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I like to keep my coaching skills current and up to date so that I can provide the best service that I can to my clients.  I do this by taking courses or going to conferences, or by meeting with other coaches.  To this end I recently took a course on positive psychology given by Dr Barbara Fredrickson, covering research from her lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Which was thoroughly enjoyable and very enlightening.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the phrase positive psychology, here in a nutshell is what Psychology Today describes it as being:

Positive psychology is the study of happiness. Psychology traditionally focused on dysfunction: people with mental illness or other psychological problems and how to treat them. Positive psychology, in contrast, is a relatively new field that examines how ordinary people can become happier and more fulfilled.

I like to take classes and workshops that allow me to experience, by hands-on activities, the effects of the processes being taught or spoken about.  I do not like to use anything with my clients that I have not experienced myself.  That way I have some idea of what you are going through.

The positive psychology movement is growing around the world, and has such enormous benefits to your health both physical and mental, that I urge you to find out more and these articles in Psychology Today are a good place to start https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/positive-psychology.

Taking courses, whether for interest or accomplishment, or learning a new skill, keeps your brain active and young.  It is the equivalent of going to the gym and it gives you an easy way to connect with new people either in person or through a MOOC (Massive Online Open Course).

I am also fortunate enough to have my children in university, but living at home with me right now, which allows me to know what workshops, discussions, events and courses are being put on at their colleges, that are open to the general public and I have been to some exceptional events, such as Japanese storytelling (Rakugo) which I would not have known about otherwise.  I encourage you to check out the university and colleges near you to find courses or events on subjects that interest you, but you know little or nothing about, so that you can meet new people, learn new things and increase your knowledge of the world outside your own boundary.  When you open up to the world fears can evaporate and life can become more fulfilling and rewarding.

Until next time

TTFN (ta ta for now (it’s an English thing))

Amanda