Why we should talk to strangers

Here is a link to a blog that has to be read!

http://kerriephipps.com/2014/06/start-with-a-smile/

Recently on a trip to Sydney for Sam Cawthorn's protege workshop, I had the pleasure to meet a woman who has an amazing vision, Kerrie Phipps. Kerrie has made it her goal to ensure that we become better connected as a society through human interaction - and I'm not talking about scoring a new Twitter follower or making a new friend on Facebook - I'm referring to good old fashioned interaction!

Before meeting Kerrie I wrote a blog that included a small part on why smiling is a great way to meet new people... but Kerrie has taken that to a whole new level which I absolutely love! Kerrie happens to be one of the most friendly and approachable people that I've ever met, so it came as no surprise to me when I found out the reason why - She talks to strangers! Talking to strangers is Kerrie's passion - she believes in making meaningful connections with people every day, simply by initiating a conversation with a "hello" or a smile. I'm happy to say I'm hooked!

I was inspired by this message and have since made a very conscious effort to do more, to open up more, to smile more. Not only will it brighten up your day, but you may very well make a long lasting  valued connection - whether it's a business connection or a friendship you may never have experienced otherwise. Talking to strangers is, in my opinion, what society lacks.

Thankfully Kerrie will be releasing a book that comprehensively explains this outstanding initiative!
Find out more about Kerrie and "Do talk to strangers" at KerriePhipps.com

All you need is a little hope

One of the earliest lessons I learnt after waking up from a 5 1/2 week coma, was the essential need for hope.

Hope is incredibly powerful...

There I was, lying in a hospital bed in the ICU at The Alfred Hospital, unable to move, tangled in a web of tubes and machinery. My injuries - extensive both internally and externally, the pain was far beyond anything I'd ever experienced before.

Where on Earth could I possibly find hope here? What was I going to draw on in order to spark a prolonged period of successful healing? How would I maintain a positive mindset given the circumstances?

Thinking about the situation realistically, I was well aware my football days were over... and that it wouldn't matter what thickness socks I bought from here on out!
I also knew I would need to make major adjustments to my life, but instead of focusing on the things I was no longer able to do, instead of focusing on the negatives - I focused on the things I was still capable of doing, harnessing hope - if you will.

One hope I held early on was getting back to golf - I used to literally dream about it! I have been passionate about the game since I was small and I honed in on the hope that one day I would play again. In my hospital days, it seemed an eternity away, but I was determined.

Initially I had challenges with balance, strength, control etc (falling over was the norm in the beginning) Combine that with the fact that I had to completely reteach myself to swing given my physical predicament. I  eventually got back to playing a great level of golf and I'm proud of the fact that I now play better than before my illness!

Hope gave me a positive pathway through troubled times. We all go through tough times at some stage in our lives, which makes it crucial to find those sparks of hope amidst the darkness. Sometimes they may seem small, but they are there. Make it your everything, remain focused and believe.

"Never deprive someone of hope, it may be all they have" H. Jackson Brown, Jr - Author.

Mike Rolls - Enabling through perspective

Speaker - Survivor

Use these 4 steps to enter a different zone.

Recently I have been on a completely different path in life, a path that has me operating at a superior level because it has extracted me from the norm - I have been in situations that were uncomfortable and challenged myself in many ways, this in turn has stimulated both professional and personal growth.

Too often we slip into a comfortable rut, it's safe, secure and familiar but it inhibits growth.
"The comfort zone is a behavioural state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviours to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk."

It's not easy to take that step into the unknown, sometimes we are forced into the unknown. Learning how to prepare and thrive through these times is crucial.

4 ways to step outside your comfort zone and grow!

1. Don't take yourself so seriously - 
It's ok to play the fool, worrying what people think about us holds many of us back. No one wants to come across as arrogant, creepy, obnoxious etc but think about the most charismatic, magnetic people you've met. They were more than likely being themselves as opposed to being agreeable and passive.
It's fine to be less than perfect and people will like you for it, so be yourself.

2. Confront fear - 
Most of us are afraid of something in life, spiders, sharks, the dark....  But it's the smaller fears that dictate our direction in life. Ask yourself why you avoid certain situations and the value of doing so - facing these fears may lead to a new adventure or a funny story you may otherwise have sidestepped.

3. Be comfortable with risk - 
It's called a comfort zone because you can navigate through life easily whilst in that zone because you know what to expect. The alternative, taking a leap of faith comes with an element of risk because you may fail. Examine the consequences of failure and be prepared in the event it occurs. The possibility of succeeding is equally important to examine - think about the sense of achievement and satisfaction you'l gain if you do, it may well be worth the risk.

4. Welcome the butterflies - 
Doing the same things over and over will send you hurtling into a deep comfort zone. Be open to trying and doing new things, invite that healthy mix of anxiety and anticipation you get when you are unsure of what will happen next. Say yes more often and approach things with a positive mindset.

Don't mistake taking risks with being reckless and silly. Think hard about the consequences and be open and accepting to the possibility of failure - If it does occur, it won't be the end of the world.

"A ship in a harbour is safe, but that's not what ships are for" John A Shedd

Mike Rolls - Enabling through perspective

Speaker - Survivor

Challenge irrational beliefs

Irrational beliefs:

What are irrational beliefs -

1.  Messages about life we send to ourselves that keep us from growing emotionally.

2. Unfounded attitudes, opinions, and values we hold to, that are out of synchrony with the way the world really is.

A key point I speak on in my keynote is challenging irrational beliefs. The reason I feel so strongly about this topic is that by challenging irrational beliefs in my own life, it has enabled me to move through life's challenges in a positive way. 

I believe these beliefs inhibit us in our day to day existence, therefore I encourage people to consistently challenge them in order to create positive change in their lives. Too often we tell ourselves "I can't" or " I couldn't" which can subtract from our positivity and productivity. Embrace the unknown and leave yourself open to change or challenges rather than remaining resigned to an "unfounded" belief that it can't be done.

In 2009, I received the news that I had osteomyelitis (bone infection) in the partial foot amputation on my left leg. Although I had various options to consider, I made the decision to amputate below the knee - a tough choice I had to make. 

One of the reasons the decision seemed so hard to me initially, was that I had the irrational belief that I would be stuck in hospital again with months of recovery - similar to my initial stay in 2001 (6 months plus!)
After giving it some serious thought, I smashed this belief by gaining knowledge about the situation (what the operation involved in its entirety) and reasoning with myself about my ability to cope with surgery this time around ( I was now healthier, fitter, stronger than I was all those years ago) 

I had the surgery, left the hospital after just 4 days, had a leg fitted a few short weeks later and I was up and away within a month of undergoing the procedure. 

What beliefs do you hold about yourself? Which of these beliefs are irrational?
Challenge them, challenge yourself. 

Create positive changes in your life, smash irrational beliefs and carve an exciting new path for yourself!

Mike Rolls - Enabling through perspective

Speaker - Survivor

Steering to safety

Positivity is key!

As a member of the Limbs 4 Life peer support program http://www.limbs4life.org.au I see people on a regular basis who are faced with extreme life situations/events. An area of extreme importance I focus on during these visits is POSITIVITY!!!

It's not always easy to remain positive during extreme hardship, however, I recently met a young man who's life had changed forever. It was clear he had a long, hard road ahead of him but what struck me about him was his attitude. He was extremely positive....and it was unwavering...

He spoke about the future and about what he wanted to achieve. He spoke about his hunger to fight back and also about the importance of staying strong for his family.

He was focused on what he had the power to control, rather than what he could not. He had specific goals, small goals as well as larger goals, that he was working towards.

I remember walking out of the hospital feeling inspired, feeling upbeat! What an amazing attitude he possessed and it was wonderful to witness that level of positivity!

It reinforced to me that 'positivity is key' in overcoming the various challenges life throws at us, as well as the importance of mental focus and forward thinking!

                                Mike Rolls - Enabling through perspective
                                                Speaker - Survivor

1 in 100,000

Navigating through a crisis

Recent statistics on meningococcal in Australia suggest that there is around a 1 in a 100,000 chance of contracting the disease each year, and of that number only around 12% of sufferers will become seriously ill or die. So I was one of the very few people that fell into that 12% bracket and somehow, miraculously survived!

Often people ask me if i feel unlucky, angry, bitter, unfortunate... about getting sick and the answer is, and always will be "no"

I have a different take on it. Being faced with the prospect of living life as a double amputee is most certainly a nightmare! But rather than ask "why me" I asked "why not me?" Those statistics suggest that people do contract the disease, albeit a minute number of people... I just happened to be one of them.

Initially the magnitude of my situation was a lot to take in, it took time to fathom exactly what had happened. Right from the very early stages I tried to focus on any positives - I was alive! I have an amazing family! I was strong enough to overcome this! I still had my hands! I wanted to live! Anything that would keep me focused, and keep my mind in a positive space.

I learnt very early on that dwelling or focusing on the negatives will derail our productivity and seriously inhibit our ability to overcome life's hurdles.

Keys I used to overcome adversity:

* Assess the situation in it's entirety - Know your situation intimately and any issues you may face, it will prevent any unwanted surprises down the line, be aware!

* Focus on the positives - Find something to focus on that gives you hope and drive. In my case, getting back on the golf course was just one focus I had - I read about amputee golf, prosthetics and the latest technologies and set a date for my first game!

* Work hard - Now that you know where you need to be, you're not going to get there by standing still. Work hard to reach your goals, it's the only way!

It's inevitable that we will all face some form of crisis in our lives, it's a part of life. I hope these keys help!

                           Mike Rolls - Enabling through perspective
                                            Speaker - Survivor

Start the day the RIGHT way!

5 ways to start each day on a positive note!

Sometimes I battle to get moving each morning, but I have 

discovered that these 5 simple things have helped me to start each day well and increase my productivity!

1 - Get into a routine - Get up at a consistent time, I have found that if you get into a routine with your sleeping patterns, your body knows when it’s time to “get up and go” and I wake up feeling rested and refreshed.

2 - Fuel Up! - Your body won’t function at an optimal level on an empty stomach or ‘just coffee’. Try to fill up your kitchen with nutritious foods, after all, breakfast is widely regarded as the most important meal of the day.

3 - Exercise - We are all incredibly busy these days, but new research suggests regular exercise increases energy levels even among people who suffer from chronic medical conditions. I find that I get a ‘second wind’ each day if I exercise in the morning!

So get that heart pumping!

4 - Daily Goal - Set yourself a goal for each day! It might be finishing a project, learning about something new or even writing a blog! This will help you to stay focused on a particular task and provide direction for your day.

5. - Brush those teeth - You’ll be doing a lot of smiling, so it’s important to brush your teeth! Smiling is a brilliant way to make yourself happier, but it can also make others smile, as well as open the door to conversations with people you’ve never met!

Mike Rolls - Enabling through perspective

Speaker - Survivor