So whether you're diving in, or planning to dip in gradually, enjoy your 2013, I hope it is a year of good health, magic moments and a little something new for you!

 

After recovering from the night (or should I say the year) before, New Year is Resolution Time. Big and Bold Statements of Change. Commitment to New Habits. Promises that This Year It Will All Be Different. Resolutions with a Capital Letter.

Our resolutions usually revolve around three things - a giving up of something (usually deemed "bad"), a taking up of something (usually deemed "good") or a shaking up of something (usually a good sorting out, reorganising, regaining "control" over something). We use words like "never" "always" "totally" "completely" "finally" . . . in a very "all or nothing" kind of way.

I think part of the new year resolution challenge is that we are making these resolutions at a time when, quite frankly, we are never at our most resourceful or imaginative! After the excesses of the Christmas season, we naturally want to head for a simpler, healthier kind of life - temporarily, at least. But should these be our resolutions year in year out?

This year, I'm exploring an alternative way of looking at this time of resolution. What if, instead, it became a time of experimentation? What if January was like a fun laboratory where we tested out new stuff for ourselves?

Testing could be on a teeny tiny scale - just one test tube full of newness - a new route to work, a new way of introducing yourself, a new stroke for a length of the swimming pool, a new position for a pot plant.

Or really mix it up and make a new meal, find a new walk, speak to a new person, test out a new exercise class, take a new approach to a regular meeting, read a totally new kind of book.

Or why not treat it as a time to think about what new action you could take that brought you a tiny bit closer to something you've been dreaming about?  And do it!

Just once if you like - or perhaps twice.

Or more,

If it's working for you.

The point is to explore things that might be new for you in 2013 and put yourself in a resourceful place, where trying and seeing is a Good Thing; where you commit to each "test" and not to a whole new lifestyle or project at once;where you practise making those small stretches out of your comfort zone; and where you don't beat yourself up for giving something up - because in experimentation there is lots of learning and no such thing as failure.

What could you learn if you tested a few new things out for yourself? What might you discover you enjoyed?
 
Remember the metaphor of the butterfly flapping its wings leading to a hurricane across the globe - where a tiny activity can make a big impact elsewhere.

Why not let the New You of 2013 be a more experimental, open, alive to change, wing flapper kind of you? Who knows where this could lead if you let it? Towards something you've been dreaming about, perhaps?

Do you want a big dose of energy and motivation to get started on whatever is going to be new for you in 2013?

Yes please!!?

Look no further - this is your workshop!

My aim is for you to leave the 2 hour workshop with a renewed spring in your step, a sense of direction and with lots of ideas as to what to test out as you move forward.

Sign Up on Facebook or email me.

 

Tuesday 8th January 9.30-11

Coaching Circles are great opportunities to explore topics in a fun, informal yet still facilitated and productive environment. If you've been on a Coach your Kids workshop before and want to continue to develop your skills, if you've got some coaching experience and want to see how it can develop your relationship with your children, or if you're ready to dive in anyway, do join us.

This coaching circle will be once a month, normally on the 2nd Tuesday. You can attend just one, two or all of them. The first one you attend is free, then it is just CHF20 a time.

Sign Up on Facebook or email me.

The next Coach your Kids workshop will be held on 5th February. Mark your calendars if you'd like to attend this popular workshop.

 

What is Alive to Change and Roots and Wings all about?

There is a saying that the most precious gift we can give our children is roots and wings. Roots refers to the stability and support a home and family can provide (think tree), and wings refers to the inspiration, growth and development that comes through exploration (think butterfly or bird!).

My Alive to Change coaching work with Mums Abroad is all about the roots (feeling more confident, comfortable, settled, resourceful) and wings (reconnecting with your dreams, plotting and planning to move towards them, renewing energy and motivation, taking action). My view is that both of these take on a different perspective when parenting abroad - we have additional challenges, choices and changes to deal with.

The workshops I design and run for Mums Abroad focus on different personal development and parenting topics - always with the background that, living abroad, there are different challenges and choices involved. My aim is that they are fun, practical and supportive - and really help you to explore the things that are most important to you.

Many of the topics which become group workshops are driven by the issues which are commonly raised by 1-1 clients. Check out the Success Stories page for examples of these topics.

I use my Roots and Wings newsletter to home in on different aspects of our lives, and to highlight some of my workshops you might be interested in as Mums Abroad. Check out the workshop page for what is coming up.

My Alive to Change Facebook page is now updated fairly regularly with things I find amusing or inspiring - hopefully you do too! You can sign up to workshops through the event page on here. Check it out, and if you like it - Like it!!