March 23, 2017 by Maggie Currie

The terror attack on 22nd March 2017 in London

I looked on in horror at the television reports of the terror attack on Westminster Bridge in London. There were so many people affected, either being physically injured by the marauding vehicle or jumping off the bridge to escape. Five people have died in this pointless attack, one a policeman who was fatally stabbed protecting our country.

My heart went out to the many tourists who had been caught up in this atrocity and I wondered what on earth I could do, if anything, to help those and all the citizens of London who have been permanently damaged, either physically or mentally.

There was nothing I could do from where I live on the Isle of Wight, nearly 4 hours away, at that time. I could only send positive and healing thoughts to all those involved.

I read about the black cab drivers who were taking people home at no cost to make sure they were ok. How wonderful to have that great act of kindness.

I read about the Uber drivers who were charging four times the fares to take people home. Such greed.

I wondered what I can do to help. I thought about it. What I can do now is help some of those who have been affected by listening to them, as often getting their own thoughts out of their heads is vital in their healing process. There would be no charge from me. I want to help in some small way. If you have been affected by this terror attack, or know someone who has, get in touch and I will listen and help where I can.

Maggie Currie

Transformational Coach, Consultant
Founder of MAGGIE CURRIE COACHING

Website: http://www.maggiecurrie.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maggielifecoach/

Email: hello@maggiecurrie.co.uk

March 2, 2017 by Maggie Currie

Forgiveness – releasing the past

Forgiveness is such an important subject that I feel compelled to spend some time explaining its significance. When we hold something unforgiven inside, we are nurturing anger, hatred and resentment or maybe even guilt. These emotions lock us into the moment, continually reliving events. Over time all this emotion can become suppressed into the subconscious, but they are still there, consuming our mental and life energy. Until we release ourselves from this cycle it may prove impossible to move forward.

It really does not matter what the issue was, whether slight or life-shatteringly traumatic. If you want to move on you must let it go. To do this you must forgive. To forgive someone does not mean that that you condone their behaviour simply that you forgive them, and release them. By releasing and forgiving them, you release yourself.

Dealing with emotional abuse

Some people hold onto their anger, refusing to forgive or let go. They will never move on until they do. In fact quite the reverse, by allowing such emotions to ferment inside, they grow and can become all consuming, their whole life becoming defined by whatever the event was. They are no longer in control of their life or living the life they want. They are living a life that is directed by their anger and hurt.

How our lives are, is often a reflection of our reactions to the ups and downs of life. If we choose to accept the good and release the bad, we are able to maintain control over our lives and keep our sense of direction. If however we focus on the bad things that have happened to us, then these will simply grow, continually manifesting our own dark thoughts and divert us from seeking what we really want.

If you or your life is “stuck” then it is well worth looking back to see if there is anything unforgiven in your past. Remember to forgive everyone, especially yourself. So many people trudge through their lives burdened with guilt for this or that, forgive yourself and let it go.

Remember, life is in the now, the past is already finished and dead and cannot be changed. Nothing you can do now, can ever change the past, yet it is amazing how many people squander their emotional and life energy, consumed with anger or guilt about the past.

In this moment now you have your power – the power to make your choices, take your action, to make a difference. You have no power in the past and you have no assurance of power in the future.

Happy young woman with a white background

If you want to feel free, released from the past then you must forgive. Forgive everyone, especially yourself. I know how difficult it is to overcome our natural and very human feelings of anger, guilt, resentment and fear. The basis of them can seem, and may well be, completely justified, you may be completely right to have these emotions and it is OK to experience them. However, these emotions damage your ability to move on, you must accept your emotions but then be prepared to let them go. To release yourself, you must forgive. Until you do you will remain the victim with your life locked into all those negative emotions.

Look around you, do you know anyone like that? Some tragedy or injustice has been suffered and now the entire life of that person is defined by their anger and resentment. Every positive thought, every inspired moment, all of life’s little pleasures are subsumed with their overwhelming feelings of anger, resentment, even desire for revenge. No matter how justified their emotions are, what good is it doing them? The past can never be changed. The future is an incomplete equation. Life is full of tragedy and joy, it is not the events of life so much as how we respond to them that defines how joyous and successful our lives are.

Maggie Currie

Transformational Coach, Consultant
Founder of MAGGIE CURRIE COACHING

Website: http://www.maggiecurrie.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maggielifecoach/

Email: hello@maggiecurrie.co.uk

February 16, 2017 by Maggie Currie

Disrespect

I am shocked at the amount of disrespect there is for people of all ages by those who are deemed ‘professionals’.

My eyes were opened to several incidents of disrespect when I was in a public waiting area awaiting being collected to go to a meeting.

The first incident went as follows:

A teenage boy was waiting for the ‘professional’ he had an appointment with to arrive. He waited for almost twenty minutes before she arrived. No apologies. She just said ‘We’ve got a meeting, let’s find a room’. Then spent several minutes trying to find somewhere for this meeting to occur.

The second incident went as follows:

Three teenage girls came to the waiting area. One of them had an appointment with a ‘professional’. The three girls were all clean, tidy, well dressed and had obviously made the effort to get to the appointment on time. The ‘professional’ hadn’t arrived yet they were told. Several times the receptionist was asked if the ‘professional’ had arrived yet, and each time they were told no.

Eventually the ‘professional’ arrived. No apologies for being late. Same as before trying to find a room, going up and down a corridor.

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This to me is total disrespect for the teenagers who have made the effort to get to their appointments on time. They are ready for the meetings, but the ‘professionals’ appear to have no respect for the young people.

There are many people who say that young people have no respect for their elders. In some cases this is true, but if they are treated in this fashion then why would they have any respect? Obviously the ‘professionals’ concerned have no respect for themselves, their work or the young people or they would be there, on time, ready to go and to do their very best for these young people.

Incident three went like this:

I was waiting to go to a meeting I had been invited to which was due to start at 10am. I arrived early and waited. The receptionist rang whoever was in charge of the meeting to let them know I was there. I waited for over twenty minutes and then told the receptionist that I was going since nobody had collected me and I was disappointed with the way I was being ignored.

I received an email from the notetaker of the meeting later on in the day informing me that I wasn’t on the list of people to attend the meeting, despite having been invited to the meeting.

Again, I feel there is disrespect at play here. It seems that as I am not regarded as a ‘professional’ I am not worthy of being included their meeting.

Incident four went like this:

A group of ‘professionals’ were waiting to go to a meeting. One ‘professional’ was more concerned that she had to be back at her work by 11am. One ‘professional’ proclaimed that she was merely ticking boxes. Such ‘professionalism’ shows a total disrespect for the subject of the meeting, whoever that was, for their own standards of ‘professionalism’ and for society as a whole.

All these incidents occurred within a very short space of time. I am totally shocked that in this day and age people behave in this way. There is no need to be so disrespectful of yourself, your job and the people you are there to help. If you don’t like the job you are doing then why are you doing it? Find something you do like doing and do it to the best of your ability.

I love my work. I am passionate about helping people to live the very best lives they can and work very hard to achieve that. I work in a professional way and when I say I will be somewhere at a particular time, I am there, usually a few minutes before that time.

To be dismissive and not even apologise for being late is unacceptable behaviour. There will probably be the usual excuses of the traffic was bad, the bus was late, the dog escaped etc. That is blaming everyone and everything for your lateness, when in fact the only person who is responsible for you being late is you. You are responsible for every aspect of your life, not anyone else. If you are late it is because you didn’t allow enough time to get there. It is your responsibility to there, to be ready and to do your best for your clients. Being professional doesn’t just refer to your qualifications, it refers to your whole life.

If this resonates with you, get in touch with me today. I would like to hear from you.

Maggie Currie

Transformational Coach, Consultant
Founder of MAGGIE CURRIE COACHING

Website: http://www.maggiecurrie.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maggielifecoach/

Email: hello@maggiecurrie.co.uk

December 2, 2016 by Maggie Currie

What I have learned from business coaches

Over the past past four years or so I have worked with several business coaches. Each one is extremely successful in their field and each one has taught me something. Interestingly, what I have learned from them is exactly the same.

Each of these coaches, entrepreneurs, business people, has come from a different background, and some have come from different continents. They are all considered to be ‘gurus’ and are highly acclaimed. I have no reason to doubt this or their abilities. They are all very nice people too, I have met with each of them, spent time with each of them and admire their work and tenacity.

I have attended their retreats, their seminars and listened to them all intently. I have even qualified as one of their coaches.

graduated

But, what have I learned from each and every one of them? I have learned they are very good at running their own businesses and creating their own wealth. I have learned that I don’t want to run my business in the ways they have been telling me to.

According to them each retreat, seminar, training, coaching session is a lead in to a more expensive programme or elite group.

I went down the route of offering free workshops and from these offering paid for coaching etc. This didn’t sit well with me so I stopped doing these, even though I had great attendance and everyone enjoyed them and learned something. And so did I.

This is not what I want to do.

So what do I want to do?

happydog

I want to work with people to help them regain their self-esteem and confidence so they can lead their lives as their authentic selves, rather than live their lives as others want them to. I want to work with people who have hit rock bottom and are now wanting to move upwards in their lives. I want to work with people who want to re-build their self-worth.

I thought long and hard about this and decided what I needed to do. I have obtained a grant from the Lottery to work with women who have escaped abusive relationships. I have written a course, Mind the Gap, which is made up of six modules. I have met with the Southern Domestic Abuse Service and met some of their ladies who have been through the amazing Freedom Programme but who are now looking to move forward in their lives. And I am going to be running the very first pilot programme in January 2017. I have 30 ladies signed up, the venue is booked in Havant, the creche facilities organised.

This is so exciting and feels right to me. There is no sign up to a more costly follow on course. The Mind the Gap is free to the attendees, who are all very excited to be included.

A programme will be starting in January 2017 here on the Isle of Wight too for women who have escaped from domestic abuse. I want to work with men too who have escaped from domestic abuse and that is a work in progress.

I have also obtained funding from Island Roads Foundation to work with the homeless people, and those who have been homeless, here on the Isle of Wight. And that will be beginning in early 2017 too.

I shall be applying for more funding to be able to work with more people both on the Isle of Wight and on the mainland.

That is what I have learned. I don’t want to work in the ways that they work. I want to work in the way that I work. And that is a huge lesson and doesn’t make them wrong, but makes me more able to sleep at night and to know I am really helping people.

If this resonates with you, and you would like to learn more about my work, get in touch with me today. I would like to hear from you.

Maggie Currie

Transformational Coach, Consultant
Founder of MAGGIE CURRIE COACHING

Website: http://www.maggiecurrie.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maggielifecoach/

Email: hello@maggiecurrie.co.uk

December 29, 2013 by Maggie Currie

Your actions do make a difference

I have been working with a client for the past 6 months, and it has been amazing to watch her change and grow as a person.

I am so pleased that she is so much more aware of her own actions and how she ‘reacts’ to situations. She now realises it is better to step back and view the situation from the metaphorical distance and respond from her intuition rather than allowing her ego to react.

This is the wonderful testimonial my client gave me:

“The ride has been awesome…the support you gave me while I was driving at the wheel of my life and you were sitting in the passenger seat guiding, encouraging, and supporting me was fantastic and I so appreciate that.”

I learned about myself too whilst coaching, as all my clients teach me something new. It is so wonderful to be able to learn and teach and be open to learning more and more. The learning helps me to keep my ego in check and allows me to follow my intuition, and that never lets me down.

I have learned from my clients, my fellow coaches, friends etc., that when we neglect to recycle, speak up, vote or help somebody in immediate need, we deny ourselves the chance to make positive change.

By holding on to the belief that our actions don’t make much of a difference, we tend to ignore opportunities for involvement. Alternatively, when we see ourselves as important participants in our ever-evolving world, we feel inspired to contribute our unique perspective and gifts to a situation.

Our actions do make a difference in this world, it is up to us to make sure it is a positive difference. Do you have a vision for the future? What actions will you take to reach that vision?

Do you want to remain stuck and miserable? If your answer is no, start coaching with me today.

Get in touch today and we can have a free informal chat on how I can help you to take action and achieve your goals.

Maggie Currie

Creedence – Confidence for You

I am helping people to become the very best version of themselves.

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May 11, 2013 by Maggie Currie

Is it time for you to take action?

As a very busy coach I am lucky enough to be in a position where, on a daily basis, the fascinating people I work with tell me all about their big dreams, grand plans and compelling goals. Dreams, plans and goals that they have possibly never shared with another living soul. There are some amazing potential futures out there for these people!

What will be the deciding factors in whether these big dreams remain as dreams or become wonderful and vibrant realities? The factors are – clarity, vision, belief, motivation, support – and they all play a part. But the deciding factor in each and every case is – will this person take action? Will they act upon what they want and work towards making it happen?

Frequently people don’t realise their ambitions and make their dreams a reality because their aspirations remain as something that they think about, rather than something that they do or create. Having put all that effort into the thinking, dreaming and planning they find all sorts of reasons not to do anything to make things happen for them.

Interestingly, the most common reason that I hear for inaction is ‘no time’. How often do you hear people say “If only I had the time”?

This time-poor mentality is very common, so much so that we often appear to believe we have run out of time, or that there is literally none to spare because it’s already been spent on the other stuff in our lives. Time is ‘taken up’ by so many things that when it comes to the big goals and ambitions that require action, we don’t feel we have any left.

Added to that, the nature of some of these wonderful dreams that people have ( retraining for a new career perhaps) mean that they can take a certain amount of time to come to fruition, and there can be a sense of, “but it would just take so long!”.

The thing is though, time is passing anyway. Regardless of whether or not we take action, whether or not we use it constructively and make it count, it is going by at the same rate. The real key to success is to decide to use it in the best way possible for what is most important to us.

We allow so many less important things to drain our time when we could choose at any moment to use it in a much better way, in such a way that we make progress and start heading towards where we want to be. So that in a year or two years time, we’ll be in a different place to the place we are in now. Well on our way to one of those compelling potential futures. Or perhaps by that time it will be our reality.

Is it time for you to take action? Do you have a dream or an ambition in which you’ve invested lots of thinking and planning time, but just haven’t taken any action to achieve it?

Ask yourself:

What needs to happen for me to achieve this? What are all the steps?
What is stopping me from taking action? How long will I allow these things to stop me?
What is the one thing I could do in the next 24 hours to know that I have started taking action?
Will you do it?

It is time now for you to take action and to really begin to change your life. I will help you to do that. Get in touch today.

I have some availability for coaching clients, we just need to fix some dates if and when you want to get started. Get in touch today.