ActionPodcast

It's got to be perfect! Or does it? Do you suffer from Perfectionism Paralysis? Sam and Paul talk about how to deal with wanting everything to be perfect and yet end up not doing anything at all.

Resistance is FUTILE! Although not really, but it certainly can be entertaining what your inner voice will do to try and stop any kind of change or new action. Paul and Sam talk about resistance to change, coaching and how to deal with that inner voice.

At times we all fear change so much that the discomfort of staying where we are seems like the better choice. Paul and Chris discuss how you can disarm those fears and can soon find that adapting to change become second nature and no where near as scary as you first thought.

It's been a year since the Action Podcast team started working together. Paul and Sam review what they have learnt during their time with Action Podcast over the last year.

What are mentors? How are they different from coaches? How do you get one? What will they do for you? All these questions and more are answered in this podcast with Chris and Paul.

SPECIAL EDITION! Previously unreleased, Paul and Sam have finally decided to share one of the earliest ActionPodcast recordings on a topic close to their hearts! Nearly a year on, it remains really relevant whilst being a 'blast from the past' back to our humble beginnings! Failure almost seems to be another F-word! We're unlikely to think happy or positive thoughts when we hear it. A fear of failure can stop us in our tracks, no matter how much we want to do something; and if we've already reached a point of failure it can be easy to wish the whole thing never happened. As Paul jokes, sometimes we just want to sweep it under the rug, hoping others haven't noticed - even trying to convince ourselves that it didn't occur. Yet failure can be one of the best teachers if we let it and start thinking about our mistakes as a learning opportunity rather than just a point of pain. Join us in exploring the fabulous art of failure!

Just before our most recent podcast, Paul and I spoke together about the power of simply being in the moment. Of literally smelling the roses, coffee and whatever else turns you on. Of just looking around at all the things in our lives that we were thankful for. It stopped me dead in my tracks. Even more so when I tried an exercise he'd done himself to reinforce and connect with gratitude. When he described it to me, I can honestly say I had a moment of epiphany. It seemed so simple, yet so incredibly powerful, so I'd like to share it with you now: Just take a sheet of A4 paper, and write the word 'thank you' over and over again... until a name comes up. Then keep writing again, 'thank you' over and over. Until more names come up. Like me, you'll probably be quite surprised at the names on the list. You may find other words arise, not just names. That's perfectly okay. Whatever messages you receive from your subconscious are very powerful, so own them all. Then take some time out to just reflect on all the great things you have in your life. It could be good health, family, your children, a great job, getting fired from a job you loathed, being in a great relationship, or finally leaving a toxic one. Whatever you have to be grateful for, I can guarantee if you take just 5 or 10 minutes each day to remind yourself of all these wonderful people and situations, you'll feel far more at peace with yourself - and the world around you. The book Paul mentioned in this podcast is Moon Over Water: Meditation Made Clear, with Techniques for Beginners and Initiates

How many times have you had a great idea that you were excited about at the time, but have totally forgotten about a while later? Often these ideas keep coming back up (and may keep being forgotten about!), and can haunt you with the sense that you've not done anything about them. Paul and Sam discuss some tools and techniques to not only help you capture these lost ideas, but to solve some of the challenges of how to take action on them, letting them 'percolate', whether the timing is right, and how to start uncovering some creative solutions. Likewise, there are those ideas that we keep avoiding or things that really need to be done that seem to get harder and heavier the longer we resist taking action on them! **ACTION!** Join the discussion by sharing the idea(s) that just won't let go of you, and let's see whether we can all find those first steps that will mean half the effort of achieving them is already done! Revisiting a technique mentioned in one of our most popular podcasts How to Calm a Racing Mind, Stream of Consciousness (via writing, mind-mapping, drawing, voice recording or other method) can be just as helpful in taking action on these great ideas as it can be for coping with insomnia and many other areas!

Whether you are tackling a DIY job around the house, completing a work project, running a business or even enjoying a leisure activity, it could pay to give some thought to having the right tools for the task. Some 'tools' may require an investment up front, but having the right ones could save you a lot of time, hassle and money, giving you a better quality result with greater efficiency, and may even be the difference between you loving and hating what you are doing. Paul and Sam discuss some of their DIY learnings, and explore other areas that this insight can be applied to - from serious tasks to fun ones! Afterall, would you try writing an essay with a lipstick? ;) If you are the owner of a small business that has grown over a few years to something greater, and would like to understand more about how the Right Tools and related concepts could ensure your business continues to grow effectively, and allow you to love what you created once more, then please contact Sam for more information.

*Note: We are not financial advisors and therefore cannot give financial advice!* Paul and Sam talk about how they are building awareness of their finances to help them keep them in the black and out of the red! Following on from their previous podcast, Reality Check, they discuss how even a little bit of measuring can make a world of difference when it comes to understanding where your money really does go - and once that awareness is there making informed decisions becomes so much easier.

Do you run your life through your diary, finding yourself lost without it and end in a mess of double-bookings when you don't have it to hand? Paul and Sam talk about our perception of time, its impacts, and how to keep a reality check on the things you need or want to do. With loads of tips and tricks on how to keep track and make your life that little bit more organised - or at least measurably more realistic! For more information on The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, and the process of Morning Pages (one of its pivotal Basic Tools), visit The Artist's Way site where you can even download a PDF chapter of the book that details why Morning Pages are so powerful! Also available from Amazon Artist's Way, 10th anniversary edition

Ever get the feeling that you seem to be putting a lot of effort in but don't really seem to be getting the results out? Maybe you just need a break, some time out to relax and allow yourself to have some fun. Paul and Gina talk about how being too focused on one thing can actually be counter productive and a simple break can result in some refreshing ideas and results that just pure hard work can cause you to over look.

Do you have a big event coming up? Have you spent more time worrying about it than actually planning for it? Paul and Gina talk about two real life examples where clients have come to them with some major event that was looming up on them. They discuss how to work through the planning process and dealing with the situation if things don't quite go to plan.

Paul and Gina discuss the fine art of accessing and using your intuition. Do you often have a gut feeling to do something, a calling perhaps? Do you follow it through with action, or just ignore it? Using your intuition as a way to finding solutions to current issues can bring greater meaning and clarity to your life. Simply ask yourself: "What do I love?" and you will hear your intuition speak. It's a simple as that! Your intuition speaks the truth. Follow your intuition, instead of your rational mind, and you'll be much happier.

Paul talks to Gina about his recent time away relaxing and ponders on why we feel the need to earn the right to treat ourselves. It's great to celebrate our achievements but getting through each day is often cause enough to treat yourself.