmas party can cause months of stress and anxiety and many just want the festive period over and [...]

Chris Hankinson is the Sales Director at AMG Sports-Play Ltd, based in Lincolnshire.  With a long and successful career in sales he is keen to develop his portfolio by building his managerial experience.  His ultimate aim is to become Managing Director of his own company. Following a recommendation from a colleague and friend, he asked OAX Life Coaching to teach him the tools to become more effective in his personal [...]

How many of us are guilty of using the cold, wet winter weather as an excuse not to train?  I know I have been in the past!  With those dark nights and winter approaching it may be challenging to motivate yourself to train outdoors and stick to those training programmes.  Here are some top tips to help you stick to your personal goals through the winter: Layer up.  It’s important [...]

Let’s face it nobody likes to fail at anything, but it’s literally impossible to get through life without failing over and over again.  From the second we are born we constantly try to get better at things.  The main difference is that as an infant we didn’t worry or care if we failed.  We would just try again and again, until we succeeded.  From the age of approximately 8 years old [...]

Debbie Johnson is 44 years old and leads a very hectic life as a full time working wife and mum of 2, whilst balancing her successful career as a travel consultant.  Her health and fitness took a hit due to her busy life, therefore exercise and nutrition were not high on her priority list.  During our initial consultation it became clear that she lacked motivation and self confidence.  Debbie told [...]

Being physical fit is not just about being able to run 10 miles or bench press 100 kg’s.  It’s about incorporating a number of components into your fitness regime to ensure you create a balanced programme.  Highly trained athletes mix up their training to ensure they are physically and mentally fit to compete and excel at their given sport. I believe that the following 8 components are essential for all round [...]

It’s quite easy to think others have perfect lives from the outside, but you never really know what people struggle with, on a day to day basis.  This may come as a complete surprise to those who know me well, but yes I have suffered from depression and it was probably one of the worst times of my life.  My depression came on gradually, so I didn’t realise something was [...]

Charlie Green is 54 years old and an extremely successful businessman.  He admits that he has done very little exercise, over the past 18 years.  His family have gone through some of the most testing times of their lives, during the last 2 years.  Charlie lost his Father in law to Cancer, his wife Sara has been struggling with an extremely serious illness and he had a heart scare of [...]

When I met Leigh, she had a wonderful dream to become a successful business woman and entrepreneur.  The only thing stopping her, was a lack of confidence and self belief.  Leigh's dream was to create a business specialising in health and fitness, for people struggling with obesity and diabetes. Leigh has been a very successful personal trainer for many years, but she has never felt capable or confident enough, to [...]

It’s peak summer holiday time and you’ve been saving and dreaming about it for months.  It’s time to switch off, relax and put aside any stresses that you may have.  Holiday’s are the time to have a break from strict gym routines and diets, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to come back a stone heavier. You will start to lose fitness (decondition) after about 2 weeks of doing [...]

Making a decision, whether it's small or potentially life changing, can be very hard to do.  The bigger a decision is and the more options we have, the harder they seem to get.  It can be quite nerve wracking making a decision, in case you make the wrong one.  What car should I buy?  Do we want another baby?  Is this the right house for us?  Am I happy in my [...]

My wife Nicky has had a fear of the ocean, for as long as she can remember.  Unable to link it to a particular experience or event, she thinks it may be the unknown.  Imagine my surprise when she said that she had booked us on a Yoga and Surf retreat! Nicky's story If I’m being honest, I never actually intended to do the ‘surf’ part of the retreat.  I [...]

Keith Davison is 53 years old.  He is a happy go lucky gentleman who likes a beer or 2, eats the wrong food and smokes.  Health and Fitness were literally the last things on his mind. On a recent visit to his GP, he was given a life changing ultimatum.  Do something about your health and fitness, or risk getting Heart Disease.  Keith is a devoted husband, father and grandfather and [...]

If you choose not to challenge your boundaries, you will never grow.  This could mean that you miss out on a huge amount of unexpected fun, freedom and pleasure.  You will be someone who observes, from afar, others getting the very best out of life.  Do you want to live a boring, safe life - this is something that quite frankly terrifies me.  This is why I chose to challenge [...]

Project Hope On Fri 20 Apr, I had the privilege of being invited to Project Hope.  This is one of the many projects run by The Rosie May Foundation, an international charity helping children, mainly girls, in Sri Lanka and Nepal.  The charity was set up by Graham and Mary Storrie after the murder of their ten-year-old daughter, Rosie May, in 2003. Project Hope offers single mothers at risk of abandoning [...]

MY AMAZING CLIENT JAMES Most of us take things for granted, every single day.  Even the simplest of things, like the ability to walk up and down the stairs, or go for a long walk, it’s just something we do, without really thinking about it.  Of course, it isn’t like this for everybody.  7 weeks ago, 18 year old James Kimmings asked for my coaching to get him stronger and fitter, both physically and psychologically. [...]

Sometimes people just need a little motivation, to achieve a lot! Paul 'Joe' Jordan spent 15 years in the Army as a Paratrooper and in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps.  Fitness was his life.  He left the Army in 2000 and moved to the USA, where he worked as a bodyguard for Brad Pitt, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Janet Jackson and Ellen DeGeneres.  He also trained Brad Pitt in preparation for his [...]

Identifying and seeking advice and guidance in relation to personal health and fitness, can be a life changing moment.  Over the last 5 weeks I have had the pleasure of coaching Nick Johnson, who wanted help to change his mindset towards health and fitness.  I provided him with motivation, confidence and positivity coaching, to enable him to become fitter and stronger.  This requires pure dedication and desire from the client, which Nick has had in abundance. [...]

Earlier this week, I was asked to give a motivational presentation / speech to a large corporate organisation, explaining the benefits of Life Coaching and what it can offer to people.  It sounds easy when Life Coaching is my passion and speaking to large groups of people is pretty much what I have done for the last 30 years, doesn’t it?   To be honest it was a bit of [...]

Stepping outside of my Comfort Zone - YOGA!  We are all creatures of habit, it’s easy to stay in a safe routine and not challenge ourselves.  Sometimes we need to throw caution to the wind, try something new and step outside of our comfort zone…….for me it was Yoga! Twelve months ago my wife finally persuaded me to attend her hot yoga class.  This was after weeks of saying; ’I’m [...]

Having a Passion or Purpose in life creates energy and excitement.  It makes us want to jump out of bed in the morning to face the day ahead.  Why is finding it so important: 1. Feeling - Having a passion about something makes you feel better about yourself when you do it.  It doesn’t cause you stress and helps you become more optimistic and positive.  You will naturally put your heart [...]

The MOTIVATION to start a business. There I was, looking forward to retiring after an amazing 30 years in the British Army, when someone (I still really don’t know who 🤔), plants a little seed in my head: “ Have you ever thought about becoming a life coach? You’d be great”. Well, almost 10 months on from that moment, I find myself building a life coaching business…….so much for retiring [...]

As humans we are so focussed on taking short cuts or cutting corners to economise. This may work when we want to be more efficient with menial chores and tasks, but not when it comes to your health and fitness: the Mind Body and Spirit need to be kept very much alive. I set myself little challenges every day and although they are only small, they really do make a [...]

Each day I try to put aside 45 - 60 minutes to do a Fitness Training session of some kind, otherwise I’m like a bear with a sore head, if I can’t get my fix!  On a recent city break to Berlin with my wife Nicky, I realised that I hadn’t actually packed any of my training clothing, which is usually second nature to me. Mr Negative, who puts in [...]

We all have motivation inside of us and use it in so many different ways.  You can’t buy it in a tin and no one is gifted with an endless supply of it.  Personal Motivation can get you to your destination but, just like every Athlete or Professional, it’s invariably the Coach who pushes you that extra mile for ultimate success. “Keep moving forward and never look back”. Chris 👍😎 [...]