BlueSkyMinds NZ’s Post

If you're struggling with procrastination or analysis paralysis here are some quick tips to beat the overwhelm.

It never ceases to amaze me how a single, thoughtfully crafted question can cut straight to the core of an issue. Suzi McAlpine’s Leaders Digest recently posed this gem: 🔥“What are the consequences of inaction on this?”*🔥 And let me tell you, it stopped me in my tracks. Here’s why I adore this question: 1. Forcing Action: It compels me to recognise that inaction is, in fact, a deliberate choice (something I often conveniently overlook). 2. Confronting Consequences: Putting pen to paper and jotting down potential outcomes helps my brain bulldoze through any mental barriers or excuses, revealing clear priorities. 3. Letting Go: Some things we deem crucial might not be. This question nudges us to let go of stuff (and I’m all for that!). 💠Now, over to you: What’s your go-to question you ask yourself when grappling with a challenge? Share your insights—I’d love to hear them!💠 *This nugget of wisdom comes courtesy of Suzi, whom I had the pleasure of learning from during a recent group coaching session. Explore more on her webpage, The Leaders Digest. Suzi McAlpine Christina Wedgwood Daria Williamson Lisa Mulligan Leeanne Carson-Hughes Libby Irwin Jayne Chater Betsy Spigel Eve McKenzie Wendy Kerr Richard Poole Paul Stewart Leah McKerrow Philly Powell Mike Bennetts Mike Kensington Joan Mather

👯♀️ Great minds think alike, and apparently, so do great wardrobes! Who knew that when Tracey Winstone joined BlueSkyMinds NZ, we'd become the dynamic duo of accidental twinning? It's uncanny how often we show up to work looking like pages from the same fashion catalogue. Is it telepathy? Is it a shared sense of style? Or is it just the universe's way of saying great teamwork starts with matching outfits? Whatever it is, it's become our unexpected trademark, and we're rolling with it! #TwinningAtWork #TeamStyle #WorkplaceHumor

Check out my goodie bag from Canary Enterprises Ltd. I popped down to Hamilton this morning to deliver my 45-minute keynote at the ‘Canary Day’ staff event. Afterwards, I got a special chiller bag filled to the brim with a range of butter and cheeses! I may have mentioned during my talk my fondness for all things butter and cheese related….. 😆 Thanks, Jaimme, Tracey and the team, for having me and for my delicious treats. Tracey Winstone I'll bring some into the office tomorrow. Canary make a range of premium, innovative dairy products sold globally, you can read more about the Canary story here: https://lnkd.in/gYvpQkdG

📅 Today, seven years ago, I did something that was equally terrifying and exhilarating. On February 28th, 2017, I spoke to 170 people at an Auckland University Alumni networking event on the science of mindfulness. To be fair, when the fabulous Melanie Barr asked me to speak, I said 'yes', figuring about 50 people would show up, and then totally and utterly freaked out when I heard that hundreds of people had registered. 😨 I then went into a complete tailspin when I heard the event had to be moved to one of the university's biggest lecture theatres to accommodate everyone! I thought multiple times about pulling out and asking someone else to speak instead of me. In fact, without my deep belief that what I had to offer could genuinely help people better manage their minds in this world of ours, there is no way I could have gone ahead and spoken Looking back now, I realise how eternally grateful I am for that opportunity. Through that event, I got the chance to share something I am deeply passionate about in a way that people connected to. BlueSkyMinds also got its first client, I got people along to my first High Performing Minds programme, Southern Cross asked me to speak at their upcoming conference and I realised that my business idea could actually work and become something great. 💡 What did I ultimately learn from that experience? Well, it's simple to understand but not at all easy to do; I learnt that if you are going to do something big, scary and WAY outside your comfort zone, do it for the right reasons; do it because it is something you care deeply about. That could be an idea, a community, a social cause, a change you want to see, or a problem you want to help solve. 🎞 I am often reminded of a quote from the movie A Star Is Born “Everybody's talented at one thing or another. But having something to say and a way to say it so that people listen to it that's a whole other bag. And unless you get out and try to do it, you'll never know”. ❓ So ....what is it you want to share, and how can you share it so others listen? 💙 A special shout out to those early BlueSkyMinds supporters, including Michelle van Gaalen, Melanie Barr, Jan Haworth, Maggie Eyre, Nigel Staples, Craig Moffat, Wendy Kerr, Jo Mills, Amanda Brien, Rebecca Sudoma, Chris Hay Mel Hay and Mr Mark Schultz

⤴ I have learnt that there are times in my life when I feel pulled or compelled in a particular direction - something external that needs to find an outlet for expression. 🎤 Following these urges in the past led me to set up my own business, run workshops that get to the heart of why we think and act the way we do, and now to put all of my learnings into a talk to share with others in a way that I hope is engaging, entertaining and easy to integrate into busy lives. 🎖 Talents and passions can sometimes find an unusual way to bubble to the surface. One of the greatest joys in my own life is watching others overcome challenges and self-doubt and find a way to share something unique and powerful with the rest of us. It reminds me of a quote by Neil Gaiman: ‘The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before’. The problem many of us encounter, myself included, is that our desire for self-expression constantly gets buried in the sheer busyness of our lives, which leaves us with little mental bandwidth for creative pursuits. 💡 One piece of advice I try to stick to is to remind myself to set aside time to live from the ‘inside out’ rather than the ‘outside in’. It's easy to get caught up consuming news, podcasts, and TV shows, and it leaves little time for output.  Listen carefully to your inner voice that wants to be expressed, and find a way to express it. Don’t let your potential get buried in busyness.

I find it so easy to charge full steam into the year ahead without stopping to take stock of the year that has been. Can anyone else relate? Here at BlueSkyMinds NZ, we are taking time now in February (yes, I know it's a bit late!) to review the year that has been and celebrate our success before tackling the year ahead. The fabulous Tracey Winstone decided some of these data points were worth sharing and put them into an infographic. Thanks to all our participants, clients, partners, and trainers. We can’t wait to see what we deliver together in 2024! Eve Rudkin Tracey Winstone Betsy Spigel Julia Stockman Kathryn Anda

In case you missed it, in this blog I describe what it's like to partner with an organisation that scores a whopping 99% positive response to the engagement question 'my manager cares about my wellbeing'! #blueskymindsnz #wellbeing #mentalhealth #organisationaldevelopment If you would like to chat about ways we can support your organisation to achieve a similar result, please get in touch with Debbie at BlueSkyMinds - debbie.schultz@blueskyminds.org