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Skill matters because skills matter!

Why courage in consistency?

Firstly, when we look for, and accept, praise we create an image of ourselves on the reflection of how others see us but we get no consistent feeling of self worth like this. Instead, we get a feeling of “foreign” value and we become dependent on an unstable “in-put” system.

Consistent investment in ourselves is the only way to nurturing valuable self worth and confidence, and that takes courage. 

#couragecorner #couragereflected #consistencyiskey #consistency #consistencymatters #consistencypays #consistencycoach #hesteryourholisticcoach #investinyourself #selfworth #nurtureselfworth 

Secondly, your future doesn’t depend on your past, but in the choices you make in every moment right now. Stay with it. Courage and change come with consistent choices, you need to choose carefully, and that takes courage.

#consistent #consistentchoices #choosetothrive #choosewisely #choosecarefully #couragecoaching #chooseabetterfuture #choosecourage

Thirdly, a complex constantly changing world mostly demands complex solutions. 

But, sometimes it only requires simple ones. Stay courageous. Stay consistent. Don’t overthink things.

#kiss #keepitsimplesilly #dontoverthinkit #consistencyiskey #consistencypays #simplesolutions

Then, remember that “castles in the sky” can become real. Look around you and the “castles” others have managed to build. Castles in the sky are your first steps to a vision. But only, the first steps. And your firsts steps are the spade work to laying your castle’s foundations.

Making the first step takes courage, the rest of the way requires consistency, otherwise they remain castles in the sand. 

#castlesinthesky #courageousbeings #courageousconversations #couragecoaching #consistencyoverperfection

And finally, some days you’ll feel those dreaded setbacks – “splat”.

You’ll feel shattered, sore or simply flat. But take courage in knowing you’re not alone…pick up consistency and take her home.

Rest, relax, nurture and care, because courage and consistency are for those who dare…

#idareyou #couragetogrow #splat #consistencybuildsmomentum #yourenotalone #consistencytakeseffort #consistencybuildscredibility

If you need support in finding your courage, and seeing it through with someone to hold you accountable to your castles and actions – I’m right here!

With love and light I wish you much courage in challenging times!

Is there such a thing as language lunacy?

In what other language do you ship things by truck and send cargo by ship?
Have you heard of noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a “slim chance” and a “fat chance” mean the same thing? And why is a “wise man” the complete opposite to a “wise guy”?

Where else will you find that quicksand works slowly and that boxing rings are square?

Why is a guinea pig a guinea pig when it is neither from Guinea nor a pig?

Why, if teachers taught, didn’t preachers praught?
And if a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of English in which your house can burn up as it burns down, and, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and, in which an alarm goes off by going on.

Can you think of others? Share them in the comments below!

#1

We cannot change the past but we can change the present and when we do, tomorrow’s past is already different.

What do you want?
What do you need?
What requires more courage than usual?
Is it your “start” or “stop” patterns?
Is it your (limiting) beliefs?
Is it your environment (family, friends or work)?
Is it your dialogues (internal and interpersonal)?
What requires courage of you to shift, change and grow?

#2

Experience is what you get, when you didn’t get what you wanted.
Knowing and accepting that joyfully takes, but also creates, courage.

Would you like a little more courage?
Do you wish you were a little more brave?
Would you like little more know-how to courageously and confidently deal with your challenging situations?

#couragecoaching #getthegift #courageisagift  #experienceisagift  #getwhatyouwant  #bravesoul  #confidencecoaching  #successcoach  #successsparkles

#3

Genuine decisions, I mean real good and tough decisions, always mean losing certainty and surrendering security.
What courageous decision are you making for yourself today?
What are you prepared to give up for yourself?

Would you like to talk it through before you make and do?

#sparklecourage  #surrender  #gooddecisions  #takecourage  #sparklysurrender #surrenderforsuccess  #surrenderformore #certifiedlifecoach #systemiccoaching #neuroleadership  #communicationskills  #communicationiskey

If you need a sounding board or a mentoring mirror, someone to hold your space while you explore for a while feel free to contact me on hester@salt-pro.com

Sending you love and light,

How our global lockdown became my personal “lovedown”.

I thought I would share with you how emotional tweaks to words like “thanks to”, “because of” and “despite” turned our global lockdown into my own happy “lovedown”.

Let’s go back…

Some months ago, in the middle of the global lockdown I was in South Africa. One of the things that kept me “sane” was the possibility to stay connected to family and friends, thanks to various online possibilities. In this “never ending” lockdown, it was hard not to feel the emotions and uncertainty of the impact it was having on all of us. We started “comparing notes”. We exchanged information like the conditions, incidences, as well as rules and regulations in our respective countries. I want to tell you that the lockdown in SA was really bad!

After some lengthy “jammering” (slang for moaning and complaining) with a precious friend she shared this: We can refer to our experiences as “because of” the virus or “thanks to” the virus.

I hadn’t thought of it like that! It made me sit up and reflect – some more.

One of the things I fell in love with during lockdown was knitting. I hadn’t knitted a thing since my last school project when I was about 14 years old. When the shops eventually opened for a few hours every day, I went out to get some material and came home with knitting needles and wool instead. I watched a few “how to” videos on YouTube and confidently started casting on stitches. I finished 5 magnificent projects in 3 months. It was fantastic. And blissfully therapeutic.

One day, while sitting knitting in the warmth of our wintry sunshine I heard the rattle of a contraption outside. I looked out to the street below and saw a man in an overall pushing his bike. The back wheel was flat. He had baskets, laden with with the tools of his trade, tied onto his bike. I didn’t want to take a photo of him, but sometime later this one was posted on fb. I saved it.

South Africa is a real time depiction of “life on the edge”. It reminds us of how hard life can be in a country with a shabby social support system. It is a daily nudge that life must go on, even when we’re feeling “flat”. I think of “grateful” differently.

How our lockdown became my “lovedown”.

So, while putting on stitches; counting stitches; dropping stitches; unravelling and picking up stitches; correcting stitches and piecing together the parts with stitches, I thought of life. As I was perfecting I was also perfectly content with my im-perfect work. Knitting is like life. We can cast on (expand); cast off (let go); unravel and pick up (correct mistakes and move on); count (check progress); and piece it all together to create a warm and embracing thing to wear.

At the same time many other South Africans were knitting up something fantastic; they were knitting thousands of scarves to leave in public places for those in need! Awesome or what?

Our lockdown becomes my personal “love-down”.

All of this got me thinking, and assuming, that most of us would rarely start something and not finish it. We would at least try finishing a project to the best of our abilities not so? The same goes for our lives. We can:

Carl Jung said: “Often the hands know how to solve a riddle with which the intellect has wrestled with in vain”.

I thought that if we do “opt out” it could be because it’s the right thing to do. Rather that than pursue something that really isn’t going to end up the way we imagine(d). We are able to “unravel”, see where or what went wrong and, choose a different approach or direction. Or, we can simply bail out, cut loose, ditch, dump, surrender and take a walk. Letting go, giving up and quitting is, in some instances, the better option.

I’ve done that a few times in my life. And I’m ever so grateful I did. It has been an opportunity to start over and do better.

Despite, because of and thanks to this virus…

I have collected experiences and stories which I can be really grateful for and which I might still be thankful for in time to come. I also got to add my own “despite” the (vile) virus versions of life.

And I was reminded of pre-India days that many of my clients were resistant to doing online work with me. And now, thanks to Covid…

• E-learning with online lessons and coaching sessions are safe.
• Self-paced learning is the way forward to effectively balance work and life. 
• Personal development and getting an education without having to leave home is rewarding, less stress and less costly.

So what does the willingness to do this online “work” despite the current situation our world is in, say about you?

It says you are the up to date master of self-discipline and personal destiny – despite all the restrictions, adaptations, inconveniences, discomfort and change.

Fantastic!

In spite of all the negativity around this viral thingy, it has opened up alternative, pocket friendly and location free training/coaching solutions for you, and, of course, me too.

I thought it helpful to finish off with some South African and grammatical examples:

1. Because of the pandemic more people have actually died of cold and hunger than the virus.
2. Despite lockdown laws many people have turned it into a “love-down” by volunteering to deliver food parcels to the millions stricken with poverty related hardships in South Africa.
3. And, as our winter intensified people ventured out to hand out blankets to the homeless, in spite of the fact that they could get arrested.  
4. So, thanks to the virus, many of my clients who were not keen on doing online work with me a while back have become used to “online-ing” and “home-office-ing” and maybe, because of that, you’ll now contact me for e-learning language acquisition and skills coaching.

I’m ready when you are and very excited at the prospect of us (virtually) seeing each other again soon! We can hook up on WhatsApp, Google Teams, Google Hangout, Zoom, Skype – you name it we can do it either one on one or in a group session.

Your can contact me on hester@salt-pro.com or WhatsApp +43 664 486 1405.

I wish you love, light, good health and plenty of sparkles,

PS: Have you worked out how to use “in spite of” and “despite” yet?

In spite of and despite are used to link two contrasting ideas or show that one fact makes the other fact surprising. They can be used at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence. 

After in spite of and despite, we use a noun, gerund (-ing form of a verb) or a pronoun.

It is common to use in spite of and despite with the expression the fact that, followed by a subject and verb.

Shift November into Know-vember!

Do you know that “2020 Vision” means perfect vision?

Absolute clarity?

So much of your success depends largely on having a vision, seeing the big picture, having goals, being able to keep an overview of your progress and staying focused on your aspirations, yet, as time goes by your dreams and goals become blurred, we eventually lose sight of them and you…

• start feeling “burnt out”, jaded and frustrated with life
• repeat old and patterns – nothing ever changes, in fact, it gets worse
• lose your creativity, peace and joy, and
• you become desperate to reclaim your best personal self

And then something unexpected like Covid happens and everything related to it has, for some, horrible consequences. We’ve all been hit in some form or another by this rather unattractive, uncomfortable and unpleasant “cherry” on top of all our other day to day challenges.

2020 has certainly brought some new perspectives and views with it.

But it doesn’t have to be all bad…

November offers you the opportunity to turn no’s into resounding YES’s but we all know that is so much easier when we know why and how, so go for it, turn November it Know-vember. What better time to dream up, think up and set up plans than right now? Do it – before you find yourself making more redundant resolutions for the coming year and set the “same old, same old” cycle in motion.

I know that within you, you possess the power to be your very best self even in times of crises. Everyone can get “stuck” at times – and that’s OK! What’s not OK is finding excuses, deferring joy and satisfaction because of it and doing the same stuff over while you expect things to change or get different results. That doesn’t make sense.

I won’t empower you, you are already “power”. I will share beautiful nuggets, tools and tips to enhance your personal mastery and fem-power so that you can close this year out strong, ready to embrace and truly look forward to your future.

Can you imagine…

• reconnecting with your best (but hidden/forgotten) self
• identifying and letting go of your limiting beliefs and behavior
• understanding your power of choice
• cultivating clarity, building on your personal momentum and maintaining a sense of patience, enthusiasm and resilience (GRIT)
• acquiring practical tools and tips to ensure mindful-ness over mind-full-ness (MA)

Come! Connect with me! Refresh, reset and regain your wow-ness, confidence, calm and your knowing that, come what may, you’ll be clear on what you want and that all will be good in your future.

Love, light and good health, Hester

Create Your Own Crazy Vision – #2

Still daydreaming? Good!

Let’s get on with another reflection to help you on your way in the year of twenty-twenty and all it’s plenty.

Make a list of your five greatest (crazy) successes to date and then ask yourself this:
What did I have (resources), what did I need, what did I change (or what changed), what did I do (action) and where was I at personally (motivation, inspiration, emotionally)?

Play with these thoughts today especially if you’re feeling a bit jaded. This clarity nudge will remind you of your crazy confidence that has been your best catalyst time and time before!

If you would like to get more, contact me 

Create Your Own Crazy Vision

Ever caught yourself staring out of the window day-dreaming and then wondering what the heck you’re doing conjuring up such crazy “imagine if” ideas?

Well my response would be “imagine if you don’t!

Neither you nor your idea(s) are crazy you might be wanting a little more focus, energy or clarity so take a look at Clarity Question #1 that will start you on a transformation-al process.

Remember to take your time – a-l-l good things take time (and a bit of work)!

Please note that this thought provoking question is not a goal-setting exercise. Questions are designed to help you find out why you only achieve some of the things you set out to do and while doing that you will find your answers which will either inspire you to go out there and make it (that crazy dream/vision and more) happen, or help you to let go of un-serving beliefs enabling you to and invest your energy on something else!

Ready?

“If I could have anything, change anything, do anything or be anything I wanted to be and, there is absolutely nothing or anyone standing in my way of realizing my vision, what would it be?”

Are you moving into colder, darker days right now?

Can you feel the Autumn chill creeping in and shuddering at the thought of it?

And, do you also need to hone your English skills?

Take a look at these pics ?

Cycling in West Coast National Park

Spectacular African sunsets!

Like what you see?

Then let’s do this! 

Let’s combine South African blue skies, sparkly local smiles, whale watching (depending on when you come), swimming, kite-/wind surfing, hiking, Li’L road-trips to see the big and small 5 showered with loads of sunshine to warm your soul while you improve your English.  

Let’s design and create a Li’L English Holiday!

I’ll take care of your bespoke English content every day of your stay!

Keen to do this? 

Contact me or send me an email to hester@salt-pro.com for more information and remember to put “Li’L English Holiday” in the subject line.

Stay brilliant, stay healthy and keep sparkling,

Are you “in transit” or accidentally transitioning?

The word transition – means to be in a state of upheaval, transformation, conversion or undergoing change – like melting ice.

Active or passive.
Conscious or not.

If I say I am a woman in transition – implying I’m undergoing change is it an upheaval and conscious decision to change?
Is it (always) active?
Am I bound to transition in the process?
What if I don’t make any decisions to change any one thing?
Will transitions pay me surprise visits?
Will I (unnecessarily) revisit certain unchanging situations?
And, what if I don’t want or wish for change?
Deciding not to make decisions and to cling to my comfort cushion is also an act of conscious decision making. Believing otherwise is delusional and reality usually comes with a loud knock followed by a measure of shock.

Transitions regularly come to our door dressed up in finery and forms like birth, age-related hormonal changes, disconcerting dis-eases, divorces, death and/or workplace headcount reductions. Those are the real sneaks and they can make or break you!

Mild transitions can inspire and excite us while turning our disconnected lives into a unified whole. Healthy transitions can keep us moving from idea to idea and help us grow – no matter how painful we think the “growing pains” are.
The more stormy turbulent ones are the surprise-surprise, unpleasant, heart-breaking and crisis-like shifts that catapult us into complex and tricky situations causing more triggers and ripple effects along with mental and physical stuck states.

Boom!

Read more

Goodbyes, hellos, and no going back!

India, special India!

The time to bid our Goan “home” of 3.5 years goodbye!

In a blink of an eye 1219 fabulously exotic days which start with a view that (mostly) resembles a seaside paradise exploding with intensely colorful palettes of sunrises and sunsets as seen on “wish you were here” postcards and honeymoon catalogues, are coming to an end. The remaining 30 days of packing and relocating not only ourselves but also our dogs to Austria, are going to pass in an even brighter blur!

A room with a spectacular view – every day – even during the Monsoon!

What can I say?

My feelings on leaving here are mixed.

What I can say is that during my time here – in the dazzle and daze of hazy day to day events, high days and bright “holi”-days it hasn’t always been a honeymoon and at times I wish I wasn’t here. We have been undergoing real-time transformation in among the frustrations and fun of this “roll-er-coast-er” time.

Happy Holi!

It’s been a transformation adventure for sure!

#transformation: having undergone change with no possibility to return to the original form or shape – like when you… Read more