Funny how I was just talking about Virtual Book Tours the other day and now we get a chance to host one!
Gabriella Goddard is the first UK author to undertake a virtual book tour. Read on for her top change-your-life tips and for a chance to win a copy of Gulp! : The seven-day crash course to master fear and break through any challenge.
If you'd like to win one of two copies of Gabriella's fab book (review coming soon) then send us an email telling us about the challenge you plan to take on with the help of Gulp! Our favourites - or those we think most need Gabriella's help! - will win a copy of the book.
Now on to Gabriella's excellent advice.
Just Gulp! and Get Going by Gabriella Goddard
The summer holidays are over and the grey skies of winter are looming. But now there is a remedy for post-holiday blues – “Gulp! time”.
Do you want a pay rise? Is it time to change jobs? Do you want to do something adventurous? Is it time to break up? Or is it time to start dating again?
Take advantage of your leftover summer energy and seize this moment. Make the commitment to do something about it – right here, right now.
Just think for a minute:
What one thing would make the biggest difference to your life over the next six months?
What is the biggest obstacle or block standing in your way?
Get started today by working through the Gulp! 7 Day programme. And join us for Gulp! Together Week where other brave souls are pledging their Gulp! and raising money for charity at www.gulptogether.com.
After all, if not now…when?
Day 1: Dare & Defy
The challenge is there, whether you like it or not. So what are you going to do about it? Face your challenge head on by writing it down and naming it. Set yourself a deadline for achieving it and make the pivotal decision to go for it.
Day 2: Breakdown & Breakthrough
The biggest thing holding you back is fear; fear of the unknown, fear of failure and the list of fears goes on. Rather than tar the whole situation with the same brush, break it down and identify the specific fear trigger points. Put strategies in place to minimise these and then focus on the positive benefits rather than the negative possibilities.
Day 3: Centre & Connect
When you silence your mind and connect to your deeper wisdom, there is no fear. Here there is only what is aligned to your true essence and what “feels right”. Spend time centring yourself; meditating, taking walks in nature, doing yoga or simply breathing. Listen to what your wise inner sage has to say.
Day 4: Imagine & Invent
This challenge could be a catalyst for really great things to come. So create “space” for new ideas and insights to emerge. Spend some time at a café, in the park or with a group of friends brainstorming new ideas and expanding the options open to you.
Day 5: Plan & Prepare
Now it’s time to put together a plan and start moving forward. The C.I.G.A.R. model is brilliant for this – Current Reality, Ideal Outcome, Gaps, Actions and Review. Make sure you keep you energy levels high with good food, plenty of water and fitful sleep.
Day 6: Focus & Flow
As you move into the “unknown”, let go of control and learn to let your intuition and instinct guide you. When you have to make a choice or a decision, tune into the situation and listen to what your gut feeling says. As you know, it’s usually right.
Day 7: Gulp! & Go
You’ve done the thinking and you’ve done the preparing. You’ve even built some foot bridges. Now it’s time to take that leap of faith. So tie up any loose ends and just Gulp! and go for it. You never know what’s around the corner.
© Gabriella Goddard, 2006.
Gabriella Goddard is the author of “Gulp! : The seven-day crash course to master fear and break through any challenge” (Penguin, £7.99). A popular speaker, she is regularly featured in the national media. www.gulptime.com