I love to try new things, generally, in most areas of life and food.
Apart from when it comes to yoghurt.
For some reason, I've only ever been able to eat strawberry yoghurt (occassionally raspberry) and, with all the new ad campaigns going on about the nutritional benefits, have been eating a mini pot a day.
So, becoming a bit bored with strawberry but apprehensive about not liking my new choice, I decided to branch out. Just with a four-pack. And strawberry and rhubarb made a delish trifle so maybe...
And I'm happy to report that it was lovely.
While I'm no freegan (the adventurous souls who forage for food in skips and generally have an incredibly varied diet of fresh produce as a result), it felt quite liberating.
Can you think of something you always choose by default? It may be in your shopping list (or maybe you wing it without a list but still buy the same things over and over) or places you visit on holiday, the kind of person you befriend or date, exercise plans... What might happen if you tried something new?
Start small with something (like yoghurt) where the risk factor is pretty low. Who knows what you'll build up to!
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / www.applecoaching.com 2008.
Thursday 27 November 2008
Tuesday 25 November 2008
Addiction or assistance?
Do you ever leave home without your BlackBerry / mobile? Are they ever switched off? Do you make time for friends you don't work with?
I was planning for this to be very "coachy" but realised today that I need to pay attention to my own advice.
I'd been feeling smug (I rarely turn my little pay-as-you-go mobile on unless I'm meeting someone or checking my landline for messages) but then I realised how much I depend on my BlackBerry.
I'll be going to Kenya for a couple of weeks in March and am already stressing about potential reception problems. The idea of being uncontactable by clients and potential clients for two whole weeks makes me consider not going. I'd only check it once or twice a day!
While I'm nowhere near as bad as the woman who took her BlackBerry in with her to the delivery room while she was in labour, the idea of life (well, work) without it is uncomfortable.
Can you think of anything that's made the transition from assistance to addiction in your life or work?
If you're concerned (or if people close to you think you should be), experiment with weaning yourself off. If you normally check for messages several times each evening and throughout the weekend, set times to do so to keep yourself, rather than the labour saving device, in control.
Spend some time, each day, when you're only answerable to yourself. How does that feel? Liberatingly untethered or anxious?
I'd love to hear about it.
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / www.applecoaching.com 2008.
I was planning for this to be very "coachy" but realised today that I need to pay attention to my own advice.
I'd been feeling smug (I rarely turn my little pay-as-you-go mobile on unless I'm meeting someone or checking my landline for messages) but then I realised how much I depend on my BlackBerry.
I'll be going to Kenya for a couple of weeks in March and am already stressing about potential reception problems. The idea of being uncontactable by clients and potential clients for two whole weeks makes me consider not going. I'd only check it once or twice a day!
While I'm nowhere near as bad as the woman who took her BlackBerry in with her to the delivery room while she was in labour, the idea of life (well, work) without it is uncomfortable.
Can you think of anything that's made the transition from assistance to addiction in your life or work?
If you're concerned (or if people close to you think you should be), experiment with weaning yourself off. If you normally check for messages several times each evening and throughout the weekend, set times to do so to keep yourself, rather than the labour saving device, in control.
Spend some time, each day, when you're only answerable to yourself. How does that feel? Liberatingly untethered or anxious?
I'd love to hear about it.
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / www.applecoaching.com 2008.
Friday 21 November 2008
Do talk to strangers this World Hello Day
Hello!
Do you make eye contact with strangers as you cross their paths during your day? I remember a friend teaching me how to look just above people's heads to avoid all eye contact (and falling over from looking at the ground) when I was a kid and I thought it was the most brilliant thing ever.
More recently, I've been unlearning this and often smile at strangers. This morning, even before remembering that today is World Hello Day, I started conversations with several strangers at my new yoga class.
I had a mini conversation at the checkout when I was buying milk and said a winded pitiful "Hello" to a couple of complete strangers who were giving me strange looks as I cycled slowly uphill. (One smiled back but the other looked quite alarmed.)
Personally speaking, I find it much easier to open up to potential conversations when I'm feeling relaxed and good about life in general. If I'm anxious or stressed, my reflex is to keep people at a distance.
Are you happy to talk to anyone anytime? If you're less likely to say "hello" to a stranger, might knowing that it could be helping bring about world peace (www.worldhelloday.org) make you more likely to overcome your natural reserve?
I'd love to hear how you get on (eve@applecoaching.com)...
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / www.applecoaching.com 2008.
Do you make eye contact with strangers as you cross their paths during your day? I remember a friend teaching me how to look just above people's heads to avoid all eye contact (and falling over from looking at the ground) when I was a kid and I thought it was the most brilliant thing ever.
More recently, I've been unlearning this and often smile at strangers. This morning, even before remembering that today is World Hello Day, I started conversations with several strangers at my new yoga class.
I had a mini conversation at the checkout when I was buying milk and said a winded pitiful "Hello" to a couple of complete strangers who were giving me strange looks as I cycled slowly uphill. (One smiled back but the other looked quite alarmed.)
Personally speaking, I find it much easier to open up to potential conversations when I'm feeling relaxed and good about life in general. If I'm anxious or stressed, my reflex is to keep people at a distance.
Are you happy to talk to anyone anytime? If you're less likely to say "hello" to a stranger, might knowing that it could be helping bring about world peace (www.worldhelloday.org) make you more likely to overcome your natural reserve?
I'd love to hear how you get on (eve@applecoaching.com)...
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / www.applecoaching.com 2008.
Monday 17 November 2008
Running on empty?
Last week, I noticed that my video remote wasn't working properly. I had to keep getting up to press the relevant buttons on the actual machine (outrageous!). After a while, I had the blinding idea of changing the batteries to see if that might help.
It made such a difference, I was really impressed. From getting to the point where I was wondering where I'd be able to buy a new video when I needed to replace it (does anywhere even sell them anymore?), it was good as new.
So it felt like an added bonus that this was my first weekend completely off in ages. It's so obvious that we humans need downtime. Not vegging in front of the TV (although that can be great, too) but actual "flow" time to help us recharge. Whether that involves reading something engrossing, painting, playing music, walking or something completely different is up to you.
Yet so few people make it a priority. When did you last give yourself any length of time off just for you? If you can't schedule in a whole day, make it an hour. Go with the flow and keep checking in with yourself: What do you feel like doing right now?
It'll be worth it.
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / http://www.applecoaching.com/ 2008.
It made such a difference, I was really impressed. From getting to the point where I was wondering where I'd be able to buy a new video when I needed to replace it (does anywhere even sell them anymore?), it was good as new.
So it felt like an added bonus that this was my first weekend completely off in ages. It's so obvious that we humans need downtime. Not vegging in front of the TV (although that can be great, too) but actual "flow" time to help us recharge. Whether that involves reading something engrossing, painting, playing music, walking or something completely different is up to you.
Yet so few people make it a priority. When did you last give yourself any length of time off just for you? If you can't schedule in a whole day, make it an hour. Go with the flow and keep checking in with yourself: What do you feel like doing right now?
It'll be worth it.
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / http://www.applecoaching.com/ 2008.
Thursday 13 November 2008
How personally do you take things?
Even if you're the type of person feels responsible for absolutely everything, you can still learn to distance yourself. (As an "Eve" who was raised as a Catholic, I used to take on far more than my fair share of guilt.)
So instead of thinking that there's nothing you can do to change things, start thinking about the times when you notice it most.
Are you prone to oversensitivity when an issue has to do with your work? Family? Relationships? Or maybe any mention of your children is potentially explosive?
Start paying attention to any criticism (real, implied or even imagined) that you feel. Take a step back (emotionally if you can't do it physically) and simply ask yourself:
1) Does the person criticising have their own agenda which has absolutely nothing to do with me?
2) Is this something I feel that needs work?
3) Have other people ever said anything similar? (Even if this is the case, it's possible that they all had an agenda)
I'm not suggesting you ignore people's attempts to help you when that's what they're doing. But stop letting people's opinions run your life. As the old saying goes: "What other people think of me is none of my business".
By questioning criticism before absorbing it and deciding whether or not you choose to take it on board, you're immediately taking the sting out of it. And even if you decide to act on it, you'll be in a much stronger position.
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / www.applecoaching.com 2008.
So instead of thinking that there's nothing you can do to change things, start thinking about the times when you notice it most.
Are you prone to oversensitivity when an issue has to do with your work? Family? Relationships? Or maybe any mention of your children is potentially explosive?
Start paying attention to any criticism (real, implied or even imagined) that you feel. Take a step back (emotionally if you can't do it physically) and simply ask yourself:
1) Does the person criticising have their own agenda which has absolutely nothing to do with me?
2) Is this something I feel that needs work?
3) Have other people ever said anything similar? (Even if this is the case, it's possible that they all had an agenda)
I'm not suggesting you ignore people's attempts to help you when that's what they're doing. But stop letting people's opinions run your life. As the old saying goes: "What other people think of me is none of my business".
By questioning criticism before absorbing it and deciding whether or not you choose to take it on board, you're immediately taking the sting out of it. And even if you decide to act on it, you'll be in a much stronger position.
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / www.applecoaching.com 2008.
Monday 10 November 2008
Committing to change
I was on Loud Women again this weekend and, naturally, there was a lot of talk about the election (to listen, please click http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/essex.shtml and choose Saturday Lunchtime).
As my personal high has begun to wear off (who am I kidding? I'm still beaming everytime I think about it!), I've become increasingly impressed by the fact that so many voters (whoever they chose to vote for) queued for hours and hours.
Being a woman, I've always been more aware of the struggle to get the vote so I've never not voted, but, in recent years, I've done this by post. Before that, going to my local polling station may have involved a 1/2 hour queue but hours and hours? I can't imagine it.
Still, any kind of change needs a concerted effort. If you want to improve your relationship or work, eating habits or fitness, general wellbeing or confidence, there's no point just saying you want to make a change.
How can you commit to making it happen? What do you need to start doing differently every single day?
It's often tempting to pick the easy option but it will be worth the effort when you truly commit to the life and work you want and start seeing those results.
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / www.applecoaching.com 2008.
As my personal high has begun to wear off (who am I kidding? I'm still beaming everytime I think about it!), I've become increasingly impressed by the fact that so many voters (whoever they chose to vote for) queued for hours and hours.
Being a woman, I've always been more aware of the struggle to get the vote so I've never not voted, but, in recent years, I've done this by post. Before that, going to my local polling station may have involved a 1/2 hour queue but hours and hours? I can't imagine it.
Still, any kind of change needs a concerted effort. If you want to improve your relationship or work, eating habits or fitness, general wellbeing or confidence, there's no point just saying you want to make a change.
How can you commit to making it happen? What do you need to start doing differently every single day?
It's often tempting to pick the easy option but it will be worth the effort when you truly commit to the life and work you want and start seeing those results.
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / www.applecoaching.com 2008.
Thursday 6 November 2008
Simple things to make you feel better
There's something very comforting and confidence boosting about doing things you don't usually do in order to take better care of yourself.
I recently piled up all my clothes that needed buttons to be sewed back on (not that many - five buttons in total) and just sat down and did it while listening to some nice music.
It gave me a real sense of satisfaction. And the previous energy drain (everytime I'd spotted each item, I'd thought, "Oh, I really ought to ____") was replaced with a little sense of pride.
And, not being a natural seamstress (I know, sewing buttons on is hardly designing my own evening wear collection), I felt pleased that the thread held!
Do you remember Nicole Kidman's character in Cold Mountain? She'd been bred (I think they called it breeding then) to do aesthetically pleasing things like flower arranging, embroidery and singing. But she couldn't grow her own food or do anything practical.
Renee Zellweger's character helped her learn to fend for herself more and function in the real world.
We're very fortunate in this part of the world and time in history. In spite of the "current economic climate", it's likely that, as you read this, you have access to safe drinking water, food and shelter. That when you don't let worries spiral, you realise that, actually, most if not all of your basic needs are being met.
So instead of focusing on and worrying about the markets and other things you probably don't have a huge deal of say over, think about how you can make things that bit better.
Learning or doing simple things to take care of yourself and the things you already own can be a nice boost.
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / http://www.applecoaching.com/ 2008.
I recently piled up all my clothes that needed buttons to be sewed back on (not that many - five buttons in total) and just sat down and did it while listening to some nice music.
It gave me a real sense of satisfaction. And the previous energy drain (everytime I'd spotted each item, I'd thought, "Oh, I really ought to ____") was replaced with a little sense of pride.
And, not being a natural seamstress (I know, sewing buttons on is hardly designing my own evening wear collection), I felt pleased that the thread held!
Do you remember Nicole Kidman's character in Cold Mountain? She'd been bred (I think they called it breeding then) to do aesthetically pleasing things like flower arranging, embroidery and singing. But she couldn't grow her own food or do anything practical.
Renee Zellweger's character helped her learn to fend for herself more and function in the real world.
We're very fortunate in this part of the world and time in history. In spite of the "current economic climate", it's likely that, as you read this, you have access to safe drinking water, food and shelter. That when you don't let worries spiral, you realise that, actually, most if not all of your basic needs are being met.
So instead of focusing on and worrying about the markets and other things you probably don't have a huge deal of say over, think about how you can make things that bit better.
Learning or doing simple things to take care of yourself and the things you already own can be a nice boost.
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / http://www.applecoaching.com/ 2008.
Tuesday 4 November 2008
Psychosynthesis - stripping away everything that's holding you back and letting you shine
I love helping my coaching clients feel better about themselves. But sometimes, people need to delve that bit deeper and therapy is a better option.
The best description I've heard so far is that therapy helps people move from not OK to fine. Coaching takes them from OK to extraordinary.
Some people can benefit from both - coaching to help with areas that need improvement and therapy to help eradicate pain from the past.
I recently started training as a psychosynthesis psychotherapist (www.psychosynthesis.edu) and completed the Essentials Course last night.
I'm really looking forward to sharing some of the techniques I learned with my coaching clients (as appropriate - I won't be qualified as a counsellor for three years and a psychotherapist for five).
The Essentials Course is open to everyone (you don't have to want to become a counsellor or psychotherapist) and is, frankly, amazing.
If you're feeling stuck and would like to strip away pain, baggage, doubt and any other negative pattern that's attached itself to you over your lifetime, give it a go.
I've been using coaching techniques on myself as well as my clients for years. I love knowing how to help myself and my clients psych ourselves up to do pretty much anything. But after this five day psychosynthesis course, I'm left with an inner glow that feels effortless (no psyching up required).
All I need to do now is stay open to it...
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / www.applecoaching.com 2008.
The best description I've heard so far is that therapy helps people move from not OK to fine. Coaching takes them from OK to extraordinary.
Some people can benefit from both - coaching to help with areas that need improvement and therapy to help eradicate pain from the past.
I recently started training as a psychosynthesis psychotherapist (www.psychosynthesis.edu) and completed the Essentials Course last night.
I'm really looking forward to sharing some of the techniques I learned with my coaching clients (as appropriate - I won't be qualified as a counsellor for three years and a psychotherapist for five).
The Essentials Course is open to everyone (you don't have to want to become a counsellor or psychotherapist) and is, frankly, amazing.
If you're feeling stuck and would like to strip away pain, baggage, doubt and any other negative pattern that's attached itself to you over your lifetime, give it a go.
I've been using coaching techniques on myself as well as my clients for years. I love knowing how to help myself and my clients psych ourselves up to do pretty much anything. But after this five day psychosynthesis course, I'm left with an inner glow that feels effortless (no psyching up required).
All I need to do now is stay open to it...
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / www.applecoaching.com 2008.
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