Derek Collins
The weekend went well, both Gill and Mark are in teaching, we've been friends for 30 years since high school. I guess they noticed a more attentive and free flowing me, Ghandi was mentioned in the same breath and I laughed that off. Gill likes to talk, Mark has learned to listen, although he likes to talk whenever she stops. She also likes to understand things, but seemed to struggled when I tried to explain the whole body aspect of communication and my experience with the NLP in France. They did go home saying they felt the weekend had included some enlightning conversations and that was fun and different.
At dinner Friday night my oldest boy (Paul) reckoned that I was about to crack at anytime and the old me would return. My kids seem to think I have mellowed and forgotten how to shout about what they are not doing in their rooms or around the house. I think they are more afraid of the new me than the old one.
My wife organised a surprise dinner at a local restaurant with friends, family and my new partner to launch the new company on Saturday night. We got drunk and had a knees up when we got home.
I feel I have lost something along with gaining much in France. My emotional response to certain things has changed, I can now talk about my daughter nearly dying of meningitis 4 years ago without getting emotional, I am also finding TV of little interest and get bore with programmes very easily where I would have been an avid fan before?? I have become more attentive to others needs and I am really trying to listen and observe the clues in communications with others. I seem to recognise limiting beliefs in others and have so far ventured some attempts to get them to consider what is going on within themselves when they say certain things, especially my neighbour Marian, she thinks its not possible to change her boss's view of her just by building rapport and trying to communicate in that rapport. I gave her a copy of chapter 16 to read and will get into it with her more.
I am going into the local NHS hospital to discuss coaching, leadership and organisational change with their HR startegic development manager week after next, looking forward to this with a very open mind.
Love and Respect,
Derek