Spring time washes away the grey and heaviness of the winter season. It is the time when temperatures get warmer, the day light lasts longer, nature awakens and flowers start to blossom...

Spring is metaphorically a time of fresh starts and new beginnings. If nature can do it, then why shouldn't human beings be able to do it too! It is all a question of mindset and determination.

Now, let me ask you some questions: How are you doing so far professionally in 2022? Are you moving forward courageously well in line with your set goals? Were you able to achieve what you wanted to achieve in the first quarter of the year?

In whichever direction you are moving forward, it is worth using springtime as an opportunity to take a step back and to reflect, especially if you don't do this on a regular basis. Spring time is a good chance to reflect and , to analyse the situation, to find the gap between the goals achieved to date and set goals and to adjust your strategy and action plan accordingly so that you can reap the benefits throughout the upcoming seasons.

As Jim Rohn, the American author and motivational speaker once said: “It is the promise of spring that as we sow, so shall we also reap.» I could not agree more, as I see this proven again and again whether it be related to my own experiences or as a result of working with many professionals wanting to pursue their goals.

A propos my own experience, as coaches we are often seen as perfect role models and experts for achieving and getting things done. Let me however be honest with you and admit that, although I managed to achieve most of my main goals in the first quarter, I am not quite where I want to be in relation to one of my important projects. However, I took my own advice and looked upon the start of the spring season as an opportunity to reflect, to realign and to work out a strategy on how to be more disciplined so that I can reap the benefits in the upcoming seasons. My new action plan requires me to be more disciplined, to work hard, but also to find the courage to get it done. Yes, courage! I consider myself to be a student of the ’courage school’ too. I do not only invite and support other professionals to be more courageous, with ‘takethecourage.com’  but I am also using this platform to encourage myself.

So now back to you. In which ways can you use the fresh energy of the spring season to move forward? How can you use the beauty of this season to get into action, to continue even more courageously, to get started, to restart, to stop doing what doesn't work for you, to reinvent yourself etc?

I would like to encourage you to reflect on this and to give you some sources of inspiration to help you to kick start ‘The Fresh Start Effect’:

Having the humility to take a step back, to admit your mistakes and to accept that being perfect is not the ultimate way to get  results, is key for a fresh start.

Always keep in mind: You achieve what you want to achieve! It is about the power of motivation and the mindset behind it. Your beliefs and thinking patterns are key. A high level quality of thinking patterns, your positive attitude toward being able to influence and change things if needed, are key. So do not undermine your mental strength.

Achieving sustainable success means overcoming your own boundaries. This usually requires you to recognise fears and uncertainties on the way and to mobilise your much needed courage muscles accordingly. By doing so you increase your self-efficiency and create new perspectives and possibilities. This way you transform problems into solutions.

A fresh start, a reconsideration, or an even more courageous continuation all happen in the FLOW status. The FLOW status is about achieving and experiencing maximum energy levels.  It is the state of being where you operate at your peak performance despite obstacles and stress. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a Hungarian American psychologist, recognized and named the psychological concept of FLOW, a highly focused mental state conducive to productivity. If you would like to know more about the concept, listen to his Ted Talk or listen to his free audiobook "finding flow" in Youtube:

Last, but not least, you do not have to make it happen alone. We all need our role models, helpers, mentors and coaches on  the way. At times it can be really challenging to change perspective and to reconsider facts. It is a must to have and build your support system. Draw a landscape of your support system, then ask yourself: In which topics do you feel supported? Where would you need more support? Who could you add to your support system?

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. Chose the "go together" option and don’t let your ego stand in the way. You do not have to prove to others that you can do it alone.

I wish you a happy and courageous start, restart, continuation or whatever you care to call it.

If in doubt let’s talk: Contact.