The final episode #64 of series 3 of the Landscaping Your Life podcast is about drawing a line in the sand about a situation in your life (Spotify/Apple).
Where you're invited to join Alison as she draws a line in the sand and notices what she notices about the line drawing so that you can apply the insight to a situation you're needing to draw a line in the sand about.
I'll add the drawing a line in the sand poem once it's published w/c 2nd Oct 2023
The initial line drawn with toes looked like this
There were a few lines drawn
and then Alison realised the line needed to be longer and have two ends - something she couldn't get around or ignore.
Other related episodes or that are mentioned in episode #64 include:
Also see this index if this topic doesn't resonate but you're grappling with a problem and would like a different perspective - with 64 episodes to choose from I'm sure there will one with a title that resonates.
Here's some more general information about the Landscaping Your Life with Alison Smith podcast and the Landscaping Your Life (LYL) process used in the podcast episodes to help you get back on track when you don't know what to do.
If you're interested in finding out more about the Landscaping Your life coaching, speaking or team sessions do get in touch alison@alisonsmith.co +44(0)7770 538159
Episode 64 of the Landscaping Your Life podcast revisits how to stop going round in circles (Spotify/Apple).
I return to the subject for two reasons.
The first reason is because I've written a poem about circling, and the perhaps more importantly I realised that previous episodes were potentially missing one piece of advice - and that's to change your environment so that you don't see the old path you were circling on - ie you're not triggered by seeing familiar things that keep you circling.
Other episodes that cover the subject or are mentioned in the latest episode include
There's also a free PDF about stopping going round in circles
Here's some more general information about the Landscaping Your Life with Alison Smith podcast and the Landscaping Your Life (LYL) process used in the podcast episodes to help you get back on track when you don't know what to do.
If you're interested in finding out more about the Landscaping Your life coaching, speaking or team sessions do get in touch alison@alisonsmith.co +44(0)7770 538159
Someone said to me that I needed to "come out the shadows" and whilst agreeing with them I also knew it was great subject for the next episode #62 of the Landscaping Your Life Podcast (Apple/Spotify).
A great subject because I believe we can find much insight by using the landscapes in our language as metaphors for the situation in hand. Which means:
Because, whilst metaphorical, the patterns you notice out in nature will also be the same sorts of patterns happening in that situation you're grappling with.
And don't just trust me on that - why not have a go for yourself - I promise you will be very very surprised with the insight that emerges. To help you do that you'll find an index of episodes for all sort of different idioms we use when we're stuck here - just pick the episode that best describes how you're feeling about the situation.
The idiom Coming out of the shadows is used to describe no longer hiding ourselves or our expertise from the world.
We might be hiding for a number of reasons perhaps because of our fear of the non shadow (or whatever is beyond it), or the comfort we find within the shadow, or something else entirely.
As you'll hear in the episode what I discovered when I took myself out into nature to explore being in the shadows was about the assumptions I was making about the non shadow - assumptions that were incorrect and yet were keeping me firmly hidden from the world.
You can hear my surprise that stepping out of the shadow just wasn't the big effort I thought it would be - as I say in the poem I also share in the episode and below - no spot light, no scorching sun just normal things happening inviting me to take part and enjoy being out there.
If you think you might be hiding from the world I'd certainly recommend you having a listen to the episode #62 of the Landscaping Your Life podcast (Apple/Spotify).
Other Landscaping Your Life podcast episodes that might resonate with coming out of the shadows and therefore may offer different insights include:
Here's some more general information about the Landscaping Your Life with Alison Smith podcast and the Landscaping Your Life (LYL) process used in the podcast episodes to help you get back on track when you don't know what to do.
With a reminder that likes, follows, shares and reviews of the podcast are very much appreciated.
Here's what one listener said after listening to episode #23 How to stop treading water in a situation in your life (Apple/Spotify) 🙂
If you're interested in finding out more about the Landscaping Your life coaching, speaking or team sessions do get in touch alison@alisonsmith.co +44(0)7770 538159
This week's Landscaping Your Life podcast episode #61 (Apple/Spotify) explores different perspectives for when you're at a deadend.
You'll find links to other episodes and more about some of techniques mentioned in the episode below.
I did however want to start with the short and sweet poem on the subject because that might be all you need to read...
DEADEND
Dead
End
Another
Destination
Exists
No
Desistance
I wonder how these words have already allowed you to see the situation you felt like you were at a deadend about differently?
The episode (#61) follows the usual format of embodying how you're feeling - ie going and finding a deadend in nature and noticing what you notice.
Personally I think you'd be hard pushed to find a deadend where a reversal is actually needed - which is what I thought might be the only solution when I wrote the Paths & destinations poem so do let me know if that is the case for you alison@alisonsmith.co
One other technique I explore in the episode is playing with the words being used - it's as if playing with the words disrupts our thinking about the situation - for example, if use of 'deadend' results in feeling stuck with no options what other words might help you feel differently and even allow there to be multiple options and opportunities
Let's focus on Dead and End separately
Dead
What happens if you think about your end as any of the following - remembering not to spend any time on words that make the stuckness worse
or even what about
End
Alternatives for end might include
The sillier the better - because laughter is a brilliant means of shifting our mindset. So don't let my list stop you from continuing to write your own.
The idea being to then bring these words together and consider how they change the internal representation you have about the situation and more importantly how they're allowing you to have more clarity about what you can do next.
Or start to make up a new combination that feels more resourceful such as
Words really do have power and so I'd wholeheartedly recommend that you ensure any words you're using to describe situations you're grappling with are helpful rather than using words that simply reinforce your stuckness.
Other Landscaping Your Life podcast episodes that might resonate with being at a deadend and offer different insights include:
With this PDF being helpful if it's a rut you're stuck in
Here's some more general information about the Landscaping Your Life with Alison Smith podcast and the Landscaping Your Life process used in the podcast episodes to help you get back on track when you don't know what to do.
With a reminder that likes, follows, shares and reviews of the podcast are very much appreciated.
Here's what one listener said after listening to episode #23 How to stop treading water in a situation in your life (Apple/Spotify) 🙂
If you're interested in finding out more about the Landscaping Your life coaching, speaking or team sessions do get in touch alison@alisonsmith.co +44(0)7770 538159
Very very excited to be offering my first virtual pop-up breakthrough session on 18th August 0930 to 1230 BST.
If you have a problem you've been grappling for a while why not join the call and get ready for a breakthrough.
Happy to chat if you'd like more details alison@alisonsmith.co +44(0)7770 538159
Rather than ask you tell me all the details about a situation you're grappling with in a Landscaping Your Life (LYL) coaching session I'm just as likely to ask you to draw it - in team LYL sessions too.
And more often than not draw it as a landscape or component of one, for example
If your problem was a mountain what sort of mountain would it be?
Which is the theme of Landscaping your Life with Alison Smith podcast episode 58 due out on 14th August (Apple/Spotify) - or more specifically drawing the landscape that represents the problem and then making change to it (see How to get the most from the podcast for an index of all the episodes to date).
See below for links mentioned in the episode and more about this particular technique.
If your problem was a mountain what sort of mountain would it be?
And please don't just continue reading without trying this for yourself - I'm not sure many of the Landscaping Your Life techniques can be appreciated fully without giving them a go for yourself. It's as if the true magic of using nature as a metaphor is a secret you can only unlock by trying it out for yourself.
Think of a problem you'd like more insight about, therefore, and if it was a mountain what sort of mountain would it be - and draw it.
Think about
Keep going until you're happy that the current drawing of the mountain reflects the current situation - although it's not about perfection and spending more than a few minutes doing this.
I'd now like you to make changes to that image - which might be done by making additions to the drawing or require you to start a new drawing so you can delete or amend features or more easily add new ones.
You might consider to
Features you may add, amend or delete might include
Keep going until the situation feels better - you may already have translated the metaphorical changes you made to the drawing to the situation you first thought of.
If not consider each change you made and what solution they might be inviting you to think about - ideas people have shared when doing this have included:
Here's one before and after from a session with a procurement team in Amsterdam using the mountain metaphor where they realised they were focusing too much on the effort needed and were forgetting to focus on the goal and celebrating the successes along the way.
Although the free form drawing below addressing how to manage time management and is perhaps one of my favourite metaphorical drawings helping you to find solutions currently hidden from view.
The premise being you had an internal representation of the problem that you don't know what to do about, and made changes to it that provide insight about where the solutions lie and what action you could take.
I'd love to know how you get on.
You'll find the blog making changes to a landscape photo mentioned in the episode here
Here's some more general information about the Landscaping Your Life with Alison Smith podcast and the Landscaping Your Life process used in the podcast episodes to help you get back on track when you don't know what to do.
Other tools in the Landscaping Your Life toolkit include going on a Landscaping Your Life walk - and the Landscaping Your Life with Alison Smith podcast shares many such walks identifying different solutions for a vast range of problems you might be grappling with.
You'll also find more about other useful tools and techniques in the LYL toolkit in my book Can't see the wood for the trees which is available from all online stockists.
If you're interested in finding out more about the Landscaping Your Life coaching, speaking or team sessions do get in touch alison@alisonsmith.co +44(0)7770 538159 with the Landscaping Your Life with Alison Smith podcast also available where you listen to your podcast.
See below for links and details for Landscaping your Life with Alison Smith podcast episode #56 on the subject of testing the water (Apple/ Spotify). Also see How to get the most from the podcast for an index of all the episodes to date.
Testing the water - the poem
Take care when testing the water that you don't reinforce the belief you already have.
Testing for what you know, in the places you know to look, at the time you have available, won't really bring the breakthrough you need.
Breakthrough comes by planning the time, the place, and criteria for testing. Preparing yourself for that testing and what it requires of you, and allowing time for the analysis of the answers.
So that you may expand the beliefs, make the necessarily changes to that which is being tested, to allow for success instead of continued failure.
This vlog from the archives also aligns with my keeping getting my trousers wet in the episode by doing the same thing (turn the sound down a little first).
And this quote from my book can't see the wood for the trees also aligns with ensuring we're testing the water at the right place in the water flow.
Here's some more general information about the Landscaping Your Life with Alison Smith podcast and the Landscaping Your Life process used in the podcast episodes to help you get back on track when you don't know what to do.
With a reminder that likes, follows and reviews of the podcast are very much appreciated. Here's what one listener said after listening to episode #23 How to stop treading water in a situation in your life (Apple/Spotify) 🙂
If you're interested in finding out more about the Landscaping Your Life coaching, speaking or team sessions do get in touch alison@alisonsmith.co +44(0)7770 538159
If you want to plant trees plant them in nature not in your life is an insight from episode #55 of the Landscaping Your Life with Alison Smith podcast (spotify/apple) - with all info and links mentioned in the episode provided below. (Also see How to get the most from the podcast for an index of all the episodes to date.)
I don't mean don't plant trees in your garden - it's just that when you can't see the wood for the trees and are already in overwhelm the insight is not to plant any more trees to make the situation even more complex and confusing.
Another podcast episode mentioned in the recording is:
There's also a PDF with instructions about what to do when
and whilst not mentioned in the podcast this blog may also shed light on the action needed to stop the overwhelm you may be feeling:
One other suggestion if you have such an urge to plant a tree, is to do it in nature, and it may just stop you doing it elsewhere in your life. Landscaping Your Life Limited is a corporate partner for Scotland: The big picture and making a donation to support them on the great work they do to rewild our landscapes would be very much appreciated 🙂
Harder than it needed to be - words of the poem shared in the episode
Here's some more general information about the Landscaping Your Life with Alison Smith podcast and the Landscaping Your Life process used in the podcast episodes to help you get back on track when you don't know what to do.
With a reminder that likes, follows and reviews of the podcast are very much appreciated. Here's what one listener said after listening to episode #23 How to stop treading water in a situation in your life (Apple/Spotify) 🙂
If you're interested in finding out more about the Landscaping Your Life coaching, speaking or team sessions do get in touch alison@alisonsmith.co +44(0)7770 538159
Do you see life as being like a garden, machine, race or war?
What about your colleagues or organisation?
What about your key suppliers or customers?
Underlying metaphors are fascinating (well I think so anyway).
Because they’re the unconscious rule book we operate by – which means we act based upon those rules with our actions supporting the goal of that metaphor - such as:
With, for example, those operating from a war perspective very dismissive or uncomprehending about those operating as if they’re in a garden.
Operating metaphors help us make sense of the world we’re in – what we will do and won’t do, how we do it, and our relationships with others.
For example, the relationships we have will differ across the four metaphors such as:
That said, these descriptions are judged from the stand point of my own operating metaphor, and are therefore just what these metaphors mean to me and may have alternate meanings to you. I would therefore love to hear your thoughts about assumptions I’m making.
When we consider the metaphors response to mental health it might explain the problem we face convincing many organisations to pay it due attention because each of these metaphors ignore elements of our humanity that mean they don’t always work too well.
For example, mental health for each of the metaphors might mean
There are of course other alternate operating metaphors we, our colleagues and organsiation may be operating by – with some teams within organisations having metaphor’s that contradict or undermine their organisations.
What operating metaphor do you resonate with?
And what are the implications of this on your work and how might the ‘rules’ of that metaphor explain the current challenge you’re facing?
Landscaping Your Life half day coaching sessions can look to explore the metaphors in your life more fully.
Using metaphors in coaching was the subject of my recent CPD session for EMCC.
And as became clear during the session to coaches the tools shared in my book, Can't see the wood for the trees, are great at helping others to get back on track.
Using nature's landscapes as metaphors for our lives the book provides tools to help you to help others to see the wood for the trees, stop circling or treading water, get off the limb, turn a corner and/or avoid the ruts and deadends.
The book is available from all online stockists and is also available on kindle.
As I outline in my blog Landscaping your life coaching - reenergising the dream I do also offer coaching or workshops for coaches wishing to use metaphor and nature in their work.
Do get in touch if you'd like to find out more alison@alisonsmith.co +44(0)7770 538159 because this is what one person said after just one Landscaping Your Life walk.
In the mid 90s we were struggling to get business managers excited and interested about supplier management - we spoke to them about best practice supplier management tools and techniques and their eyes glazed over.
We had to do something, but what?
Then I had an idea.
Those managers did know something about gardening - here in the UK at least those managers either owned their own garden, knew someone who had a garden, visited gardens or had owned a house plant or potted plant at some point in the past.
What they therefore knew about gardening was that plants needed:
As soon as we said:
"SO DO SUPPLIERS"
The penny dropped.
These managers realised that some of their suppliers were like
And the tools they were using to support these suppliers were
Suddenly these managers who had been glazing over when we spoke to them about supplier management were asking questions about how to ensure their suppliers flourished.
Realised their suppliers needed their attention.
That's the beauty of metaphor - we take the patterns about something we know something about and apply them to something we don't know anything about.
A few years later I realised I could expand the metaphor.
Gardens were expanded to nature's landscapes AND supplier management was expanded to life.
Landscaping Your Life (LYL) using nature's landscapes as metaphors for our lives was born.
23 years later and it's grown.
There's a book - Can't see the wood for the trees - landscaping your life to get back on track.
There's a podcast - Landscaping your Life with Alison Smith.
There's a Landscaping Your Life YouTube channel - turn the sound down first for this one
There's even a series of workshops aimed at team performance using a mix of metaphor and the more usual business models.
And of course there's Landscaping Your Life coaching too - which, where possible, is undertaken out in nature.
And if we're too far apart to meet up I'll be in my office and you'll be at the other end of the phone somewhere in a landscape near you. The testimonial below is from someone who was walking around a landscape in Florida whilst I sat at my desk in Fife, Scotland asking questions.
And as a result of the coaching there's now a Your prescription for wellbeing journal
If you're interested in finding out more about the Landscaping Your Life coaching, speaking or team sessions do get in touch alison@alisonsmith.co +44(0)7770 538159
