happiness Archives - Melanie Pritchard

Why Pain Can be Your Greatest Teacher

Posted on 27th February 2024 by Melanie Pritchard

‘There is purpose in pain’ – Anonymous

Things aren’t always as they seem.

Pain doesn’t always turn out to be how it feels, bad.

It can be our highest teacher, with the wisdom it unleashes guiding us more skilfully down high-results producing paths that better align us with who we really are and what we really need.

It may feel like pain pushes you into deficit in the immediate, but the net effect is often increased self-awareness, spiritual growth and higher potential for happiness.

So feel the pain, don’t ice over it – there are vital learnings revealed beneath difficult emotions – and those learnings will provide a soft cushion of intell you will bounce off upwards from, in the right direction – northwards, towards the sweet-spot of self-actualisation and a far greater sense gratitude on arrival there 🎯

So if you’re in the heat of struggle right now, keep going. Don’t fight it. Feel it, let it out and when you’re ready, get curious about what it’s teaching you and where it’s leading you.

If you’d like to springboard deeper into how that works, here’s a superb podcast episode I send new career and life coaching clients. Dr. Susan David, Ph.D. is one of the world’s leading management thinkers and an award-winning Harvard Medical School psychologist with a deep focus on the function of emotions. In this episode with the equally gifted Mark Groves, she discusses some of the narratives around emotions that we’ve been conditioned to pursue and the ways in which this is making us less healthy and contributing to a culture of toxic positivity.

Susan explains how we can show up for ourselves by ending the constant struggle between how we think we should feel, and how we actually feel and how we can harness our emotions as signals to use to our advantage to optimise happiness and success. Listen here.

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Want to learn more?

Book in a free discovery call to learn more about Life / Career Coaching or Corporate Success Masterclasses 🥂 www.melanie-pritchard.com

Why the F Word is My Favourite

Posted on 3rd February 2024 by Melanie Pritchard

‘There’s no fear when you’re having fun’ – Will Thomas 👻

My favourite F word out there. And one reason I left law. I wanted, nay needed, more time for fun.

Shame on me 🫢

I didn’t want to while away my evenings at the office cancelling dinner parties and dates.

I also had no desire to end up like my miserable boss whose only asset was her corporate success.

Add to that losing a very fun brother at 23 which made me more aware of the shortness of life and the importance of fun – he had a wit and sense of the ridiculous that lit up rooms and signed off a letter to my twin and I days’ before his death with, ‘we need to have a lot of fun’ (underlined), before quoting Austin Powers. Yeah baby. It was a huge consolation to us that he had huge amounts of fun in his relatively short life – he went out with a bang and somehow even managed to bring humour to the tragic.

It was the same for the effervescent, Ems. She was one of the silliest, wittiest people I’ve ever known with a sense of the ridiculous that had me rolling around on the floor – she even had a pink feather bower around her grave! Thank God she truly lived large. I could see her throwing her head back with laughter now making a black humour lined joke about this! In fact, she’d probably be thrilled one of my greatest sadnesses when we lost her was that she was one of a handful of people who truly made me roar with laughter every time I saw her.

So actually, getting serious about fun is essential – it’s the ultimate stress reliever afterall and a place where over-thinking and fear are extinguished. That’s not just a nice to have, it’s a need to have and a super effective happiness hack for removing the greatest disabler out there – fear – the root of stress and much mental illness.

Ever notice how you’ll often get clarity on big life stresses when you switch off and let loose?

It ain’t no accident.

So make sure you prioritise fun whilst busy adulting. You’ll never regret making time for laughter and joy.

Life is short, afterall.

To quote an awesome family friend on his way out of a tip top life:

‘Whatever you do, you must have fun’ 🎈

Why Authenticity is a Super Attractor for Happiness & Success

Posted on 3rd February 2024 by Melanie Pritchard

‘This above all, to thine own self be true’ – William Shakespeare

The definition of greatness is being 💯% yourself and working out what you enjoy in life, what gets you out of bed each day, what gives you that passion for life and working out how you can make that a part of your life every day whether through your career or otherwise. It’s when everything’s aligned – your goals and giving something back for the benefit of others. @emilyskyefit on Instagram is an example of this.

Things weren’t always so clear for Emily who was painfully shy and insecure as a child, damaged by her father’s abandonment, abusive relationships and eventually tried to end it all.

But after she realised what her true passion was, to raise the profile of fitness and mental health, surrendered to being true to herself and took committed action to achieve her goal, everything fell into place.

She now does work she loves, alongside a man she loves, has a huge social media following and is about to have her first baby 👶 Complete, blissful alignment and flow. You know when it happens because ease, joy and peace flood you – whether in work, relationships or otherwise.

If you’re struggling to get in flow or find your purpose, carve out time to work out your why. Why you might feel confused, frustrated or unfulfilled. How your life may not be aligned with who you really are – what it is that really excites you. Talk to a trusted friend or a coach if you need to – but follow your bliss – whatever you do.

And before you say you can’t – that’s bullshit. Where there’s a will, there’s a way and there’s a variation on every dream to make it work for you, whether carving out more time for a passion outside work, working part-time, down-sizing where you live or otherwise. Once you understand what drives you, you’ll be determined to push through these blocks and reach for the stars in making your goals a reality.

Finally – my top tip for getting clarity on anything? ‘Think less, feel more’ – Dr Wayne Dyer 💡

Try it and see 👀

And if you don’t know where to start, book a free discovery call with me below – it’s so easy to untangle confusion and sky-rocket happiness and success in life and career when you have the tools and structure for change:

www.melanie-pritchard.com

3 Ways to Sex-Up A Cover Letter!

Posted on 6th September 20238th September 2023 by Melanie Pritchard

“Seduce my mind and you can have my body, find my soul and I’m yours forever” – MD Waters

Can you guess the link between dating and careers?

I see average cover letters again and again. Just like attracting a crème de la crème mate, we need to up our game massively to attract top employers, stand out from the crowd and secure the top jobs.

This means hardcore seduction.

I’m talking KC level, evidence based seduction that wins High Court cases.

There should be nothing average about it.

If it’s not breath-taking, don’t send it.

It you know it’s not a 10 out of 10, keep drafting.

If you don’t know how, drop me a line.

Corporate seduction is my superpower!

Like anything in life, it’s easy when you have the magic formula.

To find out how I can help you uplevel your life or career, book a free discovery call here

Still unsure? Here’s what a recent client, Tina LePomme said: ‘‘I worked with Mel in 2022. She helped me redefine my career, think about my key priorities and supported me throughout the entire process all the way until I found the dream job. She is absolutely amazing, she’s incredibly resourceful, will go above and beyond to support you in any way she can and is very professional. I cannot recommend her enough”

LA Weekly: 10 Career Coaches to Follow in 2023

Posted on 31st August 2023 by Melanie Pritchard

Whether your career is in its infancy or you’re ready to change paths, working with a passionate and expert career coach can make a big difference. Career development can be quite daunting and everyone can benefit from the guidance and support career coaches are meant to provide.

If you need help exploring careers paths, setting and achieving career goals, developing your skills, and finding new and better jobs, among many other things, working with a career coach will make things a lot easier. They have years of experience and a wealth of knowledge under their belt, it’s just a matter of finding the right fit for you.

Browse our list below to find the top 10 career coaches in 2023!

Why Management Consulting Can Feel like a Toxic Relationship

Posted on 3rd August 20233rd August 2023 by Melanie Pritchard

‘Management consulting is like a toxic relationship – you love the salary, status and perks, but you hate the intense workload, demanding clients, lack of work life balance and lack of praise’ – Career Coaching Consulting Client

Are you a management consultant, lawyer or professional who loves the highs of the job – the big pay check, the nice house and the social status but secretly hates the feeling of being stuck in the ‘corporate cage’ where you crave changing out of the ‘always on’ culture but love the big salary and feel trapped by a big mortgage and other liabilities?

Or maybe you’ve reached the pinnacle of your career, near Partnership, only to realise that all your efforts seem to count for nothing unless you hit whopping billable targets or you’re able to bring in new business.

Or maybe you simply don’t have the time to explore these niggling feelings and doubts – or you don’t know who you could talk to to discover alternatives that meet your wider needs?

Perhaps you’ve normalised feeling flat, frustrated or unfulfilled for so long that you’ve failed to notice the negative ripple effect your work is having on your mental health and your wider quality of life with family and friends?

Can you even imagine what it feels like not to have to be perfect every day at work, like you’re on a never-ending treadmill constantly fending off burn-out?

I get it – as a lawyer turned Career and Life Coach, I help smart, successful professionals working in high stress worlds design careers and lives they love – and much as your monkey mind may tell you this isn’t possible, I’m here to tell you it is!

Whether learning simple mindset mastery tricks to help reduce stress and optimise work life balance, learning how to develop boundaries and people please less, exploring career alternatives that thrive off your superb CV or managing wider life goals like love and relationships, I’m here for you.

It’s easy to boost hope and joy in life when you have the right tools and the space to explore what you really want, what your options are and how to reconnect with your strengths to strategise for change. It doesn’t have to be money or happiness – it can be both.

Check out a powerful example of one of many bright but frustrated career coaching clients I work with in the in the short video here.

What do you relate to?

What are your main pain-points?

And how committed to change are you in 2023?

If you’d like to explore how I can help you master your mind and re-design your career or personal life, drop me a message here for a free discovery call. Helping smart, successful professionals get unstuck fast is my superpower 🙂

Here’s what a recent legal client said:

‘Thank you so much for everything – I feel like you’re the best investment I made in myself in years. I feel much more connected to my true self and have more trust in myself than I have had in a long time. You have a real gift’

What’s the Difference between Coaching & Therapy?

Posted on 13th July 202313th July 2023 by Melanie Pritchard

“I never cease to be amazed by the power of the coaching process” – John Russell, Managing Director, Harley Davidson Europe

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between coaching and counselling?

Or maybe, like me 7 years ago, your first impression of coaching was some wacky American self-help thing full of hot air?

That was until I started practising coaching and had to eat my words, fast.

Y’see, though coaching isn’t rocket science, it’s amazing the magic that happens when we have the space to really explore who we really are, how we really feel and what we really WANT versus what we feel we SHOULD do – the latter usually signals a disconnect from the true self and is often no more than a societal construct whether conditioning from our parents we assumed knew better than us or from those around us.

Ironic, really, given that real motivation, excitement and joy in life comes from doing what you really WANT to do versus what you feel you SHOULD do (the latter being a top 5 regret of the dying according the the bestselling author and palliative nurse, Bronnie Ware). That’s coaching in a nutshell – it helps you to connect to your most authentic self, which releases a huge energy surge so you can move from where you are now to where you want to be much faster than before.

That’s why leading professionals like Bob Nardelli, CEO of Home Depot say: “People, unless coached, never reach their maximum capabilities”.

And by people, I’m talking clients from all walks of life – managers, company directors, MBA students and downright cynics. Like my highly successful friend who was dismayed he couldn’t become a Partner at his FTSE 500 company without a coaching session. After an hour with the coach, he soon changed his mind.

If, like him 6 years’ back, you’re wondering what coaching is all about or how it could serve you with results based goods, check out the difference between coaching and counselling in my short video here.

And if that tickles your fancy, or you have any questions about it, drop me a line or book in a free discovery call here to learn more about how career and life coaching could uplevel your energy, productivity and success tenfold in 2023.

Be warned, though, while coaching and counselling are different beasts, there’s a reason why a handful of clients say they’ve got more out of one coaching session than years’ of therapy…

#coaching #people #motivation #energy #law #lawyers #managementconsulting #managementconsulting #property #insurance #thebar #barristers #chambers #HR #partners #managers #stress #mentalhealth #wellbeing #happiness #success #learninganddevelopment #personaldevelopment #peakperformance #relationships #communication #transformation #promotion #politics #careerchange #life #change #therapy #counselling #power #CEO #csuite #CFO #CTO #CIO #COO #support

Relationship Anxiety: What Causes it and When You Really Need to Worry!

Posted on 12th July 2023 by Melanie Pritchard

‘Discomfort is the price of admission to a meaningful life’ – Susan David PhD

Hands up if you’ve ever felt doubt, insecurity or the need for reassurance in a relationship? Cue all of us.

What causes relationship anxiety and when do you *really* need to worry?

What’s the difference between helpful and unhelpful anxiety in relationships?

How does relationship worry show up?

And how can we handle it?

I coach many life coaching clients on relationship pain-points whether work-related or romantic – in fact, it’s a favourite topic of mine, dealing with themes that go to the heart of what it is to be human – confidence, self-esteem, identity, values, communication, happiness, success and beyond.

The cost of poor quality or broken relationships is high, which is why it’s so rewarding teaching clients simple tools to overcome relationship challenges to minimise breakdown and optimise happiness.

A recent client mentioned the varied (mainly negative) advice she’d received from friends around her potentially impending divorce and one thing struck me – a real lack of balance, objectivity and hopeful guidance.

I saw something different to ‘let’s expedite the divorce’ / ‘what a d*ck’ / ‘things have ruptured so it’s game over after nearly 20 years’.

Underneath the anger and acting out was simply a breakdown in communication, a lack of tools around HOW to communicate effectively and a disconnect from their own selves since becoming busy working parents. Yes, that’s a few blockers but pretty resolvable blockers if there are enough shared values and vision for the future.

This is where coaching can be pretty game-changing, bringing awareness and balance to complex situations untrained listeners may be naturally more inclined to judge from their own frame of reference. This is what we call projection (!) which isn’t always helpful when we need to be heard and we want to connect to the truth in a balanced, non-polarised way.

If you’ve ever felt anxious in romantic relationships, wondered whether this is normal and what the difference even is between good and ‘bad’ anxiety, read my article below in Women’s Health. There’s a game-changing magic trick for dealing with anxiety in there which is as miraculous as it is simple. To read about this and the full article in Women’s Health, click here.

And if you’re looking to uplevel your relationships, whether in work or love, drop me a message to book a free discovery call here – I regularly help clients like these with tips to gain the clarity and tools to optimise dating, their relationships and love lives!

What’s stopping you from creating a life you love?

#love #relationships #success #happiness #lifecoaching #career #communication #stress #mentalhealth #cbt

Surprisingly Simple Stress Trick: How to Get Out of Your Head Fast!

Posted on 30th August 202230th August 2022 by Melanie Pritchard

‘Faith is an oasis in the heart that will never be reached by the caravan of thinking’

Khalil Gibran

How often do you find yourself overthinking when you’re stressed?

Totally stuck in your head or going round in circles with no end?

It makes sense to think we can think our way around things but sometimes, getting out of our heads and into our bodies is the best thing we can do. Y’see, without learnt tools to master our minds, our brains are designed to keep us stuck focusing on the negative and continuing to do what we’ve always done. Not very evolved, hey?!

Case in point – a career coaching client who was so stressed she was really quite depressed and unable to move forward had a 360 about-turn when she took her focus off thinking about careers and instead reconnected with doing the things that brought her fun and joy in life.

All the things that took her out of her head whether cooking, drawing, running or seeing her friends.

And boom! Then the clarity came – from being more and thinking less. Like a counter-intuitive detour around stress. The renewed energy and clarity came from moving her body rather than just sitting in the stasis of thought. Ironic, isn’t it, that when we stop thinking so much, sometimes we unlock feelings that guide the way.

As the legendary Dr Wayne Dyer says: ‘Think less, feel more’.

What do you do that brings you joy and gets you out of your head? When did you last have this experience? And what were the results?

For me it might be things like travelling, local adventures, meeting new people, working in new cafés, or doing a new activity like paragliding in the wilds of Italy above. Connecting with free spirits in sublime nature is always a sure fire way for me to change my state and get clarity on confusion. Note – most of these things involve movement – as Tony Robbins says: ‘Motion equals emotion’.

What one change can you make today to get out of your head and into your body?

How would that feel?

And what’s the best possible outcome?

Podcast Episode 12: Why Becoming a Mother is the Perfect Time to Start A Business

Posted on 22nd February 2022 by Melanie Pritchard

Episode 12 of The School of Success Podcast Series is now live! An inspiring and eye-opening deep-dive into why becoming a mother is the perfect time to start a business!

This interview with the accomplished Leadership Coach, Author and Workplace Wellbeing Creator, Sabine Matharu, teaches you:

– top tips for overcoming the limiting beliefs that stop people from launching their own businesses;
– what’s really going on in new mums’ inner monologues when they go back to work;
– myth-busting around the risks of launching your own business;
– how to use adversity to laser-focus new career goals and expedite health, wealth and happiness; and
– how organisations can better support working parents

This is also for you if you have an interest in how to optimise career clarity before making a change and how to find the killer weapons required to start and scale a business fast. This is also for you if you’re not sure what a Leadership Coach is and the main benefits of investing in one!

In this super informative interview, Sabine shares her expert wisdom from years as a management consultant turned successful author and entrepreneur working with women across a whole host of industries whether new mums, aspiring entrepreneurs or leaders in their field.

You can find Sabine at www.instagram.com/sabine.matharu/ on Instagram and at www.theempowermentportal.com. Her recent book, “Shift – A New Era Begins” can be found here: www.learnmoreabout.info/shift.

Full podcast episode here!

Tag: happiness

Why Pain Can be Your Greatest Teacher

Why the F Word is My Favourite

Why Authenticity is a Super Attractor for Happiness & Success

3 Ways to Sex-Up A Cover Letter!

LA Weekly: 10 Career Coaches to Follow in 2023

Why Management Consulting Can Feel like a Toxic Relationship

What’s the Difference between Coaching & Therapy?

Relationship Anxiety: What Causes it and When You Really Need to Worry!

Surprisingly Simple Stress Trick: How to Get Out of Your Head Fast!

Podcast Episode 12: Why Becoming a Mother is the Perfect Time to Start A Business

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