What is important to you this year?

Allison Fisher Career & Life CoachIn my last blog I discussed writing an Obituary.  This is about identifying what your wants are in life.  Could be what you want to achieve, could be who you want to be, behaviours you want to develop or what you want to create in your life. 

The next step now that you know what you want is to make this into specific GOALS.  So thinking about the year ahead, look at your Obituary and decide what are the priorities for you in 2014 that will help you achieve what you want in life.  Ask yourself what is really important to me this year?  What would make my life interesting, purposeful, exciting and fun? Write those ideas on a large piece of paper then follow the 6 tips below to create clear goals:

  1. Write goals as if you have already achieved them e.g. ” I run twice a week” or “I have a loving intimate relationship”.
  2. Be specific – how will you know you have achieved the goal?
  3. Check – how much do you want this goal on a scale of 1 to 10?  If a 5 or 6 rating then ask yourself is it important enough?  Is there another goal that is more important.
  4. Small bites – if you want to run a marathon maybe the first thing you need to do is buy new shoes? Allison Fisher Career and Life CoachSo plan one bite  and one step at a time!
  5. Check are there any obstacles to achieving your goal?  If there are how can you circumvent this or perhaps ask for help to climb over the obstacle.
  6. And finally chunk the goals to achieve each month.  So in February what are the actions I need to do to work towards my goals?  Make a list and tick them off as you go.  Then set the next actions for March and so on.

If you would like to begin 2014 clear and focused, then call or email  Allison Fisher, Career & Life Coaching to  discuss your way forward.

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Be your own Life Coach, write your Obituary!

sunrise_photography_5Ever written your obituary?  Sound strange?

 

I guess it is in a way but isn’t it much better to decide what you want and create it while you’re in this world rather than someone else writing your obituary once you’ve gone?

It can be a really useful way to identify what you do want and what you want to achieve in life, then you can go about creating it.

Here’s an article in the January edition of the NZ publication of NEXT magazine about 3 inspiring and very normal women who wrote their obituary.  They each worked with a life coach and I was lucky enough to be one of those, to assist them to identify what they wanted in their lives.

This could be your beginning in 2014.  Either write it all at once or write it bit by bit tuning into what might excite and stimulate you to be able to really live and enjoy the life you have.  Key question is WHAT DO YOU WANT?   So give it a go, have a play, this is just for you and it doesn’t need to be perfect.

I’d love to receive your obituary or plan for 2014 or you could call or email me at Allison Fisher, Career & Life Coaching to discuss what you would like to create.

Here we go 2014 let’s do it!butterfly

Life Coaching | The Joy and the Pain

Allison Fisher, Career & LIfe Coching
The Joy and the Pain of Life

I recently read the singer Shania Twain’s autobiography.  She grew up in a poor family and literally went hungry at times, lost her mother when she was young and had a terrible betrayal by her best friend and then husband.  I loved this quote:

Even when life hits you like a Mack truck that’s come out of nowhere, there is still a chance  that you will survive, and although the road to recovery may be slow , long , and even permanent, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the rest of your life and be happy again. (Page 397)

It really struck me what perfect words for pain and joy.  Life isn’t perfect and often doesn’t deliver all we want.  However it can be possible to live with both – the pain of what has happened and the joy of a happy life.  In coaching I find people sometimes struggle to talk about the pain but the best way forward is to speak of it.  Let me know your experiences of life struggles and being able to feel the joy again.  Contact Allison Fisher, Career & Life Coaching.

Allison Fisher , Career & Life Coaching

Life Coaching | Be Kind To Your Mate!

Life coaching is not only about your life but extend this to how relationships impact on your happiness and contentment levels.

Relationships can at times can get neglected and taken for granted.  Here are 6  reminders to take care of your intimate relationship.Allison Fisher Career & Life Coach

  1. Identify what gets in the way of spending time together.  Is it worrying about finances, is it work, is it a life packed so full there is no time for each other?  Identify the what is missing in your lives together and holding you back from creating that special space and time for each other AND then together create the space for each other.
  2. Leave the Baggage behind – every person on the face of the Earth has some kind of history, or “baggage”,
    although at varying levels. Do not walk into a relationship with your arms loaded with that baggage. The past is the past. Even though there are things from the past that are hurtful, and even damaging, learn from those things and come out a better and stronger person.
  3. Realistic Expectations – no matter how wonderful and flawless your mate seems, no one is perfect. Be careful about putting someone on a pedestal, especially in the early stages of your relationship. Make sure that the expectations you have for your mate and yourself are realistic. Life change, career changes, people change and these can all impact on your mate’s here and now.  There are going to be differences in opinion, and probably some disagreements. Also, do not assume that your mate knows how you feel or what you think about something. When discussing something important to you, ensure that you both understand the same thing. The reality is that neither one of you is going to know exactly what the other one needs.
  4. Start a memory box to store old movie tickets, brochures from cities visited, concert ticket stubs, old ski lift passes, cards attached to flowers received, old love notes or letters, birthday cards or anniversary cards from your mate, anything that the two of you did together. Every once in awhile, pull the box out and look at the
    items with your mate.
  5. Special gifts – these do not need to be expenisve but a surprise gift to your loved one show’s you are thinking of them and appreciate them.  For instance cook their favourite meal and dress in a sexy way, make a hand made card, or buy something that they have been wanting for a while.
  6. Appreciate, appreciate, appreciate – compliments and thank you’s can never be used enough.  When he fixes the leak in the bathroom tell him he is handy with the tools, when she is generous to your mother then compliment on her generosity.  Just like the cliché, “If you do not have something nice to say, then do not say anything at all.” This is very true – take notice of the good things your mate does and make it known to them that you see and appreciate those things.

As an Auckland life coach, I often meet with families and partners in order to identify passion, talents and skills and build new confidence in the life you are creating for yourself.  Contact Allison Fisher | Specialist in supporting adults and teenagers in career and life choices for more information.

Visit my website at www.auckland-lifecoach.co.nz for a list of my Career and Life Coaching Services.

Career Advice | It’s ok not to know!

When contemplating a career change it is so important to take the time to ponder and reflect. Allison Fisher Career & Life Coach Often there is a confusion stage or an “I don’t know” stage which can be really uncomfortable.  It can create anxiety and a lot of angst because often we think we are supposed to know!   Hey it’s ok your allowed not to know!   In the “old days”  folk used to sit on the porch and ponder  answers, but these days in our busy consumerist society it seems there is often little time to do so.

It can be uncomfortable for people to be in that space of not knowing when their job or career just doesn’t seem to fit well anymore.   Well yes it is uncomfortable but if we can accept it, go with it, and embrace it who knows what may emerge.   Rather than putting energy into fighting the not knowing, put the energy into research, talking to people, asking questions of yourself.   So it’s not about doing nothing but about acknowledging that your unsure right now, reassure yourself that its’ ok, keep researching, pondering and questioning.

So relax, find your porch and reflect the answers may well come!

Career AdviceIf you would like to discuss your uncomfortable spot give Allison Fisher, Career & Life Coaching a call on 09 5233785.

Career & Life Coaching | Winter Mindset

I’ve just got back from a couple of weeks in the warm climes of the US.  As I stepped out of the airport the cold really hit and the next day there was lots of rain and wind.  I found myself moaning about the change of weather and that winter has arrived.  (Life Coaches aren’t positive all the time thank goodness!! 🙂 )  Then I thought well winter will be here for a few months yet so is there another way to look at this?  I know that the weather is one thing I cannot change and have absolutely no control over. But  I can control what I think about it.   I then began to think about all the things I do like about winter and here is my list  so far –

  • Hot soupAllison Fisher Career & Life Coach
  • Slow cookers
  • Open fires
  • Chocolate and berry crumble dessert
  • Cuddling up on the couch with a person or a blanky!
  • Cold clear but sunny days
  • The wild excitement of wind and rain

So I’ve now put out the intention to make the best of what is this winter. 

Allison Fisher Career & Life CoachLove to know the things you like about winter.

Have you considered Life Coaching to support you through the winter blues?  Call me for a chat if winter sometimes gets the better of you.  Phone Allison, Career & Life Coach on 09 5233785.

Life Coaching: What’s my Purpose?

Allison Fisher Career and Life Coach Thoughts as shared by Allison Fisher your Auckland Career & Life Coach.

Ever wondered what your purpose is? Or asked yourself  Who am I?  Why am I here?  I talk about these life questions quite a lot with people as a Life Coach.  Of  late I’ve been talking about the possibility that we don’t just have one purpose but a number of purposes.  Or as in music some majors and minors, for a different metaphor.  A friend finds purpose in the everyday things she does.  Whether it’s a walk, meeting someone after work for a catch up, a delicious meal and so on.  So focuses on what she really enjoys doing and enjoys it in that moment.   I think that is a great starting point for the often too big question of what is my purpose?  Sometimes that’s just too scary to contemplate.  And it may seem a tough mountain to climb and even attempt.   Start with what you are passionate about.  What do you get excited about?  As a career and life coach it is crucial for me that my clients are exploring this if they aren’t sure as without passion and purpose who are we?  Looking out my office window just now I can  see a beautiful Kingfisher sitting on a tv aerial and I smile.   That is an enjoyable heart warming moment for me.  So chunk it right down notice what you smile about, everyday at first, and build your list of enjoyment and likes.

Purpose can grow once we focus on what makes our hearts light up.

To discuss or define your purpose or  life questions please connect with Allison Fisher.  I look forward to catching up.