Got the Blues?
Today, I noticed that a number of my coaching clients seemed a little down. Some of them shared downright sadness. Since I’ve been feeling a little down myself, it got me wondering if there’s something in the air today (apart from pollen!) creating a collective case of the blues.
Many people struggle to accept ‘difficult’ feelings and vulnerability. My corporate clients, in particular, tend to chastise themselves for feeling ‘negative’ feelings. They urge themselves to ‘snap out of it’ ‘get over it’ or define their attitude as ‘bad’ or ‘not good enough’. This self criticism has the opposite result of what’s intended – it drives a fault finding, unkind, unresourceful state.
Getting angry with yourself is one way to shift the blues, but I’m not sure it’s an improvement. Difficult feelings are an opportunity for us to practice self kindness and increase self acceptance. After all, feelings are neither ‘positive’ nor ‘negative’, they just are. Contrasting emotions are part of the experience of being alive, and they are nothing to run away from.
The next time you’ve got the blues, slow down. Pay attention. What are your feelings trying to tell you?
Tags: appreciation of life, business coaching, cause and effect, coaching, depression, emotional intelligence, Executive coaching, ideas on motivation, life coaching, negativity at work, reflection, responding to negativity, self improvement
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About Kate Warren
Kate Warren is the founder of Brightlife. She is a leader in the field of personal and professional development, and is a sought-after speaker, teacher, and coach. Kate is passionate about helping people to unlock their personal and professional potential. She is an NLP Master Practitioner, a Certified NLP Coach, a Master of Group Leadership Dynamics, and the U.K.'s first certified WealthyMind™ trainer. In 2008 her business success was recognised when she was invited to join ‘Courvoisier the Future 500’, an elite group of the 500 rising stars of British business.
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Courvoisier The Future 500 is an exclusive member's network of the country's most innovative business brains and creative talent. Being awarded a place shows dedication and commercial success.