Some time ago, I had an interesting online encounter with a phobia coach. I shared an article about a supermarket customer who burst out in tears feeling intimidated by an ‘aggressive’ supermarket employee who was scanning items ‘too fast’. While my comment was mostly meant to highlight the absurdity of the situation (it is quiteContinue reading “It’s OK to Laugh at Pain and Suffering”
Category Archives: wellbeing
Being Judgmental is Stressful
I recently spent a week on the Greek island Ikaria. The island is best known as one of the so-called Blue Zones: one of the five regions in the world with an unusually high number of people who live up to the age of hundred- and stay in good health. A number of theories haveContinue reading “Being Judgmental is Stressful”
Don’t Fear Your Anger
At some point during our formative years, most of us are taught that expressing anger is a bad thing. The world, we are taught, is not always a just and fair place and therefore we have to accept that we can’t have it all. There is no point expressing out anger and frustration when thingsContinue reading “Don’t Fear Your Anger”
Avoiding Pain Leads to Disease
In our 21st century western societies, we have been conditioned to ‘think positively at all times’. Tons of self-help books have been written about the magical powers of positive thinking, ‘mind-over-matter’ and the dangers of not getting what we want, because of our ‘negative’ thoughts or vibrations. Our total devotion to positive thinking leads usContinue reading “Avoiding Pain Leads to Disease”
On the Importance of a Supportive Network
Last weekend I went to a gig in London where I met many of my old friends. In between the (admittedly loud) tones of the performing bands, we caught up with stories about the past, discussed the present and made plans for the future. Some of these discussions are likely to give birth to futureContinue reading “On the Importance of a Supportive Network”
Do Your Health Goals Match Your Daily Habits?
Do you remember the Channel 4 programme ‘The Secret Eaters’? The show was focusing on the plight of ordinary people who were secretly overeating. Secret camera’s were installed in the participant’s homes, and private investigations were held in order to follow their eating habits. Invariably, the participants would claim that they don’t overeat and thatContinue reading “Do Your Health Goals Match Your Daily Habits?”
Responsibility Versus Blame
For all of us operating in the disciplines of therapy, coaching or mentoring, facilitating change is at the core of what we do. However, every type of change requires an element of responsibility. Responsibility is about having the choice of responding to what is happening to us. As Sartre eloquently put it: freedom is whatContinue reading “Responsibility Versus Blame”
What Mood Are You In This Week?
A few years ago, when I was the owner of a failing business, I recall how I used to wake up in the mornings full of anxiety and stress. I would immediately run to the toilet to empty my bowels as my body was reacting to this anxiety by getting in fight or flight mode.Continue reading “What Mood Are You In This Week?”
On Freedom and Gratitude
Freedom and gratitude are two of the most widely used words in the modern coaching world. Tons of books have been written about them, and about their importance in our lives. Just like with any widely used terms however, their omnipresence means that they sometimes lose their meaning and significance. It’s important to understand theContinue reading “On Freedom and Gratitude”
Who Do You Need to Be in Order to Be Happy?
There is perhaps no other topic in the world about which more volumes have been written than the pursuit of happiness. In a world where it becomes increasingly clear that we need to create our own purpose and destiny rather than relying on some metaphysical system to introduce meaning to our lives, shaping our ownContinue reading “Who Do You Need to Be in Order to Be Happy?”
KostasTheCoach-The Freedom Composer 