Understanding your identity is essential to living a fulfilling life. Learn how to explore your identity and discover what you stand for with these helpful tips.

Identity is an integral part of who we are as individuals. It shapes our beliefs, values, and actions, and helps us understand our place in the world. However, exploring one's identity can be a daunting task. It requires self-reflection and a willingness to confront difficult questions. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of understanding one's identity and provide tips on how to embark on this journey of self-discovery.

Understanding your identity is crucial because it helps you to develop a sense of purpose and direction in life. When you have a clear understanding of your values, beliefs, interests, and passions, you are better equipped to make informed decisions about your personal and professional lives. Understanding your identity can also lead to increased self-awareness and self-confidence, which can have a positive impact on mental health and well-being. Additionally, understanding your identity can improve communication and relationships with others, as you are better able to articulate your needs and boundaries. Overall, exploring your identity is an important journey that can lead to personal growth, fulfilment, and a sense of belonging.

How to discover more about yourself:

1. Acknowledge your unique experiences: Your lived experiences, good and bad, have shaped you into the person you are today. Recognising and acknowledging these experiences can help you understand your values, beliefs, and perspective on life - and, importantly, how your experiences may differ from others around you.
2. Challenge your assumptions: We all have assumptions about ourselves and the world around us. By challenging these assumptions, you can gain new perspectives and insights into who you are and what you stand for.
3. Reflect on your values: What values are important to you? What do you stand for? Take some time to reflect on these questions and explore how your values guide your decisions and actions. You could try answering these questions during meditation or journaling.
4. Explore your passions: Your passions can also offer insight into who you are and what you stand for. Take some time to explore your hobbies and interests and see how they align with your values and beliefs. What brings you joy? What makes you feel energised?
5. Embrace your strengths and weaknesses: Understanding your strengths and weaknesses can help you build a more accurate and authentic sense of self. Embrace your strengths and work on improving your weaknesses to become the best version of yourself.
6. Seek feedback: Asking for feedback from others can provide valuable insights into how you are perceived and can help you identify blind spots in your self-awareness.
7. Practice self-compassion: Exploring your identity can be challenging and may bring up difficult emotions. Be kind and compassionate to yourself throughout this process.
8. Be open to change: As you explore your identity, you may discover new aspects of yourself or realise that your values and beliefs have evolved. Embrace these changes and be open to growth and transformation.
9. Connect with others: Building connections with others who share similar values and beliefs can help you feel more grounded in your identity and provide a sense of community. Are there social or support groups you could join to meet other like-minded people?
10. Celebrate your uniqueness: Finally, remember that your identity is unique to you. Embrace your individuality and celebrate the things that make you who you are.

In conclusion, exploring your identity is a crucial step towards living a fulfilling life. It requires self-reflection, an open mind, and a willingness to embrace change. By following these tips, you can embark on a journey of self-discovery and gain a deeper understanding of who you are and what you stand for.

If you are finding it hard, why not reach out and book in for your FREE chemistry call now - no obligations I swear!

I am an ICF Accredited Coach. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is a non-profit organization that sets the standards for the coaching profession worldwide. To become accredited by the ICF, a coach must complete an ICF-approved coach training program, accumulate a certain number of coaching hours, and pass a coach knowledge assessment. The ICF accreditation process is rigorous and is designed to ensure that coaches meet the highest standards of coaching competency and ethics.

ICF accreditation is widely recognised as the gold standard for coaching professionals. It signifies that a coach has met the ICF's rigorous standards and has demonstrated a commitment to ongoing professional development and excellence in coaching. ICF-accredited coaches are considered to be among the most skilled and effective coaches in the industry, and many clients and organizations seek out ICF-accredited coaches for their coaching needs.

Productivity guilt is a common issue that affects many people in today's fast-paced society. It's a feeling of shame, self-doubt, and anxiety that arises when we perceive that we are not being productive enough or achieving our goals as quickly or efficiently as we should. However, constantly pushing ourselves to do more can lead to burnout and other negative consequences. In this blog post, we'll explore the causes of productivity guilt and provide practical tips on how to overcome it and achieve a healthier work-life balance.

Causes of Productivity Guilt:

Several factors contribute to productivity guilt, including:

• Social and cultural pressure: Society and culture often place a high value on productivity, success, and accomplishment. The idea that one should always be working hard and making progress can be deeply ingrained in people's minds, leading them to feel guilty when they are not actively engaged in productive activities.
• Unrealistic expectations of yourself: Individuals may have set unrealistic or overly ambitious expectations for themselves, leading them to feel guilty when they are unable to meet those expectations. These expectations may be related to their work, personal life, or both.
• Comparison with others: People often compare themselves to others and feel guilty when they perceive themselves as less productive or successful than their peers. Social media can exacerbate this feeling, as people often showcase their accomplishments and successes online.
• Perfectionism: Perfectionism can also contribute to productivity guilt. When individuals have an all-or-nothing approach to their work, they may feel guilty when they are not working at their best or achieving their goals.
• Fear of failure: Fear of failure can also lead to productivity guilt. When individuals feel that their productivity levels are not meeting expectations, they may feel like they are not living up to their potential, which can lead to feelings of shame and disappointment.
• Pressure to meet deadlines and deliverables: In today's society we are often given tight deadlines and high expectations for delivering projects or tasks. This can create a sense of urgency and pressure to constantly be working, leading to feelings of guilt and inadequacy when taking breaks or not meeting deadlines. The pressure to perform can also lead to anxiety and stress, which can further decrease productivity and lead to burnout.
• Overwhelm with tasks and responsibilities: People often have a long list of tasks to accomplish, including work-related tasks, personal responsibilities, and other commitments. This can be particularly overwhelming when there are multiple priorities and competing demands on a person's time and energy. When individuals feel like they are unable to complete everything they need to do, they may feel guilty for not being productive enough or not managing their time effectively.

These factors can lead to a constant feeling of being behind or not doing enough, even when we are working hard. Over time, productivity guilt can harm our mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and burnout.

Tips to Overcome Productivity Guilt:

Here are some practical tips to help you overcome productivity guilt and achieve a healthier work-life balance:

1. Set Realistic Goals: One of the main reasons for productivity guilt is setting unrealistic goals. Instead of trying to do everything at once, break down your tasks into smaller, achievable goals. This approach will help you feel a sense of progress and accomplishment, leading to increased motivation and productivity.
2. Prioritise Your Tasks: Prioritise your tasks based on their urgency and importance. This approach will help you focus on the most critical tasks and prevent overwhelm. Try to complete the most challenging tasks first when you have the most energy and focus.
3. Practice Self-Compassion: Instead of being hard on yourself, practice self-compassion. Recognise that everyone makes mistakes and has limitations. Be kind to yourself and allow yourself to take breaks and rest when needed.
4. Celebrate Small Wins: Celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small they may be. Celebrating small wins will help you stay motivated and build momentum toward achieving your larger goals.
5. Practice time management techniques: Prioritising tasks and breaking them into smaller, more manageable chunks can help to ease the overwhelm. Another great one is the Pomodoro Technique - 20 minute bursts of focused work then a short break. You can also communicate with your manager or colleagues to manage expectations and seek support or additional resources when needed.
6. Find time for yourself: Additionally, taking breaks, practicing self-care, and finding healthy ways to manage stress and anxiety can help you avoid burnout and maintain your productivity levels.

Productivity guilt can be a significant obstacle to achieving a healthier work-life balance, or feeling like you are doing enough in other areas of your life. However, by recognising the causes and implementing the above tips, you can overcome productivity guilt and achieve your goals without sacrificing your mental and physical health.

Remember to be kind to yourself and take things one step at a time. With practice, you can develop a healthier and more sustainable approach to change and growth.

If you're unsure if coaching is right for you, check out my blog that will help you to discover what you are looking for.

I am an ICF Accredited Coach. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is a non-profit organization that sets the standards for the coaching profession worldwide. To become accredited by the ICF, a coach must complete an ICF-approved coach training program, accumulate a certain number of coaching hours, and pass a coach knowledge assessment. The ICF accreditation process is rigorous and is designed to ensure that coaches meet the highest standards of coaching competency and ethics.

ICF accreditation is widely recognised as the gold standard for coaching professionals. It signifies that a coach has met the ICF's rigorous standards and has demonstrated a commitment to ongoing professional development and excellence in coaching. ICF-accredited coaches are considered to be among the most skilled and effective coaches in the industry, and many clients and organizations seek out ICF-accredited coaches for their coaching needs.

Learn how to develop and maintain a strong sense of self-advocacy with these tips and strategies. Discover how to speak up for yourself, set boundaries, and assert your needs with confidence.

As we navigate through life, it's important to have a strong sense of self-advocacy - the ability to speak up for ourselves, set boundaries, and assert our needs with confidence. However, many of us struggle with self-advocacy, either because we feel insecure about our abilities or fear the consequences of standing up for ourselves. The good news is that self-advocacy is a skill that can be developed and maintained with some practice. In this blog, we'll explore some tips and strategies for developing and maintaining a strong sense of self-advocacy.

Believe in Yourself:

The first step to developing a strong sense of self-advocacy is to believe in yourself and your abilities. Recognise your strengths, and focus on what you can do, rather than what you can't. This will help you feel more confident in yourself and your decisions, which is key to effective self-advocacy.

1. Practice positive self-talk: Speak to yourself in a positive and supportive way. Instead of criticising yourself when things go wrong, focus on your achievements and what you do well. Encourage and motivate yourself with kind and empowering words.
2. Set achievable goals: Set small, achievable goals for yourself and work towards them. When you accomplish them, celebrate your successes and use them to build your confidence. This will help you believe in your ability to achieve larger goals.
3. Take care of yourself: Self-care is important for building self-confidence. Make time for activities that make you happy, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and surround yourself with positive people. When you take care of yourself, you feel better about yourself and your abilities.

Identify Your Needs and Values:

To effectively advocate for yourself, you need to know what you want and what you value. Spend time identifying your needs and values, and make sure they align with your goals and aspirations. When you know what you want, it becomes easier to speak up for yourself and assert your needs.

1. Reflect on your priorities: Take some time to think about what is important to you. What are your top priorities in life? What makes you happy? What do you value most? Write them down and use them as a guide for making decisions and setting goals.
2. Listen to your intuition: Pay attention to your gut instincts and emotions. If something doesn't feel right or if you feel strongly about a particular issue, it may be an indication that it goes against your values or needs. Trusting your intuition can help you make more informed and empowered decisions.
3. Practice self-reflection: Regularly reflecting on your actions and experiences can help you identify patterns and areas of growth. Consider journaling, meditating, or talking with a trusted friend or therapist. By understanding your thought process, you can more easily identify your needs and values and develop strategies for advocating for yourself.

Set Boundaries:

Setting boundaries is an essential part of self-advocacy. It's important to establish clear boundaries with others to protect your well-being and to help you feel more confident in your interactions. Learn to say "no" when you need to, and communicate your boundaries clearly and respectfully.

1. Identify your limits: Take some time to reflect on situations where you feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed. Identify what specific actions or behaviors of others cross your personal boundaries. Understanding your limits will help you communicate them more clearly to others.
2. Practice saying no: Saying "no" is a powerful tool for setting boundaries. Practice saying no in situations where you feel uncomfortable or when someone asks for something that goes against your needs or values. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but it will get easier with practice.
3. Communicate assertively: When setting boundaries, it's important to communicate assertively, but respectfully. Use "I" statements to express how you feel and what you need. For example, "I feel uncomfortable when you do this" or "I need this to be different in order to feel respected." By communicating your boundaries assertively, you'll be more likely to have your needs respected by others.

Improve Your Communication Skills:

Effective communication is key to self-advocacy. Practice active listening, ask questions, and express your needs clearly and assertively. Avoid using language that undermines your confidence, such as apologising for your needs or using overly passive language.

1. Practice active listening: When you're having a conversation with someone, give them your full attention. Listen actively to what they're saying, and ask clarifying questions if needed. This will help you better understand their perspective and communicate more effectively.
2. Use assertive language: Use "I" statements to express your needs and feelings in a clear and assertive way. Avoid using language that is overly passive or that undermines your confidence, such as apologizing for your needs or using qualifying language like "I'm not sure, but..."
3. Seek feedback: Ask a trusted friend or family member to provide you with feedback on your communication style. They can help you identify areas for improvement and give you tips on how to communicate more effectively. Practicing and receiving feedback can help you develop more confidence in your communication skills over time.

Seek Support:

Developing a strong sense of self-advocacy can be challenging, especially if you've struggled with it in the past. Seek support from friends, family, or a professional coach or therapist. Having a support system can help you stay accountable and motivated in your self-advocacy journey.

1. Reach out to a friend: Talk to a trusted friend about your self-advocacy goals and ask them to support you. They can provide encouragement and help keep you accountable to your goals.
2. Find a community: Join a support group or online community of people who are also working on developing their self-advocacy skills. This can provide a sense of belonging and support, as well as practical tips and advice.
3. Consider professional support: If you're struggling to develop self-advocacy skills, consider seeking support from a professional coach or therapist. They can provide you with tools and strategies to help you advocate for yourself more effectively and support you in your journey towards greater self-confidence and self-advocacy.

Practice, Practice, Practice:

Finally, developing and maintaining a strong sense of self-advocacy requires practice. Start small, and gradually build up your confidence and assertiveness over time. Remember that setbacks and mistakes are part of the learning process, and use them as opportunities for growth and personal development.

1. Start with small steps: Set small goals for yourself, such as speaking up in a meeting or saying no to a request that goes against your values. Celebrate each success and use it as motivation to take on bigger challenges.
2. Role-play with a friend: Practice advocating for yourself in a safe and supportive environment by role-playing different scenarios with a friend. This can help you build confidence and develop effective communication skills.
3. Reflect on your experiences: Regularly reflect on your experiences and think about what went well and what you could have done differently. Use this information to adjust your approach and continuously improve your self-advocacy skills. Remember that practice takes time and effort, but the more you practice, the more confident and effective you'll become.

Commitment:

Developing and maintaining a strong sense of self-advocacy requires time, effort, and commitment, it is not a one-time achievement, but an ongoing process that requires ongoing attention and effort. By believing in yourself, identifying your needs and values, setting boundaries, improving your communication skills, seeking support, and practicing regularly, you can develop and maintain a strong sense of self-advocacy that will serve you well in all aspects of your life.

1. Set reminders: Set reminders or alerts on your phone or calendar to check in on your progress and keep yourself accountable. This will help you stay on track and motivated.
2. Use positive self-talk: Use positive self-talk to reinforce your commitment to your goals. Remind yourself of your strengths and the progress you've already made. Focus on the positive changes you're making in your life.
3. Celebrate your successes: Celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. Recognize your achievements and take time to feel proud of yourself. This will help you stay motivated and committed to your self-advocacy journey.

I hope these tips and tricks are useful to you, and that you find some ways to make small meaningful changes in your daily life - remember, it's a marathon and not a sprint, so start with a couple of small ones and get used to those first before introducing each new thing! Overwhelm is one of the biggest blockers to being able to stick to new habits, so tiny incremental changes are key!

Good luck!

If you're unsure if coaching is right for you, check out my blog which will help you to discover what you are looking for.

I am an ICF Accredited Coach. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is a non-profit organization that sets the standards for the coaching profession worldwide. To become accredited by the ICF, a coach must complete an ICF-approved coach training program, accumulate a certain number of coaching hours, and pass a coach knowledge assessment. The ICF accreditation process is rigorous and is designed to ensure that coaches meet the highest standards of coaching competency and ethics.

ICF accreditation is widely recognised as the gold standard for coaching professionals. It signifies that a coach has met the ICF's rigorous standards and has demonstrated a commitment to ongoing professional development and excellence in coaching. ICF-accredited coaches are considered to be among the most skilled and effective coaches in the industry, and many clients and organizations seek out ICF-accredited coaches for their coaching needs.

Discover the top benefits of coaching and how working with a coach can help you achieve your goals. From increased self-awareness to improved communication skills, coaching has a lot to offer.

Read more

First up, what the hell is coaching?

Coaching:

• Is a bespoke one to one programme specifically designed to accelerate the success of the individual engaging in the process. As it is bespoke intervention, each individuals’ experience will be entirely different
• Can help you to define a powerful vision for yourself and give you the motivation to drive for it, setting better goals, reaching them faster, making better informed decisions, and improving the effectiveness of your overall performance and relationships either in your personal life or within the workplace
• Is about the future, discovering your potential and achieving it – faster. Your Coach will support you and encourage you to deliver higher performance by getting you to FOCUS on what is fundamental and most importantly, take consistent ACTION towards achieving performance goals
• Tools, knowledge and new skills are developed as a part of the programme so that you can implement these in your daily life for immediate and longer-term success.

How does Coaching differ to other popular interventions?

Unlike a consultant or mentor, a coach doesn't enforce changes – a coach gives their client the confidence to make their own changes and find their own solutions by accessing the qualities that are already inside them. Think it sounds a bit bullshit? I promise you it's not - you already have all the answers to your own questions and all the tools to solve any problems you're up against.

I totally understand why people are wary of coaching - it's a relatively unregulated industry and literally ANYONE can call themselves a coach these days, and charge a shit load for it. This is why I specifically wanted to qualify with the International Coaching Federation, as they have high standards and are bringing quality and ethical practice to the industry (even if you don't book with me, this is something you should look out for).

3 things Coaching is not…

Coaching often gets confused with other interventions, namely:

1. Training
2. Consultancy
3. Counselling/Therapy
   

Coaching is NOT:

1. TRAINING
   Training provides off-the-shelf information on what you need to do or how you need
   to do something (skills development) and stops there
2. CONSULTANCY
   Consultancy brings in expertise, normally for a specific project or to identify a specific
   problem and then ideally goes in to fix it. At the end of this process the consultant
   leaves. Any accumulated knowledge or insights go with them.
3. COUNSELLING/THERAPY
   Counselling looks back in time to address specific personal problems by providing an
   opportunity to lend voice to and explore concerns and issues

Additional Benefits of Coaching….

Aside from encouraging your performance, one of the many roles your Coach can play is that of sounding board and confidant. As someone who genuinely cares about your development and helping you to resolve any issues you face, the value of having someone ‘in your corner’ shouldn’t be overlooked. It may not be their main function, but it can be an invaluable one.

Coaching is often the favoured route of Business and Senior Managers because it is considerably more time efficient and effective than any other intervention. It is individually tailored to your needs and entirely outcome focused.

Coaching vs. Mentoring

Mentoring and coaching do have similarities and the two can get confused. They
differ in the following ways:

Mentoring:

• The mentor is the expert in a certain area and is willing to share their knowledge, experience and expertise.

• The Mentor gives the mentee advice and guidance on a specific area

• It takes a less formal format to coaching

Coaching:

• The coach may not be the expert in the area of focus

• The coach uses questioning techniques to develop the coachee

• It takes a more formal format

The 10 Key differences between a Mentor and a Coach

So - hopefully that's cleared it up a little for you, but if you still have any further questions, you can drop me a line at hello@fiercefolks.com and I'll be happy to answer them for you.

If you feel ready to book for your free, no-obligation chemistry call, then head over to my booking page now: fiercefolks.com/book