Personal Change and Climate Change - Bridging the gap
My job is very much focussed on personal change, seeing the bigger picture and shifting perspective in order to realise potential and reach goals. As a life coach I feel incredibly grateful to facilitate growth in others and be witness to their transformative awareness and understanding. Stepping into Blue Health coaching was a natural progression for me. Being born and bred in Cornwall, the realisation of my biological connection with the ocean was my calling to share that with others. Coaching that incorporates self development and the outdoors are my two favourite things, but less selfishly they also provide life changing results.
Attending the Blue Earth Summit affirmed that I am not alone on this quest to help heal others through the power of the outdoors. Listening to adventurers connecting to their spirituality, surfers running surf therapy sessions and Universities compiling years of research, gave me a buzz of validation, that this does indeed have extraordinary potential to change lives.
The energy and focus of the people in that space was purely electric. So much positivity, curiosity and activism radiating and rubbing off on everyone that walked through the door. Listening to passionate speakers such as Hugo Tagholm CEO of Surfers Against Sewage and innovative pioneers such as Bertrand Piccard from Solar Impulse was enough to give anyone goose bumps and a burst of motivation to ‘do their bit.’ I certainly felt energised and motivated.
The takeaways that stood out to me, like giant lighthouses in the fog of the future, is that personal change and climate change are intrinsically linked. The work I do with others is to open minds to new ideas, new connections with the outdoors and how to immerse in blue space to step out of comfort zones and heal self sabotage. What this leads to is a much much deeper respect, understanding and awareness of the outdoors and blue space. People start sea swimming and pay more attention the the tides, the rivers. They notice when they look less clear, when there is plastic floating at their feet. They make an effort to conserve and protect the areas they so badly crave for their mental and physical health. The emotional driver between them and the outdoors has been ignited. They have a deep truthful connection, one of respect and appreciation as they see first hand the power the natural world has over their mind.
This emotional connection bridges the gap between personal change and climate change. By allowing people to experience coaching and development in a way that encompasses the power of the outdoors, not only do they see huge shifts in their own lives, more confidence, more awareness, more strength and less anxiety. They also have a direct need to preserve and protect the very thing that supports their growth.
This will continue to be my mission and form the basis of what I do. Instead of just telling people what to do to make a difference, provide containers for them to experience why it is important to them.
