how is life treating you?

A Happy Life

Time is in short supply, so I'll keep this one brief.

As you know, or at least those of you who have read my previous articles on Linkedin will know - my life coaching training was/ is a tremendous experience. I could go as far to say that it was life changing. Why? It provided me with a great opportunity to claim true reassurance on the why, my purpose in life, and on the core values and priorities in life.

I want to share another story with you, one which delves into my early stages of life coach mentoring.

In one of my earliest mentoring sessions, I recall the coach talking about the impact of coaching and what it can bring to our lives. I quickly learned that life coaching is a continuous update on your life. View it like an update on your phone OS. When it comes to life coaching, you're always in the beta version of yourself. But why the updating of your phone OS metaphor?

You update your phone so that you can enjoy better and enhanced features. The same parallels can be found in life coaching. You see, each and every update you receive supports you to create the happy life you're looking for. I can't take credit for the metaphor. That's on my coach. As she came to the end of her updating a phone's OS metaphor, I couldn't resist and immediately interrupted her and took over the conversation. Those of you who know me know that this isn't at all typical of me.

"Coach", I said, with real vigor, "I am already living a happy life!"

She looked at me, smiled and then asked me to continue by telling me to "say more". When it comes to life coaching, the term "say more" is akin to Harry waving his wand, as it can create magic if used at the right time.

Encouraged to continue, I said "simply put, because life has been too kind to me. It's treated me well". In fact, people usually say that in life we should expect ups and downs, but I've not experienced any of these "downs". Secretly, I have to confess that I do prepare myself for a "down" each and every day. 

My coach looked assertive, which gave me the belief that this statement had grabbed her attention. I can still see her now, staring at me, focusing on what I might say next. There was real excitement in her stare, and one that I'll never forget. She was egging me on, guiding with her eyes to continue. 

I'll summarize what I told her that day. In short, I am I grateful for:

• Having great parents. To be honest, I can write books about this topic. One day I just might.
• Getting married to the lady I love, and even though this is a given for many, if you think about it for a second, this is a lot to be grateful for. Unfortunately, the love of my life isn't active on LinkedIn, so she won't see this. Maybe those of you who know Jana can push her into the LinkedIn sphere ??.
• Being a family guy. I always wanted to have kids. I'm grateful for having three beautiful, healthy, and intelligent children; Riam, Julia, and Nadi.
• Being financially stable. There's nothing that I want and haven't been able to get. Don't get me wrong, I'm just satisfied and grateful for what I have. I'm a firm believer that beyond the future's horizon, there are a lot more prosperous doors for me to walk through. More on that in upcoming articles.
• Being surrounded by a group of friends that are simply outstanding. A part of this group can be labelled as being "positively bullies", but that's a good thing. My friends support me whenever I need a nudge, a push, or a simple hug. They are indeed my extended family.

So, then, what have you picked up from the above bullet points?

Hopefully you see that gratefulness is: 

1. An attitude.
2. A mindset.
3. A way of thinking.

What do you get when you combine these three elements? A way of prosperous thinking that'll drive you forward. 

Never forget the great things you have. Always keep them at the forefront of your mind, and remember that everything happens for a reason. That's a key component in remaining grateful. Why? Because when the "downs" come - and they will - you're going to be ready for them. You'll be prepared.

So, tell me, how is life treating you? 

I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. Don't hold back!