18/02/2011 by Christophe.

I would like to share with you this interesting personal experience that a friend had with the word ‘sorry’
“Elton John reckons that sorry is the hardest word. It doesn’t seem to be a problem that I have, though. In fact, “Sorry” seems to be a word that comes really easily for me.

I hadn’t actually realised that I said it so much until a couple of people pointed it out to me. In fact, “sorry” seems to be a prefix to a lot of the things I say:
“Sorry, but I have a question…”
“Oh, sorry, I’m in your way…”
“Sorry, but before you go any further…”

Most of the time, I don’t even need to say sorry – I just do it. I think that if someone punched me in the face I’d apologise for someone walking into me!

But, why do I do it?

Is it because I think it’s polite?
Is it because I feel like what I’m about to say isn’t important?
Or is it because I’m apologising for being me?

Honestly, I am not sure why I do it, but it’s something that I have to start to work out. In the meantime, I can’t tell you, or, I’m sorry but I can’t tell you!”
A few very interesting questions to ask ourselves:
Why do we think we need to excuse ourselves?
What impression do we give when saying sorry all the time?
How often do we say it?

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09/02/2011 by Christophe.

I have just discovered this saying. I don’t know where it comes from. I just like the options it gives us to behave differently.

Could it mean that we could avoid taking everything around us so seriously and that with a smile and some willpower, we could so easily enjoy life for what it is?

Or could it be that we have the tendency to avoid conflicts and prefer to stay away from difficult situations?

Or could it be that we don’t know how to seek the positive side in all situations, or we simply don’t know how to focus more on the solutions instead of the problems?

For example, we receive feedback that we don’t like. Should we not say anything to avoid showing how we feel about it? Should we try to defend our ground and risk an argument? Or maybe we should think of it as an interesting opportunity to explore what we could learn from it?

You might have your own version of what is behind this lovely sentence… I wonder what it could be?

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20/01/2011 by Christophe.

There are many ways to do or achieve something and of course, some people tend to be better at reaching goals than others. So does that mean they are better at it than us? Maybe, and maybe not.

Of course, it can be very useful to understand what motivates us (the stick or the carrot, the importance of what we personally think or what others think, what’s possible to gain or necessary to do and the routine or the difference in your every day life) to find the real motivation to achieve some objectives, goals or projects.

And here, it might be important to consider how we approach tasks. Do we get easily overwhelmed by the quantity of work or effort involved? Most of us do. Do we find excuses or distractions to stop us getting into it? Some will probably agree.

What can we do?

If you think about someone wanting to stop smoking 40 a day or to run the marathon: they are unlikely to go from 40 cigarettes a day to zero or from 0 miles to 26 miles and 385 yards straight away! They will most likely approach the challenge one small step at the time, decreasing by 1 cigarette a week, for example, or running a few miles more a week.

What difference does it make if you start thinking of the goal, the objective, as a destination and the work as a list of small manageable tasks?

What difference does it make to be able to concentrate on one small task at the time?

What difference does it make to notice that each small steps completed is a step closer to your destination?

What difference does it make to realise that you are making progress?

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24/12/2010 by Marketing Team.

She spent 13 months being held hostage by Somali pirates, but Rachel Chander has said that she used comforting events in her past and thinking about them in minute detail to get her through the 95 days that she was kept apart from her husband.

And no matter where you are, some powerful happy memories can help you change your whole outlook on the situation you find yourself in.A friend mentioned recently that every time she thinks back to her wedding day, and the excitement and happiness she felt, as well as the overwhelming happiness, never fails to put a smile on her face when she’s having a difficult day.
She also said that when she’s stressed out, she takes a couple of deep breaths and think about watching elephants at a watering hole in Kenya. It always makes her feel relaxed and peaceful, despite how hectic things are around her.

So, where’s your happy place? It may be the birth of your child, or your wedding day, or on a sun lounger next to the pool at your favourite holiday destination. Wherever it is, close your eyes and think about it for a minute. Imagine the colours are extra bright, the noises are that bit louder and the smellls so strong they’re almost overwhelming. Remember how you felt at that moment - elated, beautiful or thoroughly relaxed? Enjoy that for a couple of moments, take a deep breath, and then open your eyes.

It all feels a bit better now, doesn’t it?

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14/12/2010 by Marketing Team.

Actress Emma Thompson has recently said in the Radio Times that her bugbear is the overuse of slang words in youngsters.But is it a sign of the times, laziness, or a bit of both?

With social networking sites like Twitter limiting how many words you can use to get your message across, and more and more people using texts as a way to communicate, it’s perhaps inevitable that slang slips into conversation.

But what impact is it having on the use of language and the way we communicate with each other?

I can’t help imagining what business meetings might be like in 10 years time, though

“This is, like, the best idea ever though, innit?”

“OMG! It’s, like, totally wicked!”

“Whatevver.  I’m not really bovvered about the idea. I was just sat thinking about the profit margins…”

But does the message get lost across the generations? Do ‘grown ups’ take younger people less seriously because of the language they use? The way we communicate now is also different to how it was when our parents were our age. When was the last time you put pen to paper and sent a letter, card or note to a friend? Or decided to pick up the phone instead of send that quick text?

So before you hit send on the latest email to your mate, imagine the difference it might make if you popped a note in the post. Ok, with Royal Mail you can’t guarantee it’ll get there, but if it does, you can bet they’ll remember a letter hitting the door mat more than they’ll remember the PING of a new email…

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21/11/2010 by Christophe.

With 10 UK Millionaires “made” by the EuroMillions last weekend, and the recent £113 million jackpot, you’ve probably had one of the “If I win the lottery this weekend, I’ll…” conversations. Most of us probably dream of luxury holidays or bigger houses. Maybe a new car? Maybe you’d give some to your close friends and family? Whatever you imagine yourself doing, I bet you’ve got a smile on your face when you’re doing it, because most of us assume that it’d make us happier.
That’s not necessarily the case, though.

A Canadian couple who recently won £7m on the lottery have admitted that their win was a “big headache” and have given 98% of it away to charity and friends.
Earlier this year someone else who won almost £900,000 on the lottery committed suicide, leaving his family and friends mystified and struggling to find a reason why.

But it seems that it doesn’t just apply to money that you’re lucky enough to win.
Brian Burnie is an entrepreneur who has spent most of his life making huge amounts of money, and giving it away. Earlier this year he sold his Northumberland home worth £16m and moved into a small terraced house. The rest he gave to charity. “You come into this world with nothing, and you leave with nothing,” he says, “what’s important is what you do in between.”

The old adage says that money can’t buy you happiness.

So what is happiness?

Material things are lovely to have, and may make you feel more comfortable with your life. But that isn’t happiness.

Maybe we are not looking where we should. Maybe it’s the smallest things or the smallest signs that are forgotten but still present in our every day life which are the most important ingredients to feel happiness…

So we should maybe stop looking at what we haven’t got and start appreciating what we have….

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11/11/2010 by Christophe.

Why don’t you start enjoying being in the moment?

What is ‘being in the moment?’

There are a wide range of books covering this fascinating and current subject.
And it should be an important part of your life, especially in our western culture. We live a fast life, often wondering what we have achieved and sometimes how well, and what we have to do next, and next, and after that… We rarely think of what is happening now, inside us and around us.

So, how can we describe being in the moment?

An easy to remember and simple way to do this is to consider ‘Being in the moment’ as a moment where you don’t think of the past or the future, or as the moment where your full attention is directed to what you are feeling, hearing, seeing, smelling (and even tasting) RIGHT NOW.

‘Being in the moment’ is certainly a form of meditation and brings you inner strength, peace and energy.

Now, if you are thinking that in principle it is a good idea but don’t believe you have enough time for it, then you will be surprised and pleased to know that you can easily start ‘being in the moment’.  For only 30 seconds, four or five times a day, choose a place you appreciate and simply enjoy the moment.

So in only two minutes a day, you are able to recharge your batteries, to treat yourself with a wonderful gift and to get a sense of the beautiful things that life is constantly bringing you.

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10/11/2010 by Christophe.

Just to remind us how much we have to respect nature…St Jean de Luz France

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18/10/2010 by Christophe.

How long did you spend thinking about what you were going to wear this morning? Five minutes? Ten? Or did you just throw on the first shirt and pair of trousers that came to hand? Chances are that, if you’re a man, the most you have to think about is whether this tie goes with that shirt…

But for women there’s a fine line between frumpy and sexy, professional and tarty. If your skirts that bit too short, or your blouse undone one button too much, the impression you want to give may be perceived completely differently.

Ines Sainz recently fell foul of this no-win situation. When the one time Miss Universe contestant has recently started a job as a sports presenter and arrived at a New York Jets game in a low cut top, jeans and heels, she may or may not have made the impression she was intending for her first day.

Should she have turned up in a tracksuit and trainers?

Getting the balance right is difficult.  Remember that first impressions matter, and that spendint the time to decide what to wear, what makes you comfortable and what people are expecting you to wear can make all the difference…

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15/10/2010 by Christophe.

Interesting and challenging 22km walk over Mondarrain and Artzamendi with great people .. thanks for a great day .. A day walking

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