feelings

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My coaching learning from day 1 – You may be inspired to work with me

In 2004 I was offered some free distance learning courses in life coaching and so I took up the offer. I thoroughly enjoyed learning all about how life coaching changes lives, how the mechanics of coaching work, practising on various people and of course receiving my certificates to tell me that I was now a qualified life coach. So now I could go out and change the world! Not quite.

In 2005 there followed some more learning with The Coaching Academy which involved an upfront cost, several weekends attending lectures (extra cost of travel and accommodation) and then loads of workbooks to complete and a dissertation to write. The workbooks were simple enough, the dissertation took time. There was very little ongoing support and I qualified as a corporate coach. So now I could go out and change the world! No.

2006 came and I decided that NLP would be useful. I undertook a three day course. This involved more upfront expense, (extra cost of travel and accommodation) interactive lectures every day and at the end of those three days I was a qualified NLP Practitioner. No support afterwards. That was it. Was I ready now to go out and change the world? No, there was still something missing.

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Still in 2006 I trained with Dawn Breslin who had worked in television and had a slightly different approach to coaching. Her style was gentle and worked loosely on emotions and boosted self-esteem and confidence. This involved a lot more upfront expense, 5 days of interactive lectures and I qualified as a confidence coach and group trainer. Very little ongoing support.  This worked for me on several levels and I changed some people’s lives for the better, but there was still something missing. I needed more, but I wasn’t sure what.

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In the same year I trained with The Association for Thought Field Therapy and loved how it all worked.  I am qualified in the Callahan Techniques of Thought Field Therapy.

Also in the same year I trained with Healing Hands School of Natural Therapies in Indian Head Massage and qualified with a Level 3 Diploma.  This has been very useful when working in festivals as I have helped many people get rid of their headaches, creaky necks from sleeping in tents, and generally relaxed them over the past twelve years.

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In 2007 I qualified with the School of Natural Sciences with a diploma in Sports Psychology.  A great subject that works well with coaching.

In 2010 I was intrigued by some information I found on Twitter about an emotion based coaching programme that offered something different. I contacted the person who was tweeting and she put me in touch with the creator of the programme. This was Maia Berens. We talked on the phone, I found out about how the programmed worked – online. I found out that there would be ongoing phone support weekly – a real person to talk to and bounce ideas off and learn from. I found out I could work with other coaches and enhance my learning on weekly calls too. So that was learning online with two calls per week to support and teach too. And allegedly there was support and contact going on long after completion of the course. There was an upfront expense and I signed up there and then.

Six months later I graduated and although I was promised that teaching would continue for the rest of my life and at no extra cost, this did not happen.  The person who ran the courses was really doing them for her own benefit, to stop her feeling lonely and to boost her own self-esteem.  So once I had graduated I was basically shunned from the organisation and my name does not appear anywhere on the list of qualified coaches.

Also in 2010 I achieved an Edexcel Level 4 BTEC Professional Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTTLS) which helps with planning and delivering workshops and training sessions.

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In 2011 I achieved a Diploma in Distance Tutoring from The Learning Institute and began tutoring distance learners to help them achieve the qualification of Life Coaching Diploma with the Blackford Centre.  I love working with these students, who come from all different backgrounds and always work hard to achieve their aims.

Also in that year I worked with Susan Jeffers, author of Feel the fear and do it anyway.  I met her in London and we chatted for ages about what she does and how she liked to meet people who want to do her work.  I completed all the necessary training and became accredited to deliver her courses.  Susan read the manuscript of my book ‘What you believe creates your reality’ and commented “A really good book”.  A great accolade indeed. Sadly Susan died in 2012.

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In 2015 I achieved a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Diploma from the Centre of Excellence and have worked with some lovely clients.

In 2016 I achieved a Mindfulness Diploma from the Centre of Excellence and this works really well with coaching.

In the same year I achieved a Special Educational Needs & Disability Diploma (SENDS) from the Centre of Excellence which has given me a greater understanding of the needs of people with additional needs.

Also in the same year I worked with Jamie Smart over a period of months, which involved several whole weekends of lectures, plus the additional expense of travel and accommodation, plus online lectures and achieved becoming a Clarity Coach using the three principles and working from the inside out.  Something which works very well with my coaching skills.

It is my choice to be a life coach and I am very happy with my profession. My career definitely reflects my passions and life purpose. My purpose is to help people to change their way of thinking so that they learn to love themselves and by doing that they learn to live their lives authentically as themselves. This of course has a ripple effect, as other people change their reactions and perceptions and they see a whole new person and want to change too.

My major influences have been Kelvin (my husband) who supports me in all that I do, me because I believe in myself and am learning more and more how to be ME, my friends in deed (fellow coaches) and everyone who has taught me something throughout my life.

I am finding it totally realistic to want to change the consciousness of the world, one person at a time. I want to impact the lives of one million people either directly or indirectly.  We are all emotional beings who have been conditioned to think of others first. Yes, we must consider others in the world, but we must also look after ourselves first. If we don’t look after ourselves we cannot look after other people. I am changing the world, one thought at a time.

If you would like to begin to change the world, or change your world,  you like my story, then contact me and begin your journey. I would love work with you.

I offer coaching and mentoring to you – for you to make the changes you want to in your life. Build your confidence in your abilities.  Read my clients’ testimonials here. To help you to have more fun, more freedom and less stress. That is it. There is no catch. I believe in you.

Maggie Currie

maggieheart

Professional 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

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Common Courtesy

Sometimes we feel we don’t have the time to reach out to others with those small gestures that make up what we call common courtesy.  It sometimes seems that this kind of social awareness belongs to the past, to smaller towns and slower times. Yet, when someone extends a small common courtesy to us, we always feel touched. Someone who lends a helping hand when we are struggling with our shopping bags makes an impression because many people just walk right by. Even someone who simply makes the effort to look us in the eye, smile, and greet us properly when entering a room stands out of the crowd. These people carry with them the elegance and grace of another time, and we are always thankful for our contact with them. Common courtesy is a small gesture that makes a big difference.

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Photo by Marcus Wöckel on Pexels.com

Of course a vital component of common courtesy is awareness and common sense—looking outside yourself to notice when someone needs help or acknowledgment. As a courteous person, you are aware that you are walking into a room full of people or that your waiter has arrived to take your order. Awareness then leads to action. It is usually quite clear what needs to be done—open the door for the person holding the baby, move your car up two feet so another person can park behind you, acknowledge your sister’s shy boyfriend with a smile and some conversation, apologise if you bump into someone.  A third component is to give courtesy freely, without expecting anything in return. People may not even take notice, much less return the kindness, but you can take heart in the fact that you are creating the kind of world you want to live in with your actions.

When you are out in the world, remember to be aware of others, lend your hand when one is needed, and give this help without an ulterior motive. Through these small actions, you make this world a better place in which to live and the ripple effect may reach others too.

If anything resonates with you in this article, I will be delighted to hear from you, and of course be happy to help you.

I offer coaching and mentoring to you – for you to make the changes you want to in your life. Build your confidence in your abilities.  Read my clients’ testimonials here. To help you to have more fun, more freedom and less stress. That is it. There is no catch. I believe in you.

Maggie Currie

maggieheart

Professional 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

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There Is Only Now

It is easy for us to walk through our lives without really being present. While dwelling on the past and living for the future are entertaining, it is physically impossible to live anywhere but in the present moment. We cannot step out of our front door and take a right turn to April of last year, any more than we can take a left turn to New Year’s eve in the future.  We can, however, easily miss the future we are waiting for as it becomes the now we are too busy to pay attention to.  We will spend the rest of our time playing “catch up” to the moment that we just let pass by. During moments like these, it is important to remember that there is only Now.

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Photo by Ikhsan Sugiarto on Pexels.com

So you can feel more at home in the present moment, it is essential to try to stay aware, open and receptive. Being in the present moment requires our full attention so that we are fully awake to experience it. When we are fully present, our minds do not wander. We are focused on what is going on right now, rather than thinking about what just happened or worrying about what is going to happen next. Being present lets us experience each moment in our lives in a way that cannot be fully lived through memory or fantasy.

When we begin to focus our attention into the present moment, it can be almost overwhelming to be here. There is a state of stillness that has to happen that may take some getting used to, and the mind chatter that so often gets us into our heads and out of the present moment doesn’t have as much to do. We may feel a lack of control because we aren’t busy planning our next move, assessing our current situation, or anticipating the future. Instead, being present requires that we be flexible, creative, attentive, and spontaneous. Each present moment is completely new, and nothing like it has happened or will ever happen again. As you move through your day, remember to stay present in each moment. In doing so, you will live your life without having to wait for the future or yearn for the past. Life happens to us when we happen to life in the Now.

If anything resonates with you in this article, I will be delighted to hear from you, and of course be happy to help you.

I offer coaching and mentoring to you – for you to make the changes you want to in your life. Build your confidence in your abilities.  Read my clients’ testimonials here. To help you to have more fun, more freedom and less stress. That is it. There is no catch. I believe in you.

Maggie Currie

maggieheart

Professional 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

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Before the world is awake

Immediately before the appearance of the pale rays of dawn, Mother Nature exists in a state of flux. Earth’s energy is stable, free of the disordered vibrations that are a by-product of humanity’s comings and goings. In these early moments of day, when the sun’s golden light is only just peeking over the horizon, our animal mind remains quite sleepy though we ourselves are awake. Deep sleep has washed away the impurities of existence that accumulated within us, so our mental, physical, and emotional potential is heightened. To meditate or just think in this peaceful yet energetically charged in-between time is to connect with the universe in an extremely intimate fashion. We discover a new kinship with the universal life force during this time because our awareness becomes a mirror for earthly consciousness—we wake as the world wakes, quietly embracing the joy of being and setting the tone for a serene, fulfilling day.

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

In that first glorious glow of morning, the light, air, and energy flowing around us whisper of the activity to come. While we recognise that another day of being means becoming once again immersed in the challenges of action and reaction, we also understand that we can draw upon the unique energetic qualities of daybreak for comfort, creativity, and vigour. There is serenity in the simple knowledge that we have been given the gift of another day of existence. We are inspired by sights and sounds of the sun’s gentle ascension. Birds serenade the luminosity, which grows richer by the minute. And though we may feel a residual lethargy, our vitality returns as our meditation or thinking helps us to become one with the stirring of other beings rubbing the sleep from their eyes. At the start of each day, our destiny has not yet been written, and so there is nothing we cannot do.

How we choose to meditate or think is less important than our choice to attune ourselves to the spirit of wakefulness that travels round the world each and every day. Even the briefest moment of quiet contemplation in the muted light of the sun can put all that is yet to come into perspective. As a consequence of our daybreak reflections, our lives are imbued with the same stability, tranquility, and increased awareness that humanity has long associated with the stillness of early morning.

If anything resonates with you in this article, I will be delighted to hear from you, and of course be happy to help you.

I offer coaching and mentoring to you – for you to make the changes you want to in your life. Build your confidence in your abilities.  Read my clients’ testimonials here. To help you to have more fun, more freedom and less stress. That is it. There is no catch. I believe in you.

Maggie Currie

maggieheart

Professional 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

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Let It Roll off Our Back

One of the most difficult challenges in life is learning not to take things to heart and hold on to them. When we were younger, or if we are very sensitive, we took so much of what came our way to heart. This can be overwhelming and unproductive if it throws us off balance on a regular basis. When we are feeling criticised or attacked from all directions, it can become very difficult for us to recover ourselves so that we can continue to speak and act our truth. This is when we would do well to remember the old saying about letting certain things roll off us, like water off a duck’s back.

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Photo by DSD on Pexels.com

Usually the attacks and criticisms of others have much more to do with them and how they are feeling than with us. If we get caught up in trying to adjust ourselves to other people’s negative energy, we will lose touch with our core. In fact, in a positive light, these slings and arrows offer us the opportunity to strengthen our core sense of self, and to learn to dodge and deflect other people’s misdirected negativity. The more we do this, the more we are able to understand what belongs to us and what belongs to other people. With practice, we will become masters of our energetic integrity, refusing to serve as targets for the disowned anger and frustration of the people around us.

Eventually, we will be able to hear the feedback that others have to offer, taking in anything that might actually be constructive, and releasing that which has nothing to do with us. First, though, we tend ourselves compassionately by recognising when we can’t take something in from the outside without hurting ourselves. This is when we make like a duck, shaking it off and letting it roll off our back as we continue our way in the world.

If anything resonates with you in this article, I will be delighted to hear from you, and of course be happy to help you.

I offer coaching and mentoring to you – for you to make the changes you want to in your life. Build your confidence in your abilities.  Read my clients’ testimonials here. To help you to have more fun, more freedom and less stress. That is it. There is no catch. I believe in you.

Maggie Currie

maggieheart

Professional 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

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Pushing Buttons

We’ve all had our buttons pushed to the point where we feel we really can’t take it any longer, and chances are, we’ve all pushed somebody else’s buttons, with or without knowing it. The button pusher may not be aware of what they’re doing, but in the end the buttons belong to us, and we are the ones who must deal with what comes up. The more we take responsibility for our own feelings and reactions, the less reactive these buttons will be.

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Photo by Moose Photos on Pexels.com

We’ve all had the experience of having someone snap at us, it would appear from nowhere. This happens when we unconsciously push a button in someone else we didn’t even know was there. This can happen with a complete stranger and sometimes with a person we’ve known very well for years. We ourselves may also have a relationship with someone whose buttons we secretly would like to push. Buttons are just soft spots that have been touched one too many times, and they symbolise some pain that needs to be acknowledged and healed. This may be a wound remembered from childhood, or a recent trauma, that we haven’t adequately tended. Whatever the case, when our buttons get pushed, the person who most needs our attention and caring is us, and blaming the button pusher only distracts us from finding a true resolution to our suffering.

At the same time, if someone continually opens our wounds so that they never have time to heal, we must set a boundary with that person. Compulsive button pushers, who seem to find pleasure or satisfaction in hurting us, are not welcome in our personal space. In the end, knowing where our buttons are enables us to do the work necessary to heal. Freedom comes when we deal with the pain behind the button, thus disconnecting our automatic reaction to being pushed which will in turn stop the button pusher.

If anything resonates with you in this article, I will be delighted to hear from you, and of course be happy to help you.

I offer coaching and mentoring to you – for you to make the changes you want to in your life. Build your confidence in your abilities.  Read my clients’ testimonials here. To help you to have more fun, more freedom and less stress. That is it. There is no catch. I believe in you.

Maggie Currie

maggieheart

Professional 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

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Doing for Others

When we are feeling bad, often our first instinct is to isolate ourselves and focus on what we perceive is upsetting us. Sometimes we really do need some downtime, but more often the best way to get out of the blues quickly is to turn our attention to other people.  In being of service to others, paradoxically, we can often find answers to our own questions and solutions to our own problems. We may also end up feeling more connected to the people around us, as well as being empowered by the experience of helping someone.

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When we reach out to people we can help, we confirm that we are not alone in our own need for support and inspiration. We also remind ourselves that we are powerful and capable in certain ways. When our own problems or moods get the better of us, there is always someone else who can use our particular gifts and energy to help them out. They, in turn, remind us that we are not the only people in the world with difficulties or issues. We all struggle with the problems of life, and we all feel overwhelmed from time to time, but we can almost always find solace in service.

In the most ideal situation, the person we are helping sheds light on our own dilemma, sometimes with a direct piece of advice, and sometimes without saying anything at all. Often just the act of getting our minds out of the obsessive mode of trying to figure out what to do about our own life does the trick. Many great inventors and artists have found that the inspiration they need to get to the next level in their work comes not when they’re working but when they’re out walking or washing up. We do ourselves and everyone else a great service when we take a break from our sorrows and extend ourselves to someone in need.

If anything resonates with you in this article, I will be delighted to hear from you, and of course be happy to help you.

I offer coaching and mentoring to you – for you to make the changes you want to in your life. Build your confidence in your abilities.  Read my clients’ testimonials here. To help you to have more fun, more freedom and less stress. That is it. There is no catch. I believe in you.

Maggie Currie

maggieheart

Professional 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

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Being Present at Work

Being present at work begins even before we reach our place of work. It starts with our intention to bring consciousness into everything we do, including those activities we do for money.  Whether you are a secretary, a cleaner, a nurse or a shop assistant there is much to be gained by fully engaging in the tasks at hand. When you decide to bring your presence into your work activities, you may find that the entire experience of working is filled with a whole new energy and life.

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Sometimes we believe that when we step through the doors of our workplace, we stop being ourselves and become someone else’s employee. Though our employer may depend on us to perform certain tasks, the truth is that we never stop being ourselves. The commitment to being a conscious, empowered person of integrity doesn’t begin and end with a time clock. Our innate thinking is to be present for our own lives and is what weaves together all of our experiences from the moment we wake up, throughout our entire workday until the moment we turn off the lights at night.

Before leaving for work today, you can clear your energy and choose to step out with your best foot forward. Setting an intention in the morning can even help you stay present as your day unfolds. You might decide to find enjoyment in every activity, or you may decide to complete all of your projects on time, or be truly helpful to your co-workers. By being fully present, you will begin to radiate this out to others and they will begin to notice; they may even want to follow your lead. Whether you run a company or hold a sign outside a cafe,  do it with pride and be the best you can be.

If anything resonates with you in this article, I will be delighted to hear from you, and of course be happy to help you.

I offer coaching and mentoring to you – for you to make the changes you want to in your life. Build your confidence in your abilities.  Read my clients’ testimonials here. To help you to have more fun, more freedom and less stress. That is it. There is no catch. I believe in you.

Maggie Currie

maggieheart

Professional 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

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Enjoying the Ride

The flow of the universe moves through everything. It’s in the rocks that form, get pounded into dust and are blown away. It is in the sprouting of a summer flower growing from a seed planted in the spring. It is in the growth cycle that every human being goes through, and the current that takes us down our life’s paths. When we move with the flow, rather than resisting it, we are riding on the universal current that allows us to flow with life.

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Many people live their lives struggling against this current. They try to use force or resistance to will their lives into happening the way they think it should. Others move with this flow like a sailor using the wind, trusting that the universe is taking them exactly where they need to be at all times. This flow is accessible to everyone because it moves through and around us. We are always riding this flow. It’s just a matter of whether we are willing to go with it or resist it. Tapping into the flow is often a matter of letting go of the notion that we need to be in control at all times. The flow is always taking you where you need to go. It’s just a matter of deciding whether you plan on taking the ride or dragging your feet.

Learning to step into the flow can help you feel a connection to a force that is greater than you and is always there to support you. The decision to go with the flow can take courage because you are surrendering the notion that you need to do everything by yourself. Riding the flow of the universe can be effortless, exhilarating, and not like anything that you ever expected. When you are open to being in this flow, you open yourself to possibilities that exist beyond the grasp of your control. As a child, you were naturally swept by the flow. Tears of sadness falling down your face could just as quickly turn to tears of laughter. Just the tiniest wave carrying you forward off the shores of the ocean could carry you into peals of delight. We feel good when we go with the flow of the universe. All we have to do is make the choice to ride its currents.

If anything resonates with you in this article, I will be delighted to hear from you, and of course be happy to help you.

I offer coaching and mentoring to you – for you to make the changes you want to in your life. Read my clients’ testimonials here. To help you to have more fun, more freedom and less stress. That is it. There is no catch. I believe in you.

Maggie Currie

maggieheart

Professional 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

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Our changing nests

Once we become parents, we are parents forevermore. our identities change perceptively the moment Mother Nature inaugurates us as mum or dad. Yet the role we undertake when we welcome children into our lives is not a fixed one. As children move from one phase of their lives to the next, parental roles change. When these transitions involve a child gaining independence, many parents experience an empty nest feeling. Instead of feeling proud that their children have achieved so much—whether the flight from the nest refers to the first day of nursery or the start of college—parents feel they are losing a part of themselves. However, when approached thoughtfully, this new stage of parental life can be an exciting time in which mothers and fathers rediscover themselves and relate to their children in a new way.

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As children earn greater levels of independence, parents often gain unanticipated freedom. Used to being depended upon by and subject to the demands of their children, parents sometimes forget that they are not only mum or dad but also individuals. As the nest empties, parents can alleviate the anxiety and sadness they feel by rediscovering themselves and honouring the immense strides their children have made in life. The simplest way to honour a child undergoing a transition is to allow that child to make decisions and mistakes appropriate to their level of maturity. Freed from the role of disciplinarian, parents of college-age children can befriend their offspring and undertake an advisory position. Those with younger children beginning school or teenagers taking a first job can plan a special day in which they express their pride and explain that they will always be there to offer love and support.

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An empty nest can touch other members of the family unit as well. Young people may feel isolated or abandoned when their siblings leave the nest. As this is normal, extra attention can help them feel more secure in their newly less populated home. Spouses with more leisure time on their hands may need to relearn how to be best friends and lovers. Other family members will likely grieve less when they understand the significance of the child’s new phase of life. The more parents both celebrate and honour their children’s life transitions, the less apprehension the children will feel. Parents who embrace their changing nest while still cherishing their offspring can look forward to developing deeper, more mature relationships with them in the future.

If anything resonates with you in this article, I will be delighted to hear from you, and of course be happy to help you.

I offer coaching and mentoring to you – for you to make the changes you want to in your life. Read my clients’ testimonials here. To help you to have more fun, more freedom and less stress. That is it. There is no catch. I believe in you.

Maggie Currie

maggieheart

Professional 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