Mimi Swain’s Post

🚀 **Decoding Fear:** Two Sides of the Coin 🌟 Fear, a powerful emotion, holds two distinct meanings. It can be the force that compels you to "Forget Everything And Run," or the courage that propels you to "Face Everything And Rise." #Fear #Courage #ChoiceIsYours 🏃 **The Flight Response:** Forget Everything And Run 🏃♂️ In the face of fear, some choose to flee. They seek refuge in escape, avoiding challenges and evading potential risks. #FlightResponse #Avoidance #FearReaction 🌅 **The Fight Response:** Face Everything And Rise 💪 Others confront fear head-on. They harness its energy as motivation, using it to fuel their determination to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness. #FightResponse #CourageousAction #FearAsFuel 🤔 **The Power of Choice:** Your Fear Narrative 📖 The meaning of fear in your life is not predetermined; it's a choice you make. Will you succumb to it, or will you rise above it? #ChoiceIsYours #FearNarrative #LinkedInTrends 🌟 **Rising Beyond Fear:** Embracing Courage 🚁 Embrace the courage within you. When faced with fear, let it be the stepping stone to your personal growth and resilience. #EmbraceCourage #PersonalGrowth #RiseAboveFear The power to define fear's role in your life lies in your hands. Will you let it hold you back, or will you allow it to propel you forward on the path of growth and triumph? 🌟💪 #CourageOverFear #FaceYourFears #LinkedInTrends 👉 Subscribe to my YouTube Channel now for a daily dose of motivation & join the community of positive thinkers. You won’t regret it! 🔥 https://lnkd.in/d-w-SU6n

Do you actually WANT to be where you are right now? Sometimes people ask me how they can "fix" the situation they're in, after expressing a lot of resentment, mistrust, suspicion and anger toward the other people involved. (The answer is: BRAVE 👏 COMMUNICATION 👏 ) But before the brave conversations begin, there is a level 0 question to ask: Is this the scene I want to be playing in? Brave conversations build trust when they are rooted in ***sincerity.*** They tend to deepen divides if one person already has one foot out the door. It's really hard to be sincere if your heart isn't in it. You just cannot bring all of your creativity and energy into the solutions if your gut is telling you "this is not the place for you." Get clear within yourself about what you want. 💛 Sometimes the bravest contribution is an honorable exit. --- PS: I help people in transition find more joy and confidence by helping them A) Build skills for brave communication and B) Get to the root of past situations and resentments that are shifting their perspectives on the present. I teach a tried and true framework centered on forgiveness and confrontation that helps people build RESILIENT TRUST (the foundation of confidence and joy) in the relationships that matter to them. Here's where you can learn more: https://lnkd.in/ey2ZTamr

Introvert or not... You need to read these 5 books to get ahead⬇️ 1. Getting to Yes (Roger Fisher & William Ury) If you want to make inspiring conversations, Or even make good small talk, And become memorable, Then you need to be a good communicator... A great way to do this is to read "Getting to Yes" The writers explore historical negotiation pitfalls, And analyse them, So you can avoid those same pitfalls... 2. What Every BODY Is Saying (John Navarro) Have you ever wondered how detectives know when you're lying to them? John will answer this, And he will teach you how to become an astute detective of non verbal behaviours... Then you will understand yourself, And become a noticeable stronger conversationist. 3. Atomic Habits (James Clear) Become a force of nature, And focus on small, easy changes, Which are groundbreaking in enforcing big habits. 4. The Fear Bubble (Ant Middleton) Follow the mindset of an ex-SBS soldier, And learn how to control your fear. Fear is simply a misunderstood construct, And it doesn't have to be a long-term emotion Instead you can displace it Assigning it to a space, And specific time. Like a bubble. 5. 12 Rules of Life (Jordan B Peterson) Uncover the multiple dimensions of truth within society... And learn how to combat their harshness, Navigate the chaos of the world, And become a happier, And a more fulfilled individual. In summary: Read all 5 of these books and you'll learn: 1. How to become a powerful negotiator, 2. The secret language of the body, 3. Facitate self-discipline and self-growth 4. Control your emotions, and, 5. Rewire your brain and elevate your mindset. Give me a comment if you've read all 5 of these books. Let me know what your favourite one was 💬 Mine was What Every Body Is Saying.

I guarantee your fear of public speaking will decrease if you do these things 🔒 Doubtful? Try it and then come back and prove me wrong (I dare ya') ◼ ◼ ◼ Throw perfection in the garbage. Connect with your audience through authenticity. Perfection is a dirty myth. Stop thinking it's about you. It’s not. It's about the people you’re talking to. Make it about them. Period. Pick the most supportive person in the room and speak to them. That connection will boost your confidence (Don’t stare at them though… jeez) Embrace your funky quirks. That 'flaw' you have that you think is a flaw ↪ that other people don’t think is a flaw ↪ that you stress about ↪ but other people find endearing ↪ is actually your secret weapon. Turn your butterflies into energy. Go ahead and get amped while you speak. People will pay more attention, I promise. In your office (or bathroom), hold your arms up in a 'V' beforehand. It's proven to influence your brain's chemistry, releasing hormones linked to confidence. 👉 Check out Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk on it. Stop procrastinating. Get off your butt. Go speak. I bet you don’t have better tips than these. But if you do, drop them below so I can steal them 💨 #PublicSpeakingTips #CommunicationSkills #OvercomingFear #SpeakWithConfidence #SpeakingTips

Those who know me well are probably familiar with this piece of paper I keep in my wallet. It has changed the course of so many of the conversations thanks to 📚 Michael Bungay Stanier Back in 2022 I was meeting with MBS and a few great people for lunch in Melbourne. As I arrived I saw him scribbling a list of questions on a small piece of paper. As the group arrived he passed around the piece of paper and each person was given the chance to answer a question and then ask it of the group. A few simple questions transformed the tone of the conversation. He doesn't just write about the power of curiosity and questions, he truly lives this. It's an experience I'll always remember. Soon after, I was sitting at the Mantra in Cronulla and took out a piece of paper before a meeting and started to write some of the questions I've collected and love (from people like Chad Littlefield, Esther Perel and more - check out their work). When I meet with people now, I'll always look for an opportunity to bring it out. A powerful and transformational conversation can sit just one question away in any meeting. If you want to know what's on mine. Here's the list. Feel free to share some of your favourite questions in the comments. 1. What is something you love about someone in your family and why? 2. A time when I stood up for myself and backed myself was___ 3. Something that drives me crazy or makes me angry is_____ 4. What is something you're finding hard to change? 5. What's the last thing people would expect to learn about you? 6. What's the most adventurous thing you've done? 7. Who is someone you would love to have a conversation with (alive)? 8. When is a time you learned a valuable lesson the hard way? 9. What terrifies you? 10. What's the legacy you want to leave? 11. When is a time you felt most appreciated by someone else and what did they do? 12. What were you doing when you last lost track of time? 13. If you could deliver a Ted Talk, what would your message be? 14. What do you need most from others right now? 15. What is the most beautiful sound in the world to you?

Some beautiful questions at the bottom of this post from Shane Hatton - and a lovely explanation of why what you ask matters. If we want more connected relationships and a better deeper understanding of each other - and just more interesting chats - having great questions and then being genuinely interested in the answers is an easy way to start building all that. Happy Friday all. What’s your most favourite question to ask and be asked? #connection #humanity #buildingbetterworkplaces

Throughout my life, I've had a complex relationship with vulnerability. I used to wear my heart on my sleeve, and it was easy for me to open up emotionally. I believed that authentic connections were built on sharing our true selves with others. However, societal perceptions often led me to believe that my emotional openness was a sign of a weak emotional quotient. I found myself retreating and hiding parts of myself from those around me. I couldn't help but question if I'd misunderstood the essence of human connections. The apparent inability to connect with everyone in the way I desired left me doubting my own understanding of how relationships should work. But in the midst of this internal struggle, there were friends who saw my vulnerability as a strength. They recognized that my ability to express myself authentically and openly allowed me to forge deep connections effortlessly. I realized that this was a gift, not a flaw, and it was an essential part of who I am. It was Dr. Brené Brown's inspiring TED Talk that brought me even closer to my true self. Her words resonated deeply, reinforcing my belief that my way of connecting, though not universally accepted, was a source of strength. It was a reminder that I cherished meaningful, deep connections over superficial ones. Through this journey, I've come to accept and embrace my vulnerability as a unique part of who I am. It's a part of my strength, my authenticity, and my desire to create profound relationships with those around me. Join me on this journey of self-discovery, where we celebrate the beauty of vulnerability and the richness it brings to our lives.

1. Manage time wisely: Dedicate at least 30 minutes to yourself for every 1-hour meeting. 2. Share your ideas: Write down your thoughts and share them with a trusted person; don't keep your genius to yourself. 3. Embrace authenticity: Be true to yourself; there's no need to force extroverted traits. 4. Prioritize deep relationships: Cultivate close connections for more meaningful personal and professional interactions. 5. Communicate your thought process: Introverts store thoughts for a long time before speaking; be sure to make your process transparent. 6. Act on observations: Turn all your listening and observing into actionable suggestions.

When was the last time you stopped and listened? I don’t mean to listen intently to what your partner or colleague is saying or the beautiful bird song on your morning walk. I mean when did you stop and listen to what’s going on inside? For so many periods in my life I’ve tried to ignore and distract myself from what my body and heart was trying to tell me. Desperate to fit in and be accepted by sport, work, family, and friends I’ve adopted values, beliefs, goals, desires, and ways of being in the world that I knew deep down were meaningless to me and didn’t connect with who I really was. Falling in with the crowd was so much easier than having the courage to show up and embody who and how I wanted to be in the world. This way of being though has never been sustainable. Whether your body starts telling you (for me it’s been psoriasis and joint pain) or your performance at work statrs to decline, what your body and heart wants you to hear can’t be silenced. Is this the right career, relationship, team, goal etc etc……..you fill in the blank. So, I started to listen. And I started to question. Who am I? What is meaningful to me? What do I truly value and believe in? How do I want to show up in the world? How do I want people to feel around me? When I started this process, it was tough. I have been tempted (and given in many times) by distracted. That’s ok, it’s a lifelong process. Will never be fully achieved. Again, that’s ok, because we are always evolving and growing. Don’t be afraid of silence. Don’t be afraid of finding yourself alone at times. Embrace it. “Many people suffer from the fear of finding oneself alone, and so they don’t find themselves at all” Andre Gide What are you afraid of hearing when you stop and listen. What is it that you already know about yourself but don’t want to reveal?

If you've ever worn a mask to fit in, this message is for YOU. 🎭 Let's keep it real for a minute. Going along to get along? It's exhausting. Living someone else's truth? Draining. When in reality... Your authentic self is your SUPERPOWER. 💥 Here's how you own it: 1️⃣ Reflection Moments: Set aside 10 minutes each day and ask yourself: When did I honor my truth today? 2️⃣ Honest Conversations: Talk to a trusted person in your circle about your challenges in staying true to yourself. Their insights might be gold! 3️⃣ Celebrate Small Wins: Every time you choose authenticity over putting on the mask, give yourself a pat on the back. The truth is, the world doesn't need another copy; it needs YOU. What's one step you've taken towards embracing your genuine self? Share below, your journey might inspire somebody else! P.S. If this resonated, don't forget to "Repost" and share!