A journey of change, led by positive actions, planning, support, and ultimately a shift of mindset

Having reached the milestone of 40 years of age in the year 2020, where the nation was dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, whilst at the same time trying to predict the future and how long it would last? I was in the background deciding to trade off a lack of 40th birthday celebrations by looking back over my previous 40 years (well the last 10 really).

I am not going to lie. My head was not in a great place. I had quite a negative outlook on a number of aspects of my life. Without going into too much detail, our family had experienced a pretty awful decade from 2010 to 2020. This had taken its toll on me and I was mentally and physically tired. My glass was barely a third full.

I was overweight (still am, just less so), single, had limited social interaction with friends and family, I was suffering from depression, and I had not grieved properly for my Dad (who took his life in 2017) and now like all of us had a pandemic to deal with.

I had my sense of humour and the fake 'happy Chris' facade that all my business connections were seeing. Disclaimer: not fake in my knowledge base or anything untoward, just fake in the fact I was covering up abject sadness with false happiness.

As 2020 drew to a close I had engaged a mindset coach to help me change. I knew it would not be a short cycle of change and a lot of effort would be required on my part, with the expert help of others. I took inspiration from seeing others happy, doing different things, and getting something from a life I had never experienced.

One of these things was fitness. I still prefer alternate options to exercise (e.g. Peanut M&Ms) and find those who excitedly talk about fitness with passion a struggle to this very day! However, I now understand why they talk with such passion!

I exclaimed to my mindset coach in December 2020 "I am going to walk from Lands End to John O'Groats" and he calmly broke down what positive effects this course of action would have on me and my mindset, whilst suggesting we discuss this in further detail, whilst offering maximum positive reinforcement. Typical me - starting with something small and working upwards!!!

Slight problem - lockdown and pandemic (could have claimed I was getting an eye test)!

Luckily he introduced me to The Conquerer series of virtual fitness challenges, to which there was a lovely scenic version of the journey from Lands End to John O'Groats. You get a lovely medal at the end, can track your progress via App, and set whatever time goal you wish to complete the 1084 miles in, whilst being sent e-postcards along the way and also planting a new tree for each 20% of the mileage you complete.

I signed up and set the 365 days of 2021 as the timeframe. A nice 3 mile per day stroll. Not much. But for someone who was doing nothing and was depressed about the fact they were doing nothing, a start nonetheless.

Wind forward to late January 2022 and I completed the 1084 miles, yes in 390 days, but I did it! I had lost a stone and a half met so many supportive people via the Facebook online community from all over the world, and planted five new trees! I cannot tell you how happy I was when my medal arrived in the post yesterday! I do not have children but I felt a sense of pride (it is OK to congratulate yourself every now and then) akin to those that do have children, especially when school sports day comes around!

I have now instantly signed up to cycle Route 66 and it's 2280 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. I understand the excitement exercise can bring now. That sense of achievement. That rush through the bloodstream. That sense of being alive. That positive mindset.

In the same timeframe, I have also become a volunteer for the NHS, doubled the size of my data protection business, grown my online B2B networking business, started delivering online training, workshops, and seminars.

In addition, I have ditched a hobby of 24 years that was dragging me down with its demands and emotional attachments, made new friends and embraced my comedy writing again.

I want to thank my mindset coach for continuing ongoing support, we are working on some great new challenges for me. Without him, I am not sure where I would be now?

Oh, there is one other person that I must thank - ME! Actions drive positive change and positive change drives a positive mindset. You can be encouraged but only you can actually do it.

Thank you also for reading and never think that you cannot change your current mindset - you can and you will.