Mindfulness Reflections

Have you heard of The Tortoise (a kind of turtle) and the Hare (a wild rabbit) parable? The moral of the story is that being in a hurry, with a "win, win, win!" mentality, only leads to exhaustion, fatigue, burn out, and ultimately, great loss, because it isn't only the race that the hare loses, it's the utter delight of the journey itself, that is, she loses in every way, really, because all we have is a (relatively) short life to ENJOY as best we can. (Yes, let's make the tortoise and the hare female today, just for fun, because we're referring to human nature, and not to male or female characteristics). Becoming more confident and fluent in English is also a journey that we can enjoy deeply, as we notice our progress along the way and feel more and more able and adventurous to explore and expand our horizons, both personally and professionally. While the hare is constantly thinking about her opponent and how to out-smart her, the tortoise is never worried o...

It isn't that we don't fail. It's that we don't always see the lessons. Especially in the midst of our difficulties, we have the tendency to look at ourselves in a very poor light, and to think that no one else understands what we are going through, that we are alone, while others live their happy, highly successful lives. In reality, we all have difficulties, and in that way, paradoxically, even when we feel alone, we are in fact going through something that every human being experiences: discomfort, difficulty and failure. Failure is not something we enjoy, and yet it is extremely precious. About two years ago, I was able to create the pilot for an ongoing English training program, Confident English Training, for professionals who want to improve and polish their English language skills in a more autonomous way, while still having access to live Coaching calls and mindfulness practice sessions, as well as a supportive community of like-minded people. And while there a...

Has this been a busy and productive time of the year for you too? I've noticed that whenever I'm actively and happily engaged in whatever I do, as I have been over the last couple of months, with the English training programme I created and run, together with the Inner MBA I'm taking, that there's a kind of momentum I become aware of, and even in the midst of all the hustle and bustle (a large amount of activity and work, usually in a noisy surrounding), I'm able to appreciate all the wonderful things that are going on. But if it were easy to create and run the business of an ongoing English training programme, while taking an MBA, working on my competence in Portuguese, as well as balancing all the other aspects of my life with a fair degree of humour and joy, then everyone would have their own programme and business! So when clients approach me and tell me about their feelings of insecurity, lack of confidence and inability to speak fluently in English, and how ch...

What a pleasure it was to meet up with Laura Atkinson , Manager of the Commercial Section at the British Chamber of Commerce Mexico, to talk about what the Chamber does, and how it helps businesses thrive and flourish through connecting and bringing people together. See you again in the next Chamber event, Laura! Many of my clients are involved in international business, and although they're highly skilled and competent professionals, they report feeling uncertain and worried about expressing themselves in English within business settings.   Here are some of the most common messages I hear: - "I don't know where to practise the English I need" - "I can introduce myself and say what I do, but after that, I find it intimidating and embarrassing to keep a conversation going" - "I get stuck whenever I speak in English, I can't find the words, and it makes me feel frustrated and ashamed" - "I want to feel free in English, I just want to be myse...

It's All Saints' Day today, 1st of November, and tomorrow is All Souls' Day around the world and Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, here in Mexico where I live. It was Halloween last night, on the 31st of October. This time of year is always so evocative and mystical, wouldn't you agree? It's the autumnal equinox, one of the two times of year when daytime and nighttime hours are of equal length. From now on, and through the winter months, days will be shorter, and nights longer. In this week's video, join me as we explore this wonderful time of the year: a time for introspection and reflection, a time of colour, stillness, and beauty. A time for connection with ancient traditions and with our ancestors. WATCH HERE: A Halloween and Day of the Dead Vocabulary Lesson P.S. Amazing how quickly time goes by. Are you ready to be productive and to put your time and resources to good use during this plentiful and bountiful time of year? Perhaps you've been postponi...

A couple of weeks ago I had one of those amazing "A-ha!" moments, an insight, an experience that gave me the idea for this week's video. Please enjoy as I share an all new top tip to practise English in real-life, authentic situations right where you are.  WATCH HERE: P.S. Looking for more motivation and inspiration? My signature programme,  Confident English Training , can help. Be adventurous, and  book a call  to find out how. You never know until you try! Speak soon!

Incorrect chunking in English can create a lot of confusion and frustration for learners! A little story for you.  During my very first week at university (I studied English Language and Literature), one of the teachers walked in, set his books on the teacher's desk, turned to face us and said: "Tell me: what do you think you're going to learn during these next 4 years?" Several students raised their hands and he addressed them one by one. "I'm going to learn how to speak English better", said one.  "I'm going to be a professional English/Spanish translator", answered another. "I'm going to become a more cultured person". "I'm going to be an English teacher".  That wasn't me, by the way. Never in a million years, at that time, did I think I'd become an English teacher. "I'm going to write a novel", was my reply. But I haven't written it yet. Anyway, the answers kept coming, and the teach...