‘The Intention Impact Conundrum’ Reviewed By Georgia Cooper, aged 16…. and future Prime Minister!

Dear Florence

I am writing to you to express my gratitude to you for writing such an amazing and educational book, ‘The Intention Impact Conundrum’.

I am delighted to share this lovely letter from maybe my youngest reader yet, who just embodies the idea of a ‘growth mindset’ Read on for her review of the book:

It has taught me many life lessons that I will take with me as I progress through my education and onto what will hopefully be a successful career. I found the book insightful and compelling but also clear as it presented complex ideas in an interesting and concise way. It has definitely helped me to be aware of, and to be in control of, the impact that I have on myself and others.

I became interested in NLP many months ago after my Dad, Steve Cooper, told me about NLP and how he really believes that it is important for career success, that you improve yourself first and have the right mindset, so that you can go on to help others and the business/ workplace itself. Thank you for giving me a copy of your book so I could start my NLP journey.

Regularly on many occasions after a particular interaction with another person or group of people I have questioned myself. Perhaps I am an overthinker but after a conversation, later in the day I will often replay that conversation in my head and found myself pondering that perhaps I shouldn’t have said a certain thing or if could I have said it better to get the impact I wanted. Furthermore, I never been the best at taking feedback. I probably fit into the perfectionist category quite well and struggle to accept anything less than 100% on a test for example, so negative feedback often felt like an insult and something to avoid at all costs.

I found your book particularly interesting as it made me realise that these behaviours are not a part of me but that I can mould and shape my character to be the best person I can be. I can put myself in the Ideal- ‘The open book’ and accept feedback as a way to improve and to grow rather than limit myself to my current abilities. Feedback is not a threat but it’s a helping hand to success. I also learnt that it should be the love for success that drives me forward, and not the fear of failure as failure is inevitable and it’s learning from it that counts. I also learnt that I need to recognise my ego state, so I can have useful, meaningful conversations where my intention is the same as my impact.

This book has definitely changed my thinking and broadened my horizons especially the part where you explained the negative belief cycle. It highlighted that there are no benefits in being a pessimist and if I really want to achieve something, I need to be positive and visualise success as if I believe something and want it to happen then my unconscious mind and growth mindset will help me to achieve it.

I really enjoyed the motivational quotes you used such as two of my favourites; “Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot you’re right,” and “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.”

Also the exercises at the end of each chapter really helped to engage my mind and apply practically what I had just learnt, which highlighted the true benefit of the advice given in the book and how I can use it to increase my personal effectiveness.

Overall, I really enjoyed your book and I look forward to exploring NLP further in the future as I find it interesting and extremely useful. I also look forward to reading your second book and other NLP books.

Thanks again.
Yours Sincerely,
Georgia Cooper

Young Minds in Crisis and A Surprisingly Simple Solution!

Jill Harrison, NLP Master Practitioner, Manager of Next Generation Health and a Healthy Lifestyle Coach within the NHS. She is also a mum and delivers her own fitness classes.

‘…surveys suggest that more children and young people have problems with their mental health today than 30 years ago. That’s probably because of changes in the way we live now and how that affects the experience of growing up.’
– Mental Health Foundation

The Context

Gone are the days when your back street, the local park, and a handful of real-life friends, made up your experience of the world. The younger generation of today is struggling to cope in this age of social media, academic pressure and the relentless bombardment of global information to which they are subjected.

If anything is to change, we must acknowledge that young people are not responsible for the environments in which they live and learn. Just because they can master the latest technology in the blink of an eye does not mean that they are mature or ready for what it reveals. Their vulnerable, developing brains are exposed to information and stressors that OUR generation has created, and they are crumbling under the pressure…

Here are the facts:

75% of all mental health problems are established by the age of 18.
75% of those young people do not receive treatment, largely due to the lack of available services.

No child should have to reach crisis point to get help with their mental health. And yet many of our CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services) are not able to offer treatment to a young person unless they have actually made an attempt to end their young life. This is NOT acceptable, but neither is placing the sole responsibility at the door of these services.

Once we acknowledge that Pandora’s Box is now well and truly open, and that the social media monster is not going away anytime soon, we must look to other means of addressing the ills causing such issues in our young people.

Being at Cause – a cause for real change!

Is it not ironic,
That in this brand-new age of technology,
Which fosters addiction, emptiness and lack,
We turn to the ancient wisdoms and practices
To bring fulfilment, balance and bliss?

Our young people live at effect of their environments, on social media, at school and amongst their peer groups. In order for change to happen, and for them to have any sense of self-mastery, we must take a generative approach, so that new skills can be developed and practiced. And those skills are neither complex nor new. Rather, they are simple and ancient. The brains of our young people are primed for change and we already have the tools to help them to thrive. What we might perceive as inherent, and therefore fixed traits, that lead to anxiety or depression, are, in reality, natural internal reactions to their external world. Under the right kind of guidance, the skills to thrive can easily be developed.

Happiness is a skill
Emotional Balance is a skill
Compassion & Altruism are skills
Like all skills they have to be developed
That’s what education is about
– Matthieu Ricard

Curiosity and Flexibility – Tools to Foster Resilience

The age-old practice of mindfulness is gaining momentum in the modern world and has a plethora of evidence science to support its application, from improving mental health to enhancing wellbeing for us all. Mindfulness has the real potential to help us to feel alive, and to fully live in the moment, which is, in reality, all that we have.

Increasingly, young people and adults are learning how to practice mindfulness in order to develop the skills to live well alongside life’s ups and downs. Mindfulness can help us to regulate emotions, to manage anxiety and depression, and it can help us to focus better, to prevent our feelings from running away with us. It offers a pause between our emotions and our behaviours, enabling us to respond, rather than react, to situations.

If you change the way you look at things,
The things you look at change
Wayne Dyer

For those young people who turn to substances or to self-harm to avoid difficult feelings, or for those experiencing chronic anxiety, practicing mindfulness has the potential to allow them to tune into and allow those unwanted feelings to just-be, in the present, without allowing them the power to overwhelm. With consistent practice, they can learn to go beyond ‘sitting with the feelings’ and approach their emotions and thoughts with curiosity and affection, and ultimately develop self-mastery.

If every 8-year-old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence
from the world within one generation
– Dalai Lama

How Does it Work?

Mindfulness means: Deliberately paying attention to present moment, without judgement

It’s free, it’s flexible and it’s easy to do.
Like any skill, the most benefit is felt with consistent practice.

Many people run the belief that they cannot meditate. But mindfulness does not necessarily mean sitting cross legged in silent meditation for hours on end (although some people do practice in this way). We can be mindful when seated or lying down; when walking or eating; in fact, we can be mindful at any time of the waking day, even in the busiest of lives, with mindful moments. What is crucial for lasting changes to the brain, and consequently to fully engaging with life, is consistency, and with this in mind we leave you with a 30 second practice, that can be done at any time and in any place.

30 Second Mindfulness Moment

  1. Bring your attention to the present moment. Noticing your breath is a great place to start
  2. Look around and focus on any object
  3. Name the object “I see a Pen” (for example) (internally – not aloud – strange looks!)
  4. Now take three deep breaths in…and out
  5. Next focus on a new object. In the same way, name the object without ancillary information
  6. Take three deep breaths in…and out
  7. Now a third object
  8. And breathe…

You get the idea.

This can be done any time and any place. You may find that your breathing slows, along with your heart rate. If you have more than 30 seconds, you might engage other senses:

  1. Listen.“I hear traffic”
  2. Take three deep breaths
  3. Repeat for three sounds
  1. Feel.“I feel my feet on the floor”
  2. Take three deep breaths
  3. Repeat for three sensations

If you would like to further your mindfulness practice, there are many ways to approach this. There are free apps for phones, such as ‘Insight Timer’, which offers a vast range of practices. To take your practice to the next level, search providers who offer eight-week programmes for adults, and these generally focusing on mindfulness for stress or for health.

Next Generation Health is a collective of like-minded health professionals compelled to take action for the good of young people and families.

Along with training to teach the Youth Mindfulness Programme, they have decades of NHS and external experience with children and families, and a host of qualifications in nutrition, behaviour change and fitness.
They deliver the 16 session Youth Mindfulness programme as open courses for children and families in the north west of England.

For more on Next Generation Health, and to learn about family open courses:
https://www.facebook.com/nextgenhealthuk/

Are you looking for time and space you can dedicate to understanding how you can lead a fulfilling life and be the best version of yourself?

Jo Walley, Coach, Trainer and NLP Business Practitioner

As I look out over the countryside and see the sun shining and the leaves flourishing in rich colours, I am reminded that we are moving into a new season.

For many people this time of year is one when we start to reflect on what we’d like to achieve next, and we may consider changes we’d like to make.

If you’re currently seeking change to help you lead a more fulfilling life and would appreciate time and space to help you identify your next steps, you’ll love the Connected Development event I’m organising with Adam Hulme.

During the event you’ll hear from two inspirational authors, Florence Madden and Steve Marriott, who will guide you through the process of transformation. Adam and I will support you during the day, and we’ll ensure the environment is a supportive one that will encourage you to stretch your comfort zone whilst still feeling safe and secure. You’ll leave the day with a renewed sense of enthusiasm, clarity over your next steps, and a strong support network to help you.

The event is taking place at The Federation, an inspirational space in central Manchester, on Monday 5th November. Ticket prices include lunch, and we’ll have plenty of snacks to keep your energy going – all you need to focus on whilst you’re here is how you can begin to lead the life you want to lead.

We’re really looking forward to having you join us on this journey to fulfilment. To book click:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/connected-development-a-self-discovery-experience-tickets-48480107306

P.S. The price will go up on 26th October to the standard price of £197; make sure you book by 26th October to take advantage of the discounted early-bird rate of £147

Website: https://jowalley.co.uk

You might be interested in…………

You might be interested in…………mine and Eleni’s other new books, both of which are now available on Amazon !!

The Intention Impact Conundrum

Perception Projection

Coming Soon…….