Coach of the Month- November 2017- Coaching Q & A

In November, we congratulate Olivia Hunt as our Coach of the Month!

Olivia’s passion for wellbeing and advocacy to help others make us feel inspired and proud of having her as part of our community.

Please enjoy her brilliant advice on finding the resilience ability already existing inside us and strengthening it with simple daily habits.

Sit back, grab a cup of tea and dive into our November’s Coaching Q & A.

PSG: What enables you prepare for tough times?

Olivia

Reflecting back on some of the most challenging times in my life, I often ask what could have helped me bounce back a little quicker or come through hardship without adding to what were already painful experiences.

Some things always surface, and they remind me to invest in my wellbeing daily to be better equipped when life gets challenging.

Trusting in myself and my own ability is key for me. Hard times were where I first accessed the wellsprings of courage and wisdom that are available inside us all. What is more powerful in times of stress than knowing we’ve come through adversity before? I don’t think we are aware of the limitless power and ability we have to make our lives better. For me, it has always been the simple things that have given me strength. Going for a walk, connecting with people, yoga, meditation, spending time in nature, all of which are simple and free.

Listening to my intuition has great significance in my life. Ignoring it has led me astray many times, sometimes for years. This inner knowing, and guidance is always available to us. Clarity comes when we get still and allow ourselves time to listen to what it is saying to us, to what it wants us to hear. Our intuition somehow already knows what’s best for us.

Asking ourselves if what we are doing is enhancing our life or disempowering us is enlightening. Are we giving ourselves power or taking it away by our daily choices? Stopping any behaviour that is not adding to our lives is essential to living a fulfilling life. Awareness is a wonderful gift however if we don’t act on this awareness, what will ever change?

PSG: How do you support and recover from stress and everyday challenges?

Olivia

I’ve seen my own resilience strengthen immensely through the years which shows the power inside each of us to build our resilience, and the importance of doing so daily. Creating time for myself everyday replenishes me and leaves me ready to face whatever the coming day has in store.

I regularly get acupuncture, I find it so good for my wellbeing that I’m always recommending it to friends. Yoga and meditation are two practices I find very soothing, it’s the perfect way to connect back to yourself after a busy day. Every year I go on a retreat either in Ireland or abroad. This year I spent a week in Lisbon practicing yoga by sunrise and sunset, I came back feeling very grounded and relaxed.

Setting an intention for the day and how you’d like it to turn out always works well. When I’ve a lot on I try to pick three things I will get done each day. This is very empowering as it helps break down big tasks into more manageable items.

I’m lucky to have people in my life who are very open to talking honestly about how they really are. When we are truthful about difficulties extraordinary things can happen, it is so refreshing, and inspiring hearing people be authentic. It creates the perfect environment for change to happen.

PSG: What is something we could all start doing to be more resilient?

Olivia

Letting go of perceived limits and anything else that no longer serves us has had such a positive impact in my life. Also, accepting things we can’t change empowers us to move forward with our lives. Living in the present takes practice. So many of us live in the past and future and miss the moments life is presenting us with daily.

We have unlimited choices when it comes to our thoughts from the moment we wake up, to the moment we sleep. Choose your thoughts wisely, they create your experience of life. Channel your neural energy into thinking about the fantastic life you could be living. If this is difficult for you, consider asking for help. There are so many holistic ways we can nourish ourselves. I found therapy and coaching hugely impactful in my life. Explore all the options out there and go with what feels right for you.

Being grateful, welcoming the day and giving thanks at night are great ways to get into this habit. It always fascinates me that we are on a planet spinning through outer space. I try to remember this when I’m going through hard times, it can help to put things in perspective and remind me to let go and live my life.

Making a commitment to purposefully and proactively look after our mental health daily will help us live more joyful lives. It could be as simple as taking three deep breathes in the morning to going for a five minute walk at lunch. Make this promise to yourself today and watch your life change.