Interview with APE client..Claire Lyons

Have you decided that 2018 is the year that you're going to make some big changes?

What is it you want to do?  Leave your job, start your business, write that book, lose weight or change your mind-set?

We often use the momentum at the beginning of a New Year and feelings of a fresh start to do things outside of our comfort zones, to try new things and to try and implement changes that we've wanted to for some time.

Well someone who did just that is Claire Lyons, who I've had the pleasure of interviewing for this week's blog post.

Claire is an ex-client and someone who I worked with at APE, helping Claire to make some big changes in her life.  When I met Claire she was working as a Mental Health professional, juggling multiple passions including writing, blogging and crafting not to mention looking after her 4, yes 4 children!

Though Claire, like most of my clients, is driven, accomplished and has many talents she can turn her hand to, she also had the insight that it would take an outside perspective and objective view to help her see things differently.  This she knew would  not only help her to actively move forward, but also challenge her and help her step outside of her comfort zone and help her ultimately make some changes she had been pondering for a while.

And that is exactly what she did!  Claire came to see me for 1:1 Psychology Coaching  and within a few months of working together Claire had left her job, and is now happily living a more balanced and fulfilled life being with her family but also running a business from home (or at least her lovely shed).  In this she focuses on helping other families to live an ethically-conscious life, while saving money.  Her business is called The Frugal Family..how perfect!

In this short interview, Claire tells you about her journey in her own words, about some of the difficulties in doing what she did, after all making big changes is not an easy thing to do, and how she came to achieve this with the help of our work together and input via the APE model.

So without further ado, may I introduce Claire...

I hope you found this interview interesting and that it's inspired you to go after your own dreams and pursue what you want to do this year.

If you'd like to find out more about Claire and her work and business then please check out her website at https://www.thefrugalfamily.co.uk

I'd also like to say as I do in the video, what a pleasure it's been to work with Claire. Working with anyone in this kind of process is a partnership, and it's through Claire's hard work and determination to work on herself that allowed change to happen (she was also incredibly organised!).

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If you'd like to know more about how I can help you 1:1 with making changes this year, then I offer very limited places for Coaching.  You can make an enquiry by filling out a contact form at the bottom of this page.

Please also watch out for many more client interviews to come as well as further information about how we can work together to help you make that change this year!

In the meantime do sign up if you’d like to get this delivered to your in-box every week. In this I also share a little more than I do here, and you’ll be the first to hear about all things going on behind the scenes here at APE.

Also if you’d like to keep the dialogue going then why not come on over to the APE Facebook page where I engage with people daily as well as answering questions.

Until next week!

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Managing your Mind-set for 2018!

Do you ever feel like you have thoughts or feelings that hold you back from doing what you really want to do?

Do you worry about the consequences of following your dreams?  Maybe you feel very unconfident and worry about how you appear to others, or you worry about what you 'should be' doing?

You might also be experiencing anxiety or feel stuck about where you are, or aren't in your life right now...time feels like it's running out, or you're still doing the wrong things!

First of all I want you to know that all of these feelings are completely normal.  You are not alone in thinking and feeling this way and even the most confident person will at some stage have feelings similar to this at one time or another.

In today's video I go into this in a bit more detail, sharing a case-study with you about someone who felt just like this. I also share a simple exercise that you can do to start un-blocking these blocks and feeling differently about how you approach things.

So, just click on the video below to get this party started...

I hope you found this useful as a starting point for you if you're feeling this way.  I'd also love to hear from you about how you've overcome your own blocks and feelings that don't serve you.

I must say that this is the start of a very important dialogue that I will be continuing over the next few weeks.  As well as this I'll be sharing with you some exciting new offers I'll be making to you if you'd like to know more about how you can start to make some big changes for yourself this year.

Until then, please do sign up if you'd to get this delivered to your in-box every week. In this I also share a little more than I do here, and you'll be the first to hear about all things going on behind the scenes here at APE.

Also if you'd like to keep the dialogue going then why not come on over to the APE Facebook page where I engage with people daily as well as answering questions.

Have an amazing week...you really can smash this year!

What's your relationship with money?...

Money.

When you read this word, what comes to mind for you?

Do you think of your savings or lack of?  Do you think of the fact that you feel content and happy with what you have financially, or would you like to have more?

Do you begin to think of your work and what you do, and how you feel your income reflects your worth or indeed how it doesn't?

Do you think about the fact that you would like to earn more of your own money versus relying on another, maybe a spouse or parent or even relying on loans that you've taken out?

In my work as a psychologist and helping people to make changes in their life, I have yet to work with anyone where money isn't part of the conversation.  Why?  Well, money is intricately woven into the fabric of our lives. The money we have or don't have is expressed in the work we do, the holidays we take, the friends we keep, the car we drive as well as how we feel and how we relate to the life we live and life we portray.

In today's video I begin this important conversation about money, and offer a simple but powerful exercise you can try which will help you begin to unravel your own relationship with money...click below to get stuck in.

I hope you do try this exercise.

I do this with most of my clients, especially when they are looking at starting a business or leaving a job. The power of understanding your relationship with money will enable you to do things like allow you to increase your earning potential and even take away any angst you might be feeling about the topic.

I'd love to hear how this goes for you, and if you're brave enough maybe you will even share what blocks or interesting things you discovered?

Until next week!

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A simple strategy for Overwhelm..

 Do you ever feel like you are being bombarded on a daily basis about all the things you should be doing?

When you feel like you want to live a conscious life, it's easy to get sucked into the shoulds...

...I should be working harder, I should be eating more healthy, I should be going to the gym, I should read that book, I should clean out that wardrobe, redecorate that room, be more mindful, be more calm....aaagghhh!

Often what doesn't help is seeing other people around you seemingly doing these things. Your social media feed is probably filled with people doing the very things you are struggling to do..and then you feel bad.  You feel down, you feel like you will never to get to where you want to be.

You then feel stressed, anxious and overwhelmed!

The fact is that we absolutely can do the things we want to do, but we often need to just take a step back and think about doing things in a way that suits us, and allows us to have the best shot at actually achieving it.  This might look a little slower than we would like, but we can get there, and what we mustn't forget is that in the midst of all of this, if we don't take care of ourselves in the process, then we won't get anywhere.

I work with a lot of clients who feel Overwhelmed, which often comes from being driven and motivated to succeed.

With these clients I often share a simple strategy that helps them overcome feelings of overwhelm and helps them start to take better care of themselves, and this is what I share with you in todays video, so let's get stuck in...

I'd love to hear from you if you try out this simple strategy!  Also, watch out for an upcoming Facebook live with one of my clients who will share with you how this strategy has worked for her.

You can join us on Facebook by Clicking HERE. 

You can also sign up to get this delivered straight to your inbox every week, along with some other things I only share with subscribers by CLICKING HERE.

Till next week..

The 3 steps to success!...

Have you ever wondered how you're going to achieve the things you want to in life?

Maybe you've read the books, you've done the courses and you've maybe even hired a coach or someone to help you on your journey and yet you still feel blocked or like there is more working against you than in your favour.

In today's blog I share the 3 steps to success, which are all about Acquisition, Performance and Evolution...in other words, APE!

I've worked hard on this model which has been based on research but more importantly my experience as psychologist working with people all looking to live fulfilled lives.

It's not always easy.  There are no guarantees and this kind of stuff isn't a magic formula - as much as other trainers, coaches and self-help peeps would like you to believe!-.

What I can honestly say though, from my own experience having actually taken people through the APE process, is that by putting in the work which looks like working on yourself, your mind-set and changing your behaviours, WILL get you big results.

 Sometimes the people I work with even surprise themselves!

So, today we dig into the APE model, and look at each part of the model which acts like a road-map to get you to where you want to be...let's get stuck in!

I hope you found today's post useful.

To get hold of your free downloadable which clearly highlights all the questions that will start you on your journey, then just CLICK HERE to be taken through to the sign-up form!

This free resource highlights the 8 key questions, that if you answer them honestly, openly and in as much detail as possible, you'll really start to get to grips with the things that are blocking you and holding you back, as well as the things you already have at your disposal that will enable you to start moving forward and getting to where you want to be!

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In the meantime do get in touch with any questions you might have by emailing me at serena@apemodelpsychology.com

Of course I'd also love hear from you if you discover anything new about yourself after doing this exercise.  What do you notice about what blocks or stops you and what can you see that will help you move forward?  Please comment below..

 Also, to keep the APE dialogue going and to meet other like-minded apes then come over and join us on Facebook by Clicking HERE. Every Monday at 7.30pm (BST) evening I do a Facebook Live in which I cover a part of the APE Model and answer your questions too!

Till next week..

Did you know that successful people wake up at 5am?...or do they?..

What time do you get up in the morning?

Are you an early riser? Do you like the quietness of the house as you potter downstairs to make yourself a coffee, and then use this sacred time write or read a book before the rest of the house arises?

Or maybe you like to wake a little later and get up just in time to get ready for the day and go to work or go out to the gym?

Whatever you do are you happy with the sleep you're getting and do you feel like your routine suits you?  Are you getting enough sleep?

When I work with clients, there typically seems to be some kind of improvement we can make in their sleep routine.  Some feel that they don't get enough.  Some are in bad patterns, so sleep late but have to be up early for work so are always feeling tired. Some  and, I have to admit I see it more in my female clients, feel guilty if they 'lie-in' or are not getting with the sparrows.

The media likes to focus on sleep, and as part of their repertoire for stories and advice the general rule of thumb seems to be that if you want to be successful, then getting up with the sparrows is exactly what you should be doing.  After all, it's what the 'greats' do isn't it? They are apparently up at 5am writing their next novel, making their millions, honing their 6 pack or creating the recipe for world peace...but is it true, and should we be bowing down to the peer-pressure that tells us that the only route to happiness and success is the 5am start?

Well I dive into this is in today's video, where we look at importance of sleep and the real benefits it can have for you in terms of brain function, memory and your physical health. We also take a look at some famous case-studies of those that rise early and those that don't!

So, here we go...

I hope you found some interesting things to think about here.  Will you be making any tweaks to your own sleep routine and can you try and get rid of some of that guilt you may have been feeling around getting up a bit later?  I'd love to hear about what changes you might be making.

Also, if you’d like to be the first to find out about all things APE, then of course click HERE to be taken to the link here to sign up for email updates which include a link to the new video in your inbox every week, as well as being the first to find out about new events, courses and programmes!

 Also, to keep the APE dialogue going and to meet other like-minded apes then come over and join us on Facebook by Clicking HERE. Every Monday at 7.30pm (BST) evening I do a Facebook Live in which I cover a part of the APE Model and answer your questions too!

I look forward to seeing you over there!