CHANGING YOUR MINDSET TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE

 

The past few years have definitely been testing for everyone with many many life lessons along the way and… I for one am determined to take as many positives from these past few years as possible.

I’ve always been a worrier and a people pleaser and have suffered from mild anxiety in the past but as I get older I knew this had to change.

I run a business which involves teaching children, every parents most precious possession, and although my business is very successful and 99% of parents have been delighted with our hard work and commitment to their children over the years, you can never please everyone all of the time. As the saying goes

‘ You can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time’

But then lockdown happened, and I suddenly had to run my business entirely online. But I didn’t just run my business, in truth I worked hours and hours for absolute peanuts, my biggest concern wasn’t making money and getting results but keeping the children as motivated and happy in such uncertain times. I never ever blow my own trumpet usually, but I know I went above and beyond not because I needed to but because I wanted to.

I’ve had a lot of success in my life yet somehow, I suffer far more than anyone would know with my confidence and self-belief but I knew this had to change. And so, I did start to believe in myself and found an inner strength I didn’t know I had. I’ve always been great at pretending to be self-assured and confident but, for once, I was actually feeling it.

As things slowly began to return to ‘the new normal’ I knew this change had to be permanent. Again 99% of the parents I deal with came back to the studios remembering I’d gone above and beyond for their children and I know they will never forget that but the same 1%, however grateful they said they were at the time, quickly went back to their own ways because they can’t help themselves. But that’s when I knew I’d changed permanently and for the better, the little things that would have upset me suddenly didn’t. If someone’s not happy then there’s the door, I’m not getting upset over petty trivial things any more as there’s a much bigger picture in the world nowadays.  

As it happens, because I’m stronger and I’m not taking any rubbish from anyone, instead of causing trouble they’ve shut up and realised I’m not a pushover!!!! Don’t get me wrong, if someone has a genuine concern or problem I’ll always be there to try and solve it in a heartbeat.

There’s so many other things I’ve taken from it too, like knowing what really is important in life which is my family and friends. I’m guilty of being a workaholic and, as many business owners do, letting work run into personal time. The number of Sundays I’ve worked over the years for nothing is ridiculous. I won’t any more though! My children are not really children anymore. At 18 & 15 the years are flying by and the time I spend with them is precious so I’ve made a very conscious decision to not even think of work on my days off and now, Mondays, Friday’s and Sunday’s are completely work free and are very precious family days. Learning to say ‘no’ has taken me a long time to master but I think with a pandemic, some tough years following it & reaching 48 I’m almost (not quite!) there!!!!!

Productivity & Motivation is something I’m pretty good at but again, I’m more determined than ever to squeeze every drop out of life now. We only get one life after all and I’m determined to make the most of mine and put my mark on it. I want my children to see how important hard work & being a good, honest & kind person it is and for them to live their lives to the fullest. If I don’t show them this no one else will and I want them to always live their very best lives and do absolutely everything they want to do.

So, for me like everyone else, yes this has been an extremely challenging few years, but I do think I’ve learnt so much about myself and taken so much from it. I love making plans for the future, but the most important thing is to live for the here and now as none of know what’s around the corner.

 

“Insanity is doing the same thing & expecting a different outcome”