"Knowledge is Power" was the mantra I lived by growing up. I would read all my English literature books before the summer holidays were over. I read the Times Magazine every month (before Google), Readers Digest, Mystery, History, Action-Adventure and Romance novels - and the list goes on. I wanted to dig deep, learn, analyse and understand. Not just facts - but also human behaviour. Why certain groups got on better than others. What glued groups together. Being a bit of a loner - this was baffling.
I trained to be a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor and set up Reefers & Wreckers Dive Shop.. 26 years on, with a few thousand students taught and certified, and an active Coaching business. What I am offering here today is that- knowledge without the power to change, is like wanting to sail without any wind. Knowledge and self awareness is great but how much help is awareness while you are making the same mistakes everyday, stuck in the same groove month after month year after year. So... how to change.
Mirroring.
You need to see yourself in action. Become an observer of your own body language. This entails 'getting out of your own head and getting into your body; out of the "classroom theory session" and getting into the car. What are the actions that you display- how do you drive when no one wants to lets you in, how do you act when you are angry or frustrated or feeling that you are not good enough. Look at your physical reactions, shoulders, hands, face- how much tension are they holding, what is your body trying to tell you, what signals are you missing that could help you to remove stress and actually enjoy the journey regardless of the destination.
Patterns.
When negative emotions overcome you, where do you physically go and what do you do. What do you see or not see. What choices do you make. There is a definite pattern of behaviour that you habitually follow that will lead to a particular outcome that will not be serving you. Starting to break this pattern of self defeating behaviour by bringing self awareness to the fore front of your focus is the beginning steps to equipping yourself with the ability to actually bringing about real change in your life. This may sound like an enrolment into human psychology and behaviour, but I see it as a choice..... Making a shift from a place of habitual self sabotage and stepping into the drivers seat of your life.
I would love to hear some thoughts and feedback on how this sounds to you !
Best
Mike Mahy
