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Who were your teachers and who are your teachers now?

We learn all the time through various means, at school, college, university, from neighbours, friends, relatives etc.  Are you aware of who your teachers have been over the years and who they are now?
My teachers have been my parents, my primary school teachers, my senior school teachers, college tutors, my cousins, my children, my grandchildren, colleagues, my friends, my mother-in-law, my husband, myself and strangers. My teachers now are many and varied, from shop assistants to celebrities.  I am learning something new every day from so many different sources.
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I was taught by my parents and my teachers that I was average, that I would never amount to anything. This is not a lesson I want to keep because I am not, never have been and never will be average. I am unique and I may not know the same things that so called clever people know, but what I do know is just as valuable. And I add to my knowledge daily.

I was taught by my college tutors that I should follow the rules. This is not a lesson I want to keep because not all rules should be followed. There are some that must be followed and there are some that should be bent a little, and some that should be ignored completely. It is all dependent upon the situation and the rule. I never advocate breaking the law.

I was taught by my husband and three children that love is unconditional for them. That is a lesson I am keeping because no matter what I love them all unconditionally.

I have been taught by my grandchildren that they are more intelligent than their previous generations and that they will be going places when they are old enough. This is a lesson I want to keep and I want to watch them do just that.

I was taught by my mother-in-law that we are on this earth to help people. This is a lesson definitely to keep because that is what I want to do above all else, and I am doing.  Helping people, everywhere.

I was taught by myself that I can do more than I originally thought was possible to do. This is definitely another lesson I want to keep and expand upon. As I said previously, I learn something new every day.

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I have learned and am still learning that there is so much more to learn and that life is a school. This lesson will be staying for the rest of my life.

Think about who has taught you over the years, what you have learned and how valuable it is you.  Think about who your teachers are now. Never stop learning.

Maggie Currie 

Creedence – Confidence for You

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

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Celebrating success

Have you ever noticed  how terrible we can be at acknowledging what we have achieved?  When congratulated on a success, we might hear ourselves say “oh it was nothing”.  On reaching a goal, we might skip the celebration because there is something else to strive for now.  When reviewing a half completed ‘to do’ list, we’ll bemoan what we didn’t do, rather than focus on what we did achieve.

Is this because we’re modest to the extreme, or do we simply not recognise just how much we do day to day, month to month, year to year?

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I think it’s the latter.  We either don’t recognise just how much we have achieved, or we don’t see how important every step we’ve taken is.  We don’t see our progress as an achievement.

As the frequently quoted saying goes “a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step”.  So if every step is progress, then in my book every step is an achievement.  What if we were to give ourselves more credit for everything we achieve?

Ticking things off a ‘to do’ list might not seem as celebration-worthy as representing your country in your favourite sport, but if it takes you closer to your own personal success then it’s a point scored in your own game!  So take that moment to acknowledge your progress.  When you reach a milestone, give yourself a reward.  And when you achieve what you were aiming for, seriously celebrate your success!

The energy gain from this change in perspective can be massive! I’m certainly more productive when operating from a mindset of ‘look how much closer I am to my goal and how much I’ve achieved!’ than if I were beating myself up about what I had left to do.  I’m sure you will be too.

Try this … Celebrate YOUR Success!

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What could you do to pat yourself on the back more often?  Here are a few ideas that many of my clients use:

  • Keep a Success Journal – try it for a week and see how good you feel!  Each time you do something well, write it down.  Each time you complete a task you’ve been putting off, write it down.  Each time you feel even one small step closer to your big goal, write it down! I met a well known motivational speaker who does this every single day and having kept his success journals over the years, he now has a bookshelf full.  Imagine what he does on a bad day – cheers himself up pretty quickly I’d think!
  • Indulge in a delicious cream tea.
  • Enjoy a rejuvenating massage.
  • Meet your friends for a meal and a chat.

Reward Yourself – what better pat on the back than giving yourself something you enjoy as a reward!

When something goes well, when you achieve what you wanted to, when you reach a milestone on your way to something bigger… celebrate your success with a treat.  It could be a nice meal, a night out, a small gift to yourself or the bliss of a day / half a day doing something you absolutely love.  What will it be?

Tell somebody – let them share it with you!  When something goes well, don’t keep quiet, shout it from the rooftops and enjoy the recognition.

Many of my clients find simple strategies to recognise their daily achievements and spur themselves on to greater success! What are yours going to be?

I am helping people to become the very best version of themselves and would love to work with you. Contact me today.

Maggie Currie

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My training, experience and successes as a coach

There are a lot of ‘coaches’ out there who have never had formal coach training.  That doesn’t mean they are not good at what they do, but to me it does make me ask the question ‘what are they actually teaching me, where are they getting their information?’.  I know to some people it doesn’t matter if their coach is qualified or certified or not, but to me it is very important.  If I can use the analogy of hiring a plumber to fit a new boiler, would I hire someone who is certified as a plumber, has his/her Gas Safe qualifications, has the necessary examination passes or would I hire the man down the road who has a slight knowledge of how a boiler works but no formal qualifications.  To me there is no contest, it has to be the qualified and certified plumber.

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And so it is for me when hiring a coach.  They have to be qualified, good at what they do and keen to help me get to where I want to go.  And I want my clients to know that I am qualified, certified, experienced and keen to get them to where they want to go.

There are many coaches out there who claim they have so many years experience of coaching and therefore consider themselves to be qualified in some way.  Unless they have gone through formal coach training and been certified by the organisation they have trained with, then to me they are not qualified.

I have been working as a life coach since 2004 and can honestly say that I am highly qualified and experienced.  I have listed below all my coaching qualifications and the institutions I gained these qualifications with:

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I trained with all those organisations, passed all the coursework, the coaching assignments, attended lectures, had hours of coaching conversations on the phone with colleagues in the USA, Australia and South Africa.  I am proud of the time, effort and commitment I have put in to becoming one of the top 10% of coaches in the UK.

Additionally I have worked hard with my clients who come from all walks of life.  I have worked with cleaners, authors, coaches, undertakers, secretaries, administrators and celebrities.  Each person is different, and each is fascinating.  I have so many success stories, and I will share some of the wonderful testimonials I have received at the end of this blog.

My experiences over the last ten years have allowed to me achieve the following:

I absolutely love my work and enjoy getting up in the morning knowing that I am going to be helping someone create a better life for themselves.  That is so rewarding in itself.  And I have worked with some tremendous people and keep in touch with them to find out how they are doing, and supporting them as they grow and become the very best versions of themselves.

People who work with me as their coach can be assured that I am not only qualified and certified, I have vast experience and knowledge and I only have their best interests at heart.  Each and every client is aware of my confidentiality policy, I never identify my clients without their express permission.

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Here are a few of the testimonials I have received from some of my wonderful clients:

“Maggie helped me to make one big decision that led to another, and another, and another – and that’s how my life changed for the better!”

“Maggie assisted me through a challenging time in my life. She is able to combine a no nonsense approach with genuine empathy to her coaching work and shares her knowledge generously. She holds you accountable for outcomes in a warm and caring manner. Training together and being coached by Maggie was such a pleasure. I always looked forward to those sessions with anticipation. Maggie is able to hold your space in a non-judgemental manner which gives you the confidence to move forward. I certainly recommend her as a coach.”

“Things are really good. There is very much a difference in my homelife now, very rarely do I even think about work, which is great. Even my daughter has noticed a difference. I don’t seem to get stressed like I used to. I really can’t thank you enough for your help!”

“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.”

‘Maggie, I am good thanks. Have made some significant changes to what I do and how I behave. Change is always difficult, but you just have to have confidence, back yourself and go for it don’t you!! Your book was the first step I took to set me on the way for this latest, and final, journey. I have picked up a few other things on the way, and there is no turning back now!!’

“Maggie is a wonderful coach who, I guarantee will have a positive effect on your life. A great person to know and have on your side.”

“Maggie has great experience of dealing with life situations in a positive way. I have seen people grow within themselves during several of her presentations and seminars. She deals with people in a non-judgemental and constructive way, whilst challenging them to look at their view of them selves and to re-evaluate their own self-worth.”

I measure my success by the successes of my clients.  Making a difference to their lives gives me goosebumps every time, as it never ceases to amaze me how great people can become and to know that I have helped them is such a great feeling.

All my clients, past, present and future can rest assured that I am highly qualified, certified and experienced.  They can also be assured that I am passionate about my work and love every minute of it.

I am helping people to become the very best version of themselves and would love to work with you. Contact me today.

Maggie Currie 

Creedence – Confidence for You

International Confidence Coach, Motivational Speaker, Author

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Conquering the fear of failure

Fear of failure is probably the single greatest obstacle to success in our adult lives. We often become totally preoccupied with not making a mistake and with seeking approval. The fear of failure is expressed in the words  “I can’t”.

We feel it in a physical way by the fast beating of the heart, rapid breathing, sweaty palms and a tight throat. We also experience this in the irresistible need to run to the loo.

Our second major fear that creates an obstacle in our performance is the fear of rejection.  We learn this at a very early age when our parents or guardians make their love conditional upon our behaviour.  If we do something to please them, they give us love and approval. If we do something to displease them, they withdraw their love and approval – which we often interpret as rejection.

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Going through divorce can trigger these feelings of failure.  But a very important thing to remember is: the marriage failed, not you.

As adults, we become preoccupied with the opinions of others because of this perceived rejection.  Many people develop hostility, suspicion and an obsession with performance to some imagined high standard.  It is virtually impossible to achieve this as it really doesn’t exist.

There is a belief that we have to work harder and accomplish more in order to please the boss.  The boss has replaced the parent and is  therefore perceived as the approval giver.

Research has shown that more than 99 percent of adults experience these fears of failure and rejection.  They are caught in the vicious circle of feeling, “I can’t, but I have to,” and “I have to, but I can’t.”

We can beat  these fears by developing our self-esteem, courage and character.  We can increase our self-love and self-respect.  Acting with courage in a fearful situation is one technique that boosts our love for ourselves to such a degree that our fears subside and they lose their ability to affect our behaviour and our decisions.

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Firstly, we need to realise and accept that we can do anything we put your minds to. Repeat the words, “I can do it! I can do it!” whenever we feel afraid. Write ina journal all your successes so you can remind yourself how good you actually are.

Secondly, we need to continually remind ourselves of just how wonderful we are, think of ourselves as valuable and important people and remember that temporary failure is one way we learn how to succeed.

If you need help with any of the above, please contact me.

I am helping people to become the very best version of themselves and would love to work with you.

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

Maggie Currie 

Creedence – Confidence for You

International Confidence Coach, Motivational Speaker, Author

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Whatever we believe becomes our reality

We tend to ignore information that we think is inconsistent with our reality. Successful people absolutely believe that they have the ability to succeed. They do not think or talk about the possibilities of failing. They do not even consider the possibility of failure.

We usually act in a manner consistent with our beliefs. The most important belief system we can build is one where we absolutely believe that we are going succeed. This is called positive thinking, confirming our reality that we absolutely know that no matter what, we will be successful.

Often positive thinking is difficult because our parents or guardians only gave love and approval to their children when they did something that they wanted them to do.  If we grew up with this kind of conditional love we will inevitably tend to seek unconditional approval from others.  When we become adults, this need for approval from the parent is transferred to the workplace and to our boss or workmates. We can become preoccupied with the opinion of the boss and some totally imagined high standard.

 

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If we can change the way we think about ourselves and our potential, we can open new doors to unlimited possibilities and point ourselves in the right direction to a better, more fulfilling professional and personal life.  We should not think about what other people think of us, but we should concentrate on what we want and adjust our thinking so that we will achieve it. 

To begin to change the way we think about ourselves, we need to stimulate our imaginations.  This can be done by writing down a clear and detailed description of our ideal outcome.  We must be absolutely clear about the outcome, but we must also be flexible about the process of achieving it. 

There is a method you can use to see yourself having achieved your outcome.  It is called the ‘Hindsight Tool’.  It works like this:  

  • Think about the outcome you want, visualise yourself as having achieved it.

  • Then use the ‘hindsight tool’  – In your mind imagine yourself in, say, five years’ time, picture yourself being the successful person you want to be. How would you look? What would you be wearing? What would you be saying or doing?  Who would be around you, who wouldn’t be around you? Where would you be?

  • Then, turn round and look back to the present and see what course and actions you took, what mistakes you may have made and how you corrected them.

Your life does not resemble anybody else's

It may be that the outcome you imagined is not exactly what you hoped for.  That is fine and very normal.  Re-think your outcome and do the process over again.  You can do this many times until you get the outcome you want.  Then put it all into practice.

If you need help with any of the above, contact me.  

I am helping people to become the very best version of themselves and would love to work with you.

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

Maggie Currie 

Creedence – Confidence for You

International Confidence Coach, Motivational Speaker, Author

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Looking after me and manifesting for me

I have been offered opportunities this week and having investigated what they would involve.  I have accepted one and am considering another.

I was offered the position of tutor for an online life coaching programme that offers a diploma in life coaching and since I have done this course myself and passed it successfully (admittedly some years ago) I know what it involves and the basics of the course itself.

My job will be to mark the students’ work when it is sent to me, to offer constructive criticism and help them to become good life coaches. I will get paid for every one that I mark and an additional amount for any further communication with any of the students. Reimbursed for postage etc. So this will give me a regular income which is good.

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The other opportunity is for using my coaching/training skills in a different way. Someone is in the process of setting up a new charity which is aiming at helping women to move forward in their lives following divorce, emotional abuse, addiction etc. I had a telephone conversation with the lady concerned yesterday and have sent her some information about my background, qualifications etc., so she can get a feel for me.

I am keeping my mind open on this one, as I have other commitments and I want to give my best to them, and if it means spending too much time away then I shall decline.

It is wonderful to have these opportunities and to notice them when they are offered. It is also good that I am considering my options and taking care of me first.  This is essential and not selfish.  If I don’t look after me then I will be letting myself down.

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I believe I am manifesting income and that I am manifesting exactly what I need when I need it. I believe I am learning every day more and more about myself and I am loving this journey of discovery.

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.

Maggie Currie 

Creedence – Confidence for You

International Confidence Coach, Motivational Speaker, Author

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