As we are in the midst of Mental Health Awareness week this is a topic that's been occupying my mind for a while now. Ever since I trained in positive psychology I have been telling a story about our negativity bias (our natural inclination to focus on the bad stuff as opposed to the good stuff) being something that is somewhat outdated. A tendency that comes from a time when we lived in caves.  I often quip that the majority of us live in safe environments - there are no tigers in the woods or bears at the door of the cave... ha ha ha etc etc.  Obviously, I point out, it's really useful in certain situations but those are few and far between in this day & age... 

And yet…. we are living in unprecedented times from a climate change point of view, where the global south actually is living with a bear at the cave door. They are living with the very real prospect of their homes being destroyed, their livelihoods being destroyed, their country being destroyed. Their whole population being wiped out.  Even in the global north where we have more resources at our disposal we are seeing more and more catastrophic events happening.  We are also living through times where war & the threat of a third world war is being talked about freely in the media & the disparity between rich & poor is ever widening.

Going back to our predisposition to focus on the negative, there is a very good reason for it and that is for the survival of our species, the survival of ourselves first and foremost, and then the survival of our species.  All emotions - including anxiety - have their place.  We can sweepingly put them into either a bucket called 'negative' or 'positive' but in doing so we risk being too binary & missing the point.  Anger, sadness, pessimism, fear... are all valid emotional responses.  In a best case scenario these emotions would spur us into ACTION.  The current mental health crisis, I believe, is partly in response to the environment we, as a collective, have created, that is so far removed from the one that humans are naturally meant to be a part of.  We have created systems that are literally killing the earth that we rely on.  No wonder our alarm system is being triggered!  And we are conditioned into a response of 'don't make a fuss'... 'don't rock the boat'... 'it's just the way it is'... 'I can't make a difference on my own'... This is where valid emotional responses can turn into pathological conditions.  

By promoting mindfulness techniques, meditation, coaching, all of these wonderful interventions that do have a positive impact on people… I am questioning whether we maybe dialling down the responses that we as a species, as individuals, as communities NEED to be having. There IS a bear at the door of our cave and our response is a flight, fight, freeze one. It is a natural stress response trying to flag something to us. Pulling the strings of the bear at the door of the cave are structures and systems that do not work anymore. They create societal injustices. They are not fit for purpose.  

My question is: Are we in danger of quietening down the rage that we all need to be feeling and expressing and ultimately doing something about?   Freezing or fleeing is not an option... we need to FIGHT!

Maybe it's time for a new story.

It's 2023 - there are more self help books in our bookshelves & therapeutic modalities than ever before and yet, according to Mind; 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England  and 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England. 

One question that keeps swirling around in my head is... what (if any) is the link between the plethora of self help books & modalities (including coaching) out there and the state of our mental health?

My musings below are just that... musings.  Mental health is a hugely complex area with numerous external and internal factors effecting it.  I have no answers (as usual!) but I do like to stir the pot to see what comes up.  You may well wholeheartedly disagree with some of my thoughts; in fact you may well even press the unsubscribe button when you read what I have to say... and that's OK.  In fact that's more than OK!!!

We are living in an age of unprecedented access to 'news', opinion, research, adverts, products, services, 'self help' etc etc and we can look at this from a positive angle and recognise how lucky we are to have all this information & 'help' at our fingertips.  We can also look at the impact this can have on our ability to live in the moment, connect with others & the natural world, form our own opinions based on lived experience, not to mention the potential for overstimulation and overwhelm.  We can also take a look at how all of the 'help' we have available is focussing us more and more as INDIVIDUALS who operate in our own independent worlds.

Now for the tricky bit... is coaching & the promotion of coaching another piece of the jigsaw adding to this view and to  overwhelm?  Adding to the 'not good enough' mixing pot?  

I take lots of time off social media these days and I am always struck when I come back to it by the endless messages of how we, as individuals,  should/could be living our lives differently... and for differently read better!   If you meditate just 10 minutes a day your life will be transformed.... if you buy this eco deodorant you are literally saving the planet as well as smelling like an absolute sex magnet!  'Work with me and you'll get the job you want, be the leader you want to be, triple your income/confidence/resilience...' By having a cold shower, swimming in a lake, running 58 miles, waking up at 4am, planting trees, hugging trees, reading every book under the sun, listening to this podcast, watching that Ted talk, doing this course, that exercise and so on; then and only then will you be enough.

By the very nature of running a business, I promote my work.  I look to entice clients... The irony is not lost on me that I'm doing it now.... basically I'm saying 'do you think a little like me?'  'Have I helped you in some way by writing all of this?'  'Maybe working with me might be really useful to you right now.'  HOWEVER I am really conscious of the message that I give.... I do not have any type of magic wand (unless you count the numerous Harry Potter ones that my kids have!) that can change the wider systems we all operate in.  I make no promises on the work that we might do together because I am not doing anything TO you... we are doing the work together therefore a lot rides on YOUR input.  My main message is that you ARE ENOUGH just as you are, with or without working with me or reading my stuff or watching my videos.  The other message is that WE ARE ALL PART OF WIDER SYSTEMS and we cannot operate effectively as a species within our own individual silos.  Look at where that has got us!!

So next time you are tempted to book on a course, buy a 'self help' book or work with someone offering to transform your world via 5 simple steps keep some of the following in mind:

• What do you already know?
• What are the key learnings from previous books read/courses attended/work done on yourself?
• What are the key learnings from experiencing your life?
• What about you is already awesome?
• How will making changes to yourself benefit others?
• How will making changes to yourself benefit the wider ecosystem?

I would love to hear others thoughts on this - what has this stirred up for you?  What message are you taking from this? 

So this is the view I woke up to everyday of my childhood!  Utterly stunning isn't it!  Our home was a 40 acre smallholding in the Peak District where, over the years, we were lucky enough to keep a selection of pigs, cows, sheep, horses, turkeys, goats alongside the odd dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig & hamster!  My Dad worked in London and was away most of the week and my Mum ferried us kids around, looked after the animals & tried to keep 3 unruly kids in some type of order.  But what has this got to do with my life now?  Turns out pretty much EVERYTHING!!!

I am currently working with an incredible therapist who has set me the challenge of looking back over my life & asking myself some key questions.  The point is to notice any themes that come up, differing family values, stories or attachments that shaped my beliefs & behaviour as well as the potential source (or sources) of dissonance, trauma, pain as well as joy!  We are working primarily with story & myth, unearthing a version of me before the layers of learned behaviours calcified around me. 

​I have never worked with myth, certainly not in a therapeutic sense, however, I am a big fan of Sharon Blackie's work and have recently devoured her new book Hagitude.  But it is her book 'If Women Rose Rooted' that I tend to recommend most.  Stories of wild women, aged crones and selkies take me to a totally different realm in my whole being & modern life seems to slip away.  It inspires me to do the deep work, to get in touch with the wild inside me & ultimately to become more impactful within my world and the world!  In Sharon Blackie's words; 

“To change the world, we women need first to change ourselves — and then we need to change the stories we tell about who we are."

Being brought up on the moors certainly shaped my way of being and I look back and see the wildness that surrounded me and was within me.  I am looking forward to some shape shifting as a result of reconnecting with her!!  In the meantime here are some of the lighter reflections I have had since I started out on this journey back in time:

Initially I asked myself; What gifts did being brought up in this environment give to me?

• It gave me a love & need for freedom & independence.  As a young kid of about 4 I would walk behind my older siblings, who were on their thelwell type ponies, up onto the moors above the house & they would hide me in the bracken whilst they went for a ride. I was perfectly happy & they grudgingly collected me when they’d finished a couple of hours later!
•  It also gave me a good grounding in responsibility & a hardy work ethic. Living with the menagerie that we did, we all had to muck in.  5am starts were the norm and this has stayed with me ever since. 
•  It also gave me a full appreciation of where our food comes from... we had a massive veggie garden that was especially productive during the oil crisis in the 70's.   I've been a vegetarian since the age of 13 having come to the realisation that I couldn’t disassociate the animal in the field from the meat on my plate... Mum cutting the pigs up on the kitchen table didn’t help, nor did the story of one of our pigs falling out of the horse box on the way to market & running all the way home!!!
•  Living on the moors gave me an absolute love & appreciation of the natural world & it’s rawness. It feels like every winter we had 6 foot drifts that stopped us being able to get cars up the mile long drive. We used to park the cars in the village down in the valley & walk up. This meant we sledged down again in the morning in our school uniforms, often seeing evidence of where Dad had crashed into the bushes at 5.30am whilst sledging down in his suit & with his briefcase off to work!
•  It was also FUN & it gave me the ability to see joy in everything! Living in quite an isolated spot meant that we became adept at making our own fun.  My brother kicking a rugby ball over the house & me running round to get it was my idea of heaven!!  We made our own go-carts, tried to teach one of the ponies to pull a sledge (hugely unsuccessfully I might add) & spent hours on end watching the frogs & tadpoles in the water troughs!

There is obviously much more you could do with these answers however recognising the strengths, inner qualities & values that reverberate through your life can be a great exercise in gratitude.  Here are some more questions that could be useful when looking back: 

• What can I learn from my younger self? 
• What were the family values I was brought up around (look at both parents/carers & their own family values)
• What made my heart sing or sink?
• What were the important thresholds or events and how did you deal with them?

Thank you for indulging me in reading my story - I look forward to maybe hearing yours one day!

As many of you know I have recently experienced a weeks retreat where there wasn't a spa in sight - no massage treatments or infinity pool.... no this was hard work... sometimes painful & raw... Not doing it for you??  How about if I told you I also experienced a prolonged sense of peace, laughed until my face & sides ached, met & adventured with 16 other  kindred spirits & rediscovered parts of me (wonderful parts of me) that have long been buried.  Better??  Amongst all my many learnings was an overriding sense of choice... 

One of the earliest exercises we undertook was an exploration of our 'sub personalities' - those bits of us that are make us US!  Another way to think of this is; who is driving our bus at any one time?  Who (or which part of us) is in control of our direction?  Our behaviours, our thoughts & our feelings?  Is it the organiser driver?  Or maybe the 'do it all' driver? Or perhaps it's the parent, the victim, the rebel, dreamer, joker, workaholic, fitness instructor, achiever, hot head, nurturer, joy seeker, bully, teacher, carer... etc etc.

I'll give you a minute to have a think or maybe write yours down.....

Now you've done that, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• What's it like having noticed all the drivers in your bus? 
• How do they impact your life? 
• How do they empower/hinder you?
• How does this impact others in your life?
• Who's driving most of the time?
• Who's at the back waiting to move forward?
• What would it be like if you had intentional control of who was driving your bus?
• How would life change for you?
• What would be the impact of that change?

One of the greatest reminders of the week was that the vast majority of us DO have control or our responses, it's just we run on autopilot.  Now there's a good reason we run on autopilot from our brains point of view - it's wired for efficiency and therefore to repeat learned patterns over and over takes way less energy than to take a pause and consciously choose every time we want to respond.  However, learned or conditioned responses are not always serving us or those around us well.  In fact quite the opposite.  They were probably learned at a young age & are just NOT appropriate or healthy anymore.  So is it time for an update to your system responses?  

I am not saying this work is easy... it is simple but it is not easy!  When I lose faith in my ability to change (which I do by the way... frequently!!) I am reminded of the iconic book Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl.  Frankl, a psychiatrist, spent 3 years in concentration camps in the second world war and wrote of human's ability to CHOOSE our responses despite the harshest of environments.  He never lost faith in his own ability to choose, in fact it only got stronger the more adversity he faced.... if ever there's a lesson to be learnt it's this: 

A lot of our work following our 'bus driver' exercise was then about practicing noticing - noticing our responses... getting really curious about where they came from and noticing if they were still relevant and serving us today.  We also did a lot of work on noticing HOW we respond - do we meet the stimulus, respond and then grab hold of that response and refuse to let go?  Revelling in it and languishing in it?  Or do we not even allow the stimulus to be felt & bury our heads in work/alcohol/food etc instead to avoid feeling?  Our practice was centred around meeting the stimulus, allowing the feeling or thoughts to come in, acknowledging their presence and then LETTING GO!!!  Itai Itzvan - our extraordinary teacher & guide on this journey - calls this Touch and Go...  this became our group mantra!!  Our whatsapp group is even called Touch and Go...!!  
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If you would like to know more about Itai's work you can find him and his awesome courses at The School of Positive Transformation   I cannot recommend him highly enough!  Also his book Awareness is Freedom is a really useful guide to this type of work - the combination of psychology & spirituality really hits the mark for me and informs my practice, my work and my philosophy for life!

Do let me know if you have any questions or feedback regarding this type of work and in the meantime drive safely & enjoy the ride!!!
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I can hear a little voice in my head saying "There's a cost of living crisis happening, the planet is in the midst of climate & biodiversity crisis, the global south is under water or burning, there are wars happening around the world and you want to talk about PLAYING????"  Yup... absolutely I do.

It is in exactly these times that, in my humble opinion, we need to find lightness and play more than ever!  I am not dismissing the need to acknowledge other so-called 'negative' emotions such as fear and anger.... far from it.  Fear and anger are necessary emotions that can trigger some really helpful and sometimes life saving physiological responses (fight, flight, freeze, fawn).  They can galvanise us to take action to make changes for the better.  However, languishing in these emotions or allowing them to take over can be destructive and compounding - especially when fear and/or anger are chronically experienced emotions -  low level but constant.  So what can we do about this when we live in a world where the media (mainstream & social) is constantly warning us of societal, political, economical, mental health & environmental disasters?  We could go & live in a yurt off grid somewhere & knit our own clothes,... believe me I'm tempted sometimes but I'm not sure my kids would be very grateful!

So... how about injecting a good dose of PLAY into your life???  Sound a bit too glib?  My ask is that you bare with me a little!  According to Barbara Fredrickson the pre-eminent professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina & author of fantastic books such as Positivity & Love 2.0; when we experience 'positive' emotions we BROADEN our horizons and BUILD our resources.  If you think about it that's why baby animals tend to be so much more playful than adults - they are in a rapid stage of development & play helps them build their skillset & broaden their perspectives.

So... experiencing joy can enable us to see the bigger picture, get creative with potential solutions, build our resilience, face adversity with more poise, forge stronger relationships... the list goes on!  Imagine having all of that at your disposal?  If there was a pill that delivered the same promises we'd all be rushing to the pharmacy!!   I have written about AWE before and the beneficial impact that could have on how we view the world around us & therefore how we take care of it.  As we face a pivotal point in our history my belief is that experiencing positive emotions could just help us turn the ship around - not only in our own lives but in a much wider sense too!

Take a moment... go on... don't just say you'll do it later, it's literally a moment out of your day....!!  Take a moment and do something playful.... dance or sing to your favourite track, throw your head back and LAUGH, jump in a puddle, run around for no apparent reason, skip round the room... whatever makes you giggle or smile inside & out!   Now notice what has shifted within you.  How are you seeing the world now as opposed to before you started reading this? 

There is plenty of research backing the health benefits of regularly experiencing 'positive' emotions too - stress reduction, improved recovery from stress, more effective coping therefore providing a 'buffer' against depression and one study even found that experiencing 'positive' emotions can be linked to a healthier heart!

My invitation is to consciously build PLAY into your life & NOTICE the difference it makes.  If you have to diarise time to play then do it!  I often work with clients who create their own PLAY-list... a list of all the active things that bring them joy!   And if I haven't convinced you yet, & you want a little more of a philosophical viewpoint about play, have a listen to the fabulous Alan Watts.  Top tip... listen with your eyes closed...

Alan Watts & David Lindberg - Why Your Life Is Not A Journey - YouTube

I would love to hear your thoughts & experiences so do please get in touch annie@annieleeassociates.com or comment below.

In the meantime ENJOY the dance!

This is a Forget me Not.  Not only are they one of my favourite plants (much to old school gardeners horror as it was often seen as a weed) but it is also a fantastic reminder to us all to REMEMBER WHO WE ARE!!!

In a world that is so fast paced and often pressured we can sometimes forget who we really are & what is most important to us; what we are really awesome at... what other people see in us, what our fundamental learnings have been.  This can lead to a feeling of confusion or stuckness - the hamster wheel effect - without an exit or the means to find or create one!  I definitely found myself feeling stuck recently in terms of where I want to take my work next.  I recognised I was being drawn more & more to immersing myself in the biodiversity & climate crisis & as a result I have read some incredible books (such as Less is More by Jason Hickle & This one wild & precious life by Sarah Wilson) and talked to some of the leading lights in the area of climate coaching (Linda Aspey & Charly Cox in particular, Charly's book Climate Change Coaching is AWESOME too for any coaches out there). 

However I found myself getting sucked into the very thing I was wanting to help others avoid - that is overwhelm.  My LinkedIn algorithm obligingly showed me all the catastrophic posts about the heatwaves, rainforest destruction, the decimation of the oceans and so on... it was what I'd been commenting on so of course I was shown more and more of this type of content.  I went into a bit of tailspin and couldn't see the wood for the trees (pardon the pun) and became an absolute nightmare to have a conversation with at home because everything became about the problem we/I was facing.

It was at this point - actually a couple of weeks into an extended break I had over the summer - that I decided to listen back to a podcast (Seize the Day)  I had recorded with the fabulous Natalie Miller Snell from NMS Coaching.  Now this wasn't due to an over inflated ego (I think?!?!?) but more to remind myself of what I had talked about.  The opportunity to tell my story and focus on my learnings was SO valuable - it was a chance to remember exactly who I really am - what I have experienced and what I have learned as a consequence: things like Ride the waves in a storm, Say YES, We grow from facing the s**t, ALL emotions are valid and there for a reason!  I took this one step further and re-read my LinkedIn profile as another reminder- all of a sudden it was staring me in the face - I am known for my ability to focus on solutions, to bring positivity in & foster that CAN DO attitude, to ride the waves & to say YES.  This totally re-invigorated me & I have re-set my goals for the year.  By this time next year I want to be actively part of the solution to the environmental crisis we find ourselves in.  To me this means carrying on my pro bono work with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust but also looking into other ways I can be more active in projects involved in carbon capturing as well as preserving landscapes & biodiversity, & creating educational experiences to re-connect people to the land.  It means focusing on what IS being done and what CAN be done.  This approach is far more in tune with how I operate - it will keep me forward focused & motivated to make a difference.

All this came from a bit of remembering....  If you feel in need of a reminder of who you really are, maybe you are wanting to make some changes or you feel a bit stuck I can highly recommend sitting down with a trusted friend or journaling about your life story... maybe the following will help:

• Tell the story of your life - passions, jobs, relationships, pivotal decisions you've made, how you dealt with experiences, where you've lived, how you've changed, what you've achieved, who you've influenced, who's influenced you...
• What are the key learnings you can take from this story about YOU?
• What qualities do other people see in you?
• What are you known for?
• How does all of the above inform your current situation?
• How will you remember all of this going forward?!

Enjoy this reflection & I look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback!

I want to start this blog with “I am often asked what drew me to taking my coaching up into the mountains” but honestly no one ever asks that – they just say “OMG that is such a great idea!!!”  There are so many benefits to being in the mountains from the physical activity side of things, different flora and fauna, extraordinary views, as well as the peace and quiet.  All of this can help us tap into the emotion AWE.
Awe is an emotion that is getting more and more attention from a psychological perspective.  It is one of the main benefits of being in nature.  In terms of mountains we come face to face with the majesty of our planet – it is literally creation right there in front of our eyes.  They are constantly shifting – ok at an incredibly slow rate – but there is something visceral about this connection to evolution.  So… what are the benefits of awe?
 
Clarity
Mountains are the perfect place to consciously experience AWE.  Going out with the intention of experiencing awe invites us into the here and now – it makes for a much more mindful experience and ensures we NOTICE what is around us.  As well as noticing more, research suggests that experiencing the emotion Awe is linked to improved complex cognitive processing which can lead to enhanced clarity of thought & decision making (Shiota, Griskevicius and Neufeld 2010).  This in itself can be a game changer in the complex world we live in. 
  
Relaxation
Being in the mountains provides a high definition spectacle which is just a tad more engaging than a computer screen!! The view changing every hour of the day secures your focus and awe on the extraordinary setting.  Research also shows that mountain views and looking out onto the horizon can activate the parasympathetic nervous system (Joye & Bolderdijk 2014).
 
Creativity
According to a study by Melanie Rudd, professor at the University of Houston, being at the top of a mountain increased research participants desire to create and learn. This is thought to be due to the mountain scenery creating a safe environment for your mind to be open and creative. 
 
Enabling change
Awe is different to other positive emotions in which we tend to rely on existing knowledge & stay in our comfort zones – ie I’m feeling good and therefore there’s no need to change. Experiencing awe allows you to adjust your way of thinking without the potential negative feelings often associated with change.  How different could that be?!

For more information about the benefits of spending time in the mountains I highly recommend a book by Ned Morgan called In the Mountains   Of course you could also take this one step further and take a look at my coaching adventure in the Alps! 

So what about the majority of us who can't access the mountains on a regular basis?  Well, my invitation is to get outside and explore wherever you are!  I am incredibly grateful to live in an area where the headland is just down the road - this picture was my view this morning HOWEVER awe can be experienced anywhere.  I remember when I lived in London I used to find pockets of green, or head to the highest point in order to find a view.  Awe isn't just found in green spaces - it's found wherever you look for it!

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So this is the view I woke up to everyday of my childhood!!!
Our home was a 40 acre smallholding where, over the years, we were lucky enough to keep a selection of 🐷 🦃 🐴 🐑 the odd 🐐 🐓 🐈 🐕 🐇& 🐹 ... all called either Bob or Bernard for some unknown reason... the hamsters that is!
A  trip up to Derbyshire once prompted me to ask myself 2 questions:


1. What did being brought up in this environment give to me?
2. What can I learn from my younger self?


In answer to the first question undoubtedly it gave me

• a love & need for freedom & independence. As a young kid of about 4 I would walk behind my older siblings, who were on their thelwell type ponies, up onto the moors above the house & they would hide me in the bracken whilst they went for a hoon around. I was perfectly happy & they grudgingly collected me when they’d finished!
• a good grounding in responsibility & a hardy work ethic. Living with the menagerie that we did we all had to muck in.
• a strong connection to where my food comes from.  I have been a vegetarian since the age of 13 having come to the realisation that I couldn’t disassociate the animal in the field from the meat on my plate... Mum cutting the pigs up on the kitchen table didn’t help, nor did the story of one of our 🐷 falling out of the horse box on the way to market & running all the way home!!!
• an absolute love & appreciation of nature & it’s rawness. It feels like every winter we had 6 foot drifts that stopped us being able to get cars up the mile long drive. We used to park the cars in the village down in the valley & walk up. This meant we sledged down again in the morning in our school uniforms, often seeing evidence of where Dad had crashed into the bushes at 5.30am whilst sledging down in his suit & with his briefcase off to work!
• fun & the ability to see joy in everything! Living in quite an isolated spot meant that we became adept at making our own fun.

Life can fly past us if we’re not careful, so I’m taking this opportunity to do a bit of recalibration by pondering the second question too. If you’ve got the inclination reflecting on those questions can be a great exercise in gratitude as well as reconnecting with our authentic self 😁

This was the topic of our 'sit' in my recent group supervision session with the extraordinary Zen Buddhist Claire Genkai Breeze.  We were asked to ponder this and feel what came up for us.  For me there was an initial feeling of freedom and relief followed quickly by a deep sadness.  'Who am I without recognition' was my uncomfortable comment.  The realisation that ego plays such an important role in my life has been a real eye opener - in the past I have put it down to values... recognition is  important to me and that's just the way it is - work with it.  However that gives an impression of permanence.  What if that value doesn't serve me anymore?  What if I have outgrown it?  In coaching we often work with people's values and some believe that they stay the same throughout our life.... I want to challenge that notion.

One of the key concepts in a number of psychotherapeutic approaches is that we create our own stories, narratives or 'scripts'.  If our thoughts are programmed in by us then what is stopping us from re-writing our stories... constantly?  We can be whoever we want to be or we can be no-one, it is up to us.  Yes it's difficult, no I don't have a magic wand but for me purely the knowledge that we can choose to change our persona, change the version of ourselves that we identify with most is hugely freeing.  We are creative beings - how about turning that creativity towards ourselves and our own narratives.  The possibilities are endless - infinite you might say.  This reminds me of the fabulous book by Matthew Haig, The midnight library in which the concept of infinite versions of our life is brought up.  If you haven't read it I highly recommend it - not only will it make you think but it is a wonderful reminder to look around and be aware of our impact on others.

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Here are a couple of coaching questions that may spark some further reflection:

• How do the values I associate with serve me?
• How do they serve others who matter to me?
• What other values might serve me better?
• How can I 'try them on for size'?
• What story do I want to re-write?
• What would it be like to be no-one... going nowhere?

​In her book Losing Eden, Lucy Jones highlights the ever-declining connection with nature through the generations.  Just take a minute to reflect on how much your grandparents generation knew about the different types of trees and plants, species of birds, and how to grow and preserve fruit and vegetables for the table.  As the population has migrated to the cities so has the connection with nature dwindled.  A recent 15-year long study in Japan revealed serious decreasing trends in both wildlife observation frequency and knowledge about or interest in wildlife, especially among children.  This in a country that has brought us forest bathing…  Given the state of the planet this feels like a desperately sad and potentially terminal (for our species and many others) state of affairs.

So…. What can we do about it?!  All this awareness is one thing but it is quite another to do something about it!  I am increasingly aware that we need to capitalise on this growing awareness and get proactive about HELPING the natural world restore some semblance of balance.  Here are some coaching questions to help us all reflect on our connection with nature:

How do you currently connect with nature?
How often does this happen?
Make a list of all the ways you could connect with nature more
Which ones are you able to implement?
How can you enable others to connect with nature more?
What one thing can you do to help the natural world re-wild or re-generate?
 
Some useful links:
Every Child Outdoors (rspb.org.uk) - Children need nature, nature needs children
MHAW21_Nature Report (mentalhealth.org.uk) - How connecting with nature benefits our mental health

​For me stripping back to the absolute basics of what is really driving our need to push on and take on more and more can help clients make sustainable changes not just quick fixes…. Spoiler alert… they don’t work in the long term!!  I feel I could write a book on this subject but for now I will leave you with a few questions that might stimulate your thinking in this area:

• What is THE most important thing in your life right now?
• How are you honouring this with your time, energy & attention?
• What could you let go of to free up more time, energy & attention?
• In 5 years time what will you think about how you spent your time?
• What need does being busy fulfil?
• How could you fulfil this need in a more healthy way?
• What activity helps you feel more grounded?
• When do you feel most relaxed?
• How can you build more of this into your everyday life?

If you fancy talking about how coaching could help you find a healthier balance please do book a free discovery call >

“You’re nuts!!”  I’ve heard this so often in my life as I wade or dive into the sea mid-winter with just my swimmers on….

Well it seems that more and more people are too, as sea swimming and wild swimming are growing rapidly in popularity!  For me swimming in the sea is a visceral pleasure – I feel every cell of my body come alive and there really is no better way to start the day.  The challenge of controlling my breathing, either at the time of immersion when the cold shocks the body or when my mind makes up all sorts of weird and wonderful scenarios beneath me, is the ultimate mind over matter. 

My particular area of interest is how we can learn from these physical and psychological responses in the sea and link to other parts of our lives.  What methods do I use to motivate myself to get outside & into a cold dark sea when my warm bed is soooo comfy?  What thoughts help me slow my breathing when my body is naturally going into fight or flight mode?  What external resources & internal qualities do I use to help me overcome fear?  What is it specifically that we enjoy about the experience of being by & in the water?  All these questions are ones we can use in everyday life to help us understand ourselves more fully & live life to the full.

From a research point of view sea swimming has also been linked with so many benefits such as:

• Increase in so-called ‘happy hormones’ serotonin & dopamine
• Decrease in stress due to the meditative state that can be induced through rhythmic breathing & motion
• Decrease in both anxiety & depressive symptoms
• Improvement of sleep through absorption of magnesium
• Strengthened immune system

Given the last year or so it’s no wonder that sea & wild swimming is increasing in popularity!!  Often called ‘blue therapy’ exercising or just being by the sea has been found to be more beneficial for our mental & physical health than being in green spaces.  Dr Matthew White, an environmental psychologist & senior lecturer with Exeter University says, “water has a psychologically restorative effect… spending time in and around aquatic environments has consistently been shown to lead to significantly higher benefits, in inducing positive mood and reducing negative mood and stress, than green space does”.

With this in mind, I’m thrilled to offer the opportunity for people to immerse themselves in the sea AND also their own self development on my new coaching programme Deep Dive, set in Lyme Regis, Dorset from 13th to 17th September 2021.

Deep Dive is an opportunity to safely explore your boundaries both in and out of the water with professionals by your side.  During the programme we will take an in depth and experiential look at the connection between mind and body.  In the workshops we will explore how you can utilise your body and breath to improve your physical and mental health as well as increase confidence.  You will learn how to ‘train your brain’ to create new habits and ensure any changes you make are sustainable.  The programme also includes individual and group coaching where we will create space for you to understand yourself more fully, what drives you, what could be blocking your path, what you REALLY want to be doing with your life and how you can use your unique strengths & qualities to achieve that. 

Daily sea swimming lessons suitable for beginners, intermediates and experts alike will be offered by expert professional swimming coaches from Lyme Bay Swimming Club, and there will be other optional sea swimming sessions during your stay.  With luxury accommodation, a dedicated host and private local chef Luke Vandore-Mackay providing breakfast, 3 course dinners and refreshments - Deep Dive really is the ultimate retreat if you are looking to make deep, sustainable changes in your life.  
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Go on, dive in!  Find out more here > www.annieleeassociates.com/deep_dive

We all know that exercise has many benefits for both your mental and physical health but what about combining both physical and mental challenges?  What if you could get a “double whammy”- effectively a 2-for-1 whilst up a mountain?! 

What can we learn from how we are on the mountain?
I first came up with the idea whilst skiing a particularly tricky slope (for me!).   I noticed I had reverted to my default way of skiing when well out of my comfort zone… weight too far back, jamming on the brakes before launching into the next turn…. It was exhausting and in fact counterproductive!!  I didn’t enjoy the slope and it set off a chain reaction of thought processes resulting in a dent in my confidence.   My mind naturally took me to how this physical and psychological reaction to challenge could be linked to how I react in life and particularly in my business. 

For me, the mountains are the perfect environment to really take time out, give yourself space to think clearly and reflect, in order to gain clarity for the way ahead.  Combining both physical and mental challenges can really help to raise self-awareness by highlighting thinking patterns and behaviours that serve us well and those that might be holding us back. 

​There are many, many lessons to take from the mountain – at it’s most basic, a mountain represents both a high point and a low point.  Have you thought about the peak you’re aiming for?  Are they the mountains you want to be climbing?  Have you taken the time to really know, deep within, if this mountain of life you’re on is the one you’re meant to be climbing at this moment? 
 
I decided to combine 2 of my biggest loves - skiing and coaching in the Peak Potential Programme – an annual week-long intensive coaching experience in Courcheval, France.  The underlying question that frames the week is:  “What can we learn from how we are on the mountain?”
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Taking the time out to work on you and your current situation with professional coaches in a supportive and challenging environment means that you have the potential to:

• Understand yourself more fully
• Identify what drives you & what can hold you back
• Harness your strengths & learn how to use them to achieve your goals
• Build self-confidence on & off the slopes
• Push your boundaries
• Build steely resilience
• Set your sights on things you never thought possible
• Get crystal clear about your next steps

Why do exercise & learning make a great match?
Exercise and learning go hand in hand.  Physical activity not only facilitates the birth of new brain cells, it also produces smart chemicals that promote learning.  Exercise balances neurotransmitters  along with the rest of the neurochemicals in the brain.  The more you use your brain, the stronger and more flexible it becomes.  The more your body exercises, the better your brain functions!

“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So. . . get on your way.” ~ Dr. Seuss

This time next year our Peak Potential Programme 2022 begins in Le Praz, Courchevel, France! 
​On 19 to 26th March 2022, a small group of 11 will immerse themselves in the experience of BEING on the mountain.  They will leave with clear plans for the future, a positive mindset, coping strategies for stressful times as well as feeling motivated and inspired to make 2022 a year of PEAK POTENTIAL for them and potentially those around them!  Join Annie Lee Associates in Courchevel for the perfect post lockdown tonic - skiing, Peak Potential Coaching, delicious food, wine & more!  Prices currently start at £1495 with one week to go for early bird discount!  Book a FREE 30-min discovery call to find out more!  ​

Last week on 4th March was World Book Day 2021 celebrating everything to do with literature and reading.  I wanted to share some of the books that I’m currently dipping into and why I’m drawn to them.

I rarely have just one book on the go and 4 books is a bit extreme even for me!  However I’m currently juggling reading all of them for various reasons...

Olive Mabel & me by Andrew Cotter
Olive and Mabel went viral on social media with their sporting contests during the COVID-19 lockdown, with Andrew Cotter’s unique commentary propelling the videos to over 50 million views and certainly contributed to keeping my chin up during lockdowns.  The new book from broadcaster Andrew Cotter and his famous canine companions, Olive and Mabel is laugh out loud brilliant!

Second Wave Positive Psychology by Ivtzan, Lomas, Hefferon, & Worth, 2015; Wong, 2011
The positive psychology (PP) movement, launched by Martin Seligman (1998), is celebrated as the most significant phenomenon in contemporary psychology. PP continues to flourish and evolve in light of new theoretical formulations and research findings and the ‘second wave’ of PP (PP 2.0) represents a maturing of PP that is more nuanced, balanced, and inclusive. This is my current area of study – my “brain food”.

English Pastoral by James Rebanks 
This is a fascinating book around our changing landscape and it really takes me back to my roots - growing up on a smallholding in the Peak District alongside the hardiest of farmers.  It’s the story of an inheritance and legacy but most of all our changing relationship with the land.  It tells of how rural landscapes around the world were brought close to collapse, and the age-old rhythms of work, weather, community and wild things were lost. Then how, guided by the past, one farmer began to salvage a tiny corner of England that was now his, doing his best to restore the life that had vanished and to leave a legacy and hope for the future. 

From Field & Forest: An artist's year in paint and pen by Anna Koska
This is stunning!  Anna (my fabulously talented cousin) celebrates the natural world; the changing of the seasons, the blossoming of flowers and the ripening of fruit. Anna's illustrations are reproduced in beautiful detail and they are accompanied by her musings and observations of objects, engaging us in the everyday realities of her artistic practice. Truly inspiring us all to take time to appreciate our surroundings.

An eclectic bunch of books - I know!  but I think it’s a pretty sound reflection of me & my interests!!!   The natural world, our inner world and a good dose of humour!!  How does your bookshelf reflect you?! 
 
While many start by cherishing one book at a time, there are several advantages of switching to multiple stories at a time. You’d be surprised how easy it is to keep track of separate books. Plus, reading multiple books at once can actually help you finish faster. If you don’t like a book, you have a backup. If you can’t remember a story, re-read it. This way you can also balance reading for work and reading for pleasure or both! 

Reflecting on the best books I’ve read in 2020 -  most of them were about running!!!  However here are my stand outs: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, Finding Ultra by Rich Roll, Set Free by Emma Slade & The Salt Path by Raynor Winn.

The book I recommend to everyone in 2021 - Solve for Happy by Mo Gawdat
Why do I love this book?  So many reasons but the short answer is it is logical, challenging, well researched and Mo has a unique way of looking at happiness.  His story is one that hits you square in the stomach (I strongly encourage you to listen to his audio version if you can!) and helps keep all of his insights fresh in your mind.  What I also love about the book is that it doesn’t hold the ‘golden ticket’ until the end – it doesn’t promise five sure fire ways to reach optimum happiness!!  It is a rich discussion looking at happiness from a multitude of angles which can challenge our way of thinking.

In fact, I love this book so much that I’d like to give the gift of either this book or a bouquet of Freddie’s Flowers to anyone who recommends my 1:1 services in 2021 & their referral signs up with me. Just tell your connection to mention that you recommended them, and I’ll be in touch with your gift!

​I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing a bit about my bookshelf – I’d love to hear what you’re reading, any recommendations and also what you think your bookshelf says about you!