What happens next?

Written by Nina Grunfeld Saturday, 18 February 2012 10:41

I was photographed yesterday morning for Healthy Magazine, which was a huge thrill. But after the photographer had left, I found myself in a complete blur. I just couldn't focus. I wasn't sure what I was meant to be doing, hardly knew what day it was. My desk seemed full of 'things to do', but I didn't know what to get on with - how to prioritise.

I often find myself like that, with no clarity at all.

My mind goes giddy and doesn't seem to have any idea what's important and what isn't. Things keep popping up in my head like massive to-dos, but there's no overall focus. I sit and stare, not knowing what to get on with next.

At times like that I escape into what I call 'manager mode' (which isn't very satisfying for anyone).

I walk round the other members of the Life Clubs team and distract them from what they're doing by asking them all about it and listening to their focus for the day - hoping that will help me with mine. 

Of course it doesn't.

The only thing that helps me is to stop and dig deep. What is it that I'm really doing with my life? What is it that's truly important to me right now?

And then I instantly know.

This week's workshop, What's Important? is wonderful for giving you a focus on your life. 

Instead of drowning in flashlights, you'll be waving at your future.

Book now for your local club or join others from all around the world on our Tuesday evening webinars, 18.30-19.30 GMT. 

No cameras sadly, but I can promise you some focus.

See you there,
Nina 

Choose your perspective

Written by Nina Grunfeld Saturday, 11 February 2012 09:49

We use perspectives all the time without being conscious of it.

It's half-term this week and we'd decided to have a long weekend in Dorset, but yesterday evening none of us felt like leaving our cosy home in London. We were tired, have stinking colds and the thought of a dark, potentially icy drive didn't appeal at all.

Luckily, I find a future perspective easy. 'Imagine waking up tomorrow in London', I said to my husband. 'We've got nothing planned and we'll wish we were in Dorset'. 

We set off. The drive was easy and fun. We chatted, we listened to Any Questions and we shopped at an unexpected M&S on the way down. It seemed to take no time at all.

Even when we arrived my husband turned to me and said 'I'm so glad we came' and this morning we've been rewarded. The sun is out. The ground looks delicious with its light frosting of ice and gentle covering of snowdrops and we're off to visit the local shops and have a walk by the sea.

Perspectives aren't just about the past, present and future, although those, as you've just seen, can be very useful.

In each of us we have hundreds of untapped perspectives. This week's workshop, Choosing Your Perspective, (happening both in our local clubs and on webinar (Tuesday 6.30-7.30pm GMT)), is all about finding the perspective that most pushes you out of your comfort zone and into another world of possibility.

It's an exciting workshop. 

See you there - just imagine how you'll feel if you don't come...
Nina 

Procrastination... grrrr

Written by Nina Grunfeld Saturday, 04 February 2012 11:19

Before we had the internet I would procrastinate by getting stuck into a big book or reading the newspaper. I could have been quizzed on every word in the paper - an ideal contestant on Have I Got News For You. I devoured everything from hard news to the advertisements in an attempt to not get on with things. 

These days I don't have time for newspapers, I'm stuck in my inbox.

Remember how much fun it was when we first got emails? That instant connection with other people - feeling loved or, if not loved, at least wanted; the excitement of the You've Got Mail 'ping', wondering if that was another email from Tom Hanks.

Now emails feel oppressive. I'm hitting the 100 a day mark and much of my weekends are spent squeezing them back down to a reasonable number in my inbox only for them to creep up again during the week.

What's important about all this is that they have become an excuse for me to procrastinate. They're the main reason why I'm not doing what I want to do and being proactive. Instead I'm spending ages taming them and reacting to every 'ping' - since you asked, none of them, as yet, being from Tom Hanks.

I'm coming along to this week's workshop, What Are You Waiting For? on procrastination, because I know I've got a problem. I feel genuinely overwhelmed by my emails. 

At Life Clubs we'd like to put an end to procratination this week and instead make sure you start your own business, take up meditation, see your family, go for a run, write a book... anything, so long as you stop procrastinating and get on with living.

Who knows, I may even have time to read the paper again.

Find your nearest Life Clubs workshop or, if you're not near a Life Clubs, book now for our webinar on Tuesday evening, 6.30-7.30pm (GMT).

What are you waiting for?

The questions we ask

Written by Nina Grunfeld Saturday, 28 January 2012 09:04

It's lovely to know that Life Clubs works. 

I've have had a very special, very soignée lady coming to my Life Clubs workshops for a few years now. An absolute delight, she is one of those people who lives for others, but, needless to say, it sometimes wears her out and she can get overwhelmed by helping them. She gives a lot to her children and to her husband and friends and her time with us has been predominantly about learning how to spend more time on herself. 

Each week at Life Clubs near the start of the workshop we think about the previous week and what we've learnt from the workshop. I was absolutely thrilled when, at last week's learning recap, this lady said to the group: Every day this week I've woken up and asked myself what my goal for the day is. What I want to do for myself. 

In one very simple sentence she summed up what Life Clubs is all about... asking yourself the right questions.

She's had over two years of practising those questions whenever she comes to Life Clubs, which is why they're now coming so naturally to her. In this week's workshop The Power Of What, we're going to aim to teach you those questions in 90-minutes.

It's a core Life Clubs workshop, so why not come along.

If I waved my magic wand and gave you permission to come, what would stop you? ... that's the kind of question we're after!

Book now for your local club, or for this week's webinar if there isn't a club near you.

Looking forward,
Nina