Sample Course Module
Reinvent yourself
Who Are You Now? (part 1 of 6)
"It is never too late to be what you might have been"George Eliot | |
 | Mary Ann Evans said this over 150 years ago. She knew all about reinvention even then, in Victorian England, when she had to appear to be a man, George Eliot, in order to get her wonderful novels published. Her finest novel, Middlemarch, was published when she 38, so she also knew about not giving up on herself. Thankfully, things have changed since then, but the urge to be the best that we can and being inventive along the way is perennial, as relevant today as it was then. |
Look at You
Today, and over the next six weeks I want you to take this opportunity to have a good look at yourself, close-up, with me asking questions by your side. My plan is to push you to be the best-possible version of yourself, not someone different, just you at your shiny, refined, polished, perfected best.
How great is that?
It gets better! You can even decide to take on new qualities, characteristics and an enhanced, spruced-up demeanour of your choice. Designer dressing, bespoke tailoring of your own making. That's really exciting, and entirely possible. I do this myself every now and then and with my clients all the time. I've coached people to move from dithering to decisive, jaded to dynamic, victim to victorious.
Life can take it out of you. It’s easy to get coated with layers of resignation, cynicism, self-doubt and pessimism. It all adds up to a dampening of your spirit, vibrancy and optimism, a shutting down of what's possible for you, your life. I want to slough off those layers, so you see yourself anew and take a fresh look at yourself. Before we even think of bringing new qualities, attitudes or actions to you, we need to make room and throw off what may be stale or no longer useful. Think of it as exfoliation for the spirit!
Look Within
Truly successful, enduring reinvention comes from digging deep into yourself and pulling out old beliefs and attitudes that restrict you, prevent you fulfilling your potential, living the life you want to live and being the person you feel you genuinely are.
Take a look at yourself:
- What do you see?
- Who are you now?
- Are you entirely happy with what you’ve become?
It would be very easy to answer questions like these if we were talking about your body. You could tell me instantly whether you had ‘let yourself go’, were not at your best, had neglected yourself.
But we're looking at the person you've become and are turning into. That's more unusual. It's a vital conversation to have. You could slip into being someone you wouldn't find attractive or interesting without even noticing!
You could wake up some morning and not recognise the person in your own bed – you!
Who Are You?
The question, ‘Who am I?’ is the one to ponder. Be absolutely clear. This is not a final, fixed state of affairs. We just need some answers to get clear on our work ahead. In the next few weeks we're going to experiment, try on some new traits, attitudes and airs.
Don't even think about genes. They're such a small part of the picture. Don't let them get in the way of you grooming yourself to polished perfection, of your own making.
Thought for the week
Everyday, in every way, I get better and better.
Actions for the week
- Buy a new notebook expressly for this course.
Your first entry is to list the attitudes, beliefs and demeanour that no longer work for you.
What do you need to throw off, walk away from, dump?
For example, you could have taken on a disgruntled, disaffected look that you wear without even noticing. It just got stuck. You forgot to take it off one evening and it's been there ever since. Are there traits that have crept into your outlook that you find distasteful. Root them out. Get them on paper.
Look very closely at yourself. Monitor your behaviour and what you're projecting about yourself.
Get all this written down.
- Observe others
Watch who and what they are turning into. They're oblivious to it, but it's there for you to see.
Watch, listen and learn. Say nothing. Don’t judge. Take note.
- Preparing for A Fresh New You requires action on all levels
Your home and your wardrobe need scrutiny.
Take two hours to clear out old, worn-out or redundant clothes and belongings. Give away generously knowing that you’re making room for something more fitting or just some clear space.
- Build some quality time-out for you every day
Soak in a glorious evening bath. Switch off and tune into you. Revel in the comfort of knowing that you're moving on up, taking yourself in hand, ready to challenge yourself and do what it takes to be brilliant.
- Get excited!
Grasp that you've embarked on a hugely important and fascinating project -The Rebranding of You. If Gucci and Burberry can do it, you certainly can!
Seriously, we're looking at a Makeover from the inside out. It's for real. You've taken the first steps. You're here. You know what you've got to do and next week we'll get clear on Who do you want to be?
That’s a fabulous question. Until then - have a great week,
Love and Best Wishes,
Fiona
Useful or Interesting Links
Read more about the amazing Mary Ann Evans (aka George Eliot)
Find out who you are now
This is a good and interesting online quiz that may be useful in helping you to decide just who you are now.
Go to Personality Quiz
Copyright © 2002-2006 Life Coaching Ltd
