Vicky Evans - Life Mastery Coach, Create a Life You'd Love

Overthinkers…. can feel like the weight of the world is on their shoulders.

We can spend our valuable, time in thought loops that keep us from experiencing the NOW! Living in fear or what might happen or sometimes regrets in the immediate or distant past. This amounts to SELF-SABOTAGE. Not self development.

So here’s the question. What is our overthinking COSTING us?

1️⃣ Staying in our head can keep us STUCK in procrastination.

2️⃣ There’s also a dangerous disconnect from our intuition - and heart ❤️

3️⃣ ANXIETY often follows overthinkers around like a puppy. It it’s definitely not cute as a companion!

So what can we do to try to turn around old thinking patterns?

☀️ Shine a light of awareness on what we, how we think and where our focus is.

☀️ Encoursge ourselves to FOCUS on what we CAN do to make positive changes.

☀️ Seek the support of an ACCOUNTABILITY partner of coach to help us to stay motivated and on track.

Asking for help or admitting we are struggling, can feel challenging. Believe me I’ve been there! As a recovering perfectionist - with an evil inner critic, and former chronic overthinking patterns I hear you.

Would if feel good to ENJOY our personal and professional lives more?! Heck yeah!! This recent picture is me in Paris, July 24, doing just that! 🇫🇷

If you’d love some objective advice and some new strategies, plus a bad ass accountability partner, let’s talk. Please message me privately to connect.

Not everyone is a natural people manager. Or even a people person.

For some the idea of managing direct reports feels challenging. And ‘difficult’ team members or peers - or Bosses, can be exhausting! I know I’ve had my fair share of all of these in my past!

The duration and frequency of our touch points with our team will define how safe they feel to be open with us about what they need and how we can facilitate.

One question I get asked by busy SLT members: “Should we prioritise and honour one to one meetings with our reports? Or do they get dropped when something ‘more important’ comes up?” Everyone has priorities and sometimes fires to fight. So remembering and rescheduling our one to ones as soon as we can shows respect to our team.

I posted earlier this week with a tip on how best to open up a good conversation with a new team member (or you may be the new manager to an established team).

There will always be people who you don’t align with personally. Learning how to manage these people is a superpower.

Asking “How can I help you do your best work?”. It’s a good way to start a deeper conversation.

The next best question is, “what is stopping you from achieving success/your next promotion in your career?”

It may be that you need build trust and rapport before conversations like this will flow. But at least you’re talking. And your report or colleague will have something to think on before your next one to one meeting.

Another great way tobuild trust and rapport with our teams is with a Teambuilding workshop or event. Workshops are the very best way I know to forge better relationships, and to get authentic communication happening.

This can lead to redefining professional and team goals and objectives that better suit your skills and personality mix. Which makes us look really good!

If you’re a Leader, HR or events professional or SLT member, and are curious to learn more, please message me privately.

✨ The simplest most universal piece of good advice for anyone in a leadership role or team is to ask, “how can I help you do your best work”.

💡It works to your boss, or your team member, or your peer.

💡It works if you’re the new manager or team member.

💡And is a clear intentional statement of your commitment to being of service, in the spirit of teamwork and collaboration.

🏡 You can also use it at home. “How can I help you feel good/appreciated/supported” again it’s a positive statement of intent to help and support better.

😊 More of this please and less focus on what ‘the other’ is doing that you don’t like!!

Mid thirties, unmarried, at my beautiful younger sister’s wedding. 🥂

I was meant to be getting married the year prior. That didn’t work out.

I’d recently relocated to my home town of Newcastle following a decade of working and making a life in London. Till I was made redundant and chose to be single again.

Clearly reflecting on my own expectations of where I thought I’d be at this time in my life. And I remember also being anxious of others judgement of me back then. Can’t you relate? Not so much now as the unmarried cat lady in her fifties that I am again!

I’d focussed on my career. And loved it, it was all I knew. My brothers and sister had all settled down with partners and were starting families. I couldn’t have been happier for them. But it also left me wondering if I’d find a great partnership and be able to ‘marry up’ 😆 my professional and personal goals and ambitions.

Still waiting on that one, though I absolutely love what I do!

Are you pondering on where you’re at in your life? Do you feel fulfilled and satisfied or would some new strategies and an objective opinion be of value to you?

Sometimes we all need some encouragement and support to set some new goals after a big life change. I’ve been there! Managing a corporate career, starting and growing a business, a divorce with two children plus peri and menopause isn’t easy.

If you’d love someone on your side, please message me privately. I’d love to help you find your direction, reignite your spark and see you thrive! ✨☀️

Can a Life Coach help my OVERthinking?

Overthinking may be the most common detractor from taking action & achieving success. I see this every day during client sessions. I get it, life can be intense, busy - all consuming.

But getting STUCK in your head means you are not taking action. Overthinking can create more of the same (perpetuating what you are experiencing now) for days, weeks or even years!

So how can working with a Leadership or Life coach help? As a fellow overthinker, in fact a recovering overthinker, I understand how hard it can be to release yourself from repetitive thoughts & over analysis.

Getting to the heart of the issue & looking at scenarios that might be a solution isn’t always easy in your own head.

Sometimes having someone objective to offer their input on your situation is invaluable. Asking friends and family or DIY coaching can be very effective but sometimes an external, objective approach saves everyone time, and reduces the headache. This can bring a solution, swiftly and smoothly into your life.

As a lass who grew up in the North East of England (yes, a Geordie) I have to self regulate my straight talking sometimes. I can be blunt, my role as Leadership and Life Coach actually requires this.

Sometimes having hard conversations with people is part of their journey through the challenges and into their solutions.

As a double certified, experienced life coach, I’ve lived through and personally worked through divorce, reinventing myself professionally, menopause, redundancy (twice), and the overthinking, perfectionism/self doubt maze that can feel like life!

If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain about your direction, craving something different - or wanting a freer, fuller, more expanded life, let’s talk. Don’t take my world for it, read my Google reviews (link in bio).

If you’re keen to learn more or see if what I offer is what you need, please book in for a confidential 20/30 intro chat message me privately.

Reflecting on another fabulous week!! Here’s three of the best cracking good outcomes for my clients!

☺️ helping Senior execs to navigate difficult conversations with colleagues and contractors. Seeing the wider perspective isn’t always easy when you’re in the middle or trying to lead decisive non collaborative people. But there’s always a way to move forwards productively!

☀️ caught up with a client from 2023 who has actually achieved her goal “to work less and be paid more!” AND taken her family to Europe for a dream trip for a month…This was our goal!

☺️ facilitated success for a client whose goal was to achieve a SLT position. An expansion of their JD and proposal to their boss (to enable her to better achieve her wider vision). Now promoted to SLT! 👏🏼🥂

☀️the sun is shining in Wellington and here’s to a fabulous weekend ahead! Take time to reflect, restore and reinvigorate your self care, patience towards yourself and others and courage to take action!! ✨

🎯 I can be blunt. As a lass who grew up in the North East of England (yes, a Geordie) I have to self regulate my straight talking sometimes.

🎯 Hard conversations are an essential part of my role as a Leadership and Life coach.

🌪️Life can be intense, busy and all consuming. Overthinking can create more the same for days, weeks or ever years!

💡Sometimes having someone objective to offer their input on your situation is invaluable.

✨ As a double certified, experienced life coach, I’ve lived through and personally worked through divorce, reinventing myself professionally, redundancy (twice), and the perfectionism/self doubt maze that can feel like life!

If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain about your direction, craving something different - or wanting a freer fuller more expanded life let’s talk. Don’t take my world for it, read my Google reviews!

You can book in for a confidential intro chat here: https://vickyevans.com

On a murky Saturday, mid winter in New Zealand, I’m reminiscing on my recent vacation in Paris. My wish for everyone seeing this is:

☀️ that you go after what makes your heart sing!

☀️ that you know your VALUE

☀️ that you feel appreciated

☀️ that if you’re feeling stuck you FIND the COURAGE to take ACTION

May your weekend be restful and restorative. And have some fun!! 🌷

Everything is not FINE. The default response we all offer up as TRUTH even when we are not feeling fine at all.

My clients, and the potential clients I am talking to are struggling with the ongoing uncertainty. The relentless financial pressures, the endless re-orgs. It’s putting a strain on our mental health and our relationships.

Having worked as a Leader and Manager myself for many years, I know how hard it is to manage people at times like this.

It’s hard to:

💡 keep a brave face on when we’re not feeling it

💡manage the people (and thier reactions) we need to let go of because of wider commercial decisions

💡manage letting people go we like and trust and are valued team members

💡manage people expectations on ‘who is next’ and the scaremongering and gossip that goes along with change and uncertainty

I’ve lived through this before, more than once. I’ve been made redundant myself twice (once on maternity leave!). Experience helps but it doesn’t always make it easier to cope day to day.

🎯 If you’d love some extra support and perhaps some new strategies and accountability to help you motivate yourself and your team, let’s talk.

🎯As a double certified, experienced life coach (with 20 years corporate experience) I will share my own experiences and insights alongside offering the support you feel you need.

🎯 You can find out more about me, and book a free, confidential 20/30 min chat here:

https://vickyevans.com

🎯 Wishing you the clarity to set a direction

💪🏻 the courage to take action

❤️ and the self kindness you deserve to help you switch off the overthinking and sleep tonight.

This weeks focus is on following or building our DREAMS! Have you ever wanted to do something… then found an excuse? “I can’t because”, is conditional thinking. It kills more dreams than fear!”

As a transformational leadership and life coach I specialise in helping people and teams make changes to what they believe they can (and can’t) do!

In the current climate, I’m meeting a lot of people who are craving change in their career or their lives, but feel scared to take action, because “there’s not a lot of jobs out there. The markets flat”. Uncertainty it seems, is the not so new normal.

This is true to a degree, change creates chaos and often fear but also OPPORTUNITY.

TAKING ACTION, despite the challenges can feel so rewarding. And action is one of the best antidotes to anxiety I know. And it’s certainly more rewarding than boredom, apathy - or regret!

Do YOU want to step forward but feel stuck in fear or uncertainty…? Would love some extra encouragement and support plus an accountability partner who has your back?

Swapping out conditional thinking (like I can’t because) and using “ but what if I could” can be so transformative for our energy!!

Try it. ✨ I’d love to hear how it works for you!!

Book yourself in for a confidential 30 minute chat here: https://vickyevans.com

Our recent UK and Paris trip was a dream for me. A simple picture like me at Versailles makes it all look so seamless, carefree and easy. It was worth waiting for BUT…

Making your dreams happen takes COURAGE, ACTION and COMMITMENT!

This trip came together over two years! Lots of research, saving up (heck yeah!), planning everything to the nth degree and still the unexpected is to be expected!! Part of travels crazy and chaotic charm!!

Travelling with teens is a whole different ball game. They still look to you for all the answers and sometimes you don’t know either!! 🤣🙃 We had moments like this and we worked as a team. It helped them grow as it helped me too.

Here’s some simple moments that make my heart lift when I look back on our adventures. Moments of happiness and connection, people being real and simply enjoying each others company. That’s what dreams are all about! 🥰

Do you have a DREAM? It may be a trip of a lifetime, a new career you’re aspiring to? Or something simpler like reconnecting with who you are now, finding your confidence at work again or finding a routine that helps you shine …

As a double certified, experience leadership and life coach in her fifties, I’d love to help. If you’re keen to connect please message me or book yourself in for a confidential chat here: https://vickyevans.com

Best way to get over your jet lag?? Work with clients you enjoy and get another great ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Google review!!

Returned from the uk and Paris last night, sadly our luggage didn’t make it! Had to wash and dry my teens clothes so they had new clothes for today 😳😆

Great to be back in Welly!! Looking forward to catching up with you all in person soon.

Incredible last day in Paris at the palace of Versailles. Just as spectacular as when I last visited when I was just 16. Quite the experience for my and my almost 16 and 14 yo teens! See you soon Wellington, back to the Uk then home next week!!

When in Paris… enjoying a totally different way of life and the bustle and beauty of Paris. Some good and some unexpected highlights! First time with my teens, it’s all about creating experiences right?!

I made a promise, when I left the uk to make New Zealand my home, in 2013. To return every two years. I was married back then.

Two salaries are definitely better than one when planning to fly around the world (no sh*t!). For context, return tickets me and my teens are a princely sum of $12 & 14k!!

Since our divorce, I remained committed to making the trip, whatever it took. Saving up in between trips as connecting with friends and family is even more special now.

We are even heading to Paris for a wee Bastille celebration mid trip! Gotta love making memories and loving the life we have created!! Watch this space - more to follow ☀️💐

What does taking back your POWER, SELF RESPONSIBILITY, and SLOWING down have to do with confidence? As a transformational leadership and life coach, I use a lot of strategies. Read on for more positive tips on how to influence your inner dialogue when it SUCKS!

At a time when job security is at best variable, and many people are actively seeking work, we need to get SMARTER about managing our inner dialogue. And how we present ourselves confidently.

When we are feeling challenged, uncertain or anxious, our self AWARENESS can shines a light on our 'weaknesses', rather than our strengths. Naturally, this undermines our confidence and feeds our inner critics venom!

Here's my top 3 tips for reminding ourselves that we are ALWAYS more powerful, capable and talented than we think!

😁 SLOW DOWN. Actively taking RESPONSIBILITY for our WINs is something many of my clients had to learn. To stop and appreciate just how far they have come. I get it. I struggled with this in my past too.

😁 Taking RESPONSIBILITY for our role in our challenges - and our self defined weaknesses. See them as growth opportunities. What could we do to differently? What action could we take to change the situation? Do we need to build a skill, who could we ask for help or advice?

😁 Taking back our POWER! Claiming our seat at the table. We each have a UNIQUE set of skills talents and our own brand of authenticity. We have ONE life to lead, if the current one isn't fulfilling, we do have OPTIONS. Taking steps towards the life we'd want to live, even if that's alongside the one we are enduring, can work out wonderfully! I see it happen every day.

Taking responsibility for our own role in our successes, and in turning around our challenges, demonstrates that we can do HARD things. We can even move beyond where we are and flourish. But we have to try. To show up and be consistent. We have to keep ourselves accountable. To keep taking action no matter what, till its done.

My wish for anyone who us telling themselves, "I can't because" is that they try. And keep trying till they prove to the world they CAN and DID! If you'd love some extra encouragement and support, from a double certified Leadership and life coach in her fifties, please message me privately.

When did I get so SERIOUS? And finding your BRIGHT SIDE! ☀️ This pic is taken in the uk, 2011, my daughter’s first birthday. Pretty carefree!

Roll the clock to 2018, fifty, recently separated, two kids under ten, founder of a fledgling business.

Life IS pretty damn serious when you’re trying to support a household. Whether there’s 1 or 2 parents.

The burden of responsibility can weight heavy. And we have an innate negative bias. This has come up in client conversations recently.

How do we see the bright side when we feel challenged/overwhelmed by our responsibilities?

Here’s 3 strategies you can integrate into your life:

☀️ Focus on anything good in your life. Even the basics that some of us can take for granted like a healthy body, roof over our heads, money in the bank, food to eat everyday. We are often more privileged than others.

☀️Scan for good (for detail, look up the The Gottman Institute scanning for good in relationships) in your own life, and in those around you. Take a win for yourself when something goes well. Share your fondness and appreciation for yourself and others more.

☀️ Pay it forwards. Make it a soft focus in your day to be kind, wish others well, pay a compliment. Do something that makes a difference to someone else. It almost always helps lift our spirits. Integrating these simple practices into our lives can switch the focus from what’s going wrong, to what’s GOING WELL. 🌏

It’s true that we have a recession, a new government and many challenges BUT:

💡Things can turn out BETTER than we expect.

💡When we set an intention to BE more positive, helpful, kind and generous, life reflects good back at us!

💡I use this phrase, it’s comforting, “what if this is just how it looks as it all works out”?

Wishing you a wonderful day, & some strategies that may help you feel brighter today, and everyday.

If you have enjoyed reading this post, feel free to connect with me privately for details on life coaching, workshops & conferences.

For more info on how I work, please visit: https://vickyevans.com

This week I am celebrating RESILIENCE, defined as ‘the capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties; toughness’. Recently, one of my collaborative events was postponed till later in the year. The date coincided (not so neatly) with the budget announcement and people went back to scarcity and survival mode for a week or so. Understandable. Businesses need to find a way though at times like this.

I was relying on the income from this event as I am about the head away to the UK, so could have catastrophized....or decided to reframe the experience. To focus on what people NEED NOW....don’t we all need to STEP UP and work even harder at INSPRING and supporting each other? To creating a PRAGMATIC action plan that is straightforward so EVERYONE can get on board?

As Brene Brown states in Dare to lead, “if we are in the game, we will end up face down in the arena. It’s HOW WE GET BACK UP that counts”.

So I am curious, how do you get up, keep going, inspire yourself and your team?

Which is your GO TO?







Feel free to add your wisdom and inspire others! 🫶

And what a beautiful midwinter (in Nz) solstice Friday it was!!

What does our next six months look like? Here’s to big bold dreams, having more fun, seeing the good stuff regardless, and being there for each other.

Wishing you all a wonderful, restorative and uplifting weekend.

GROWTH isn’t a straight line. CHANGE is almost always MESSY in the middle.

There’s a point where you can stay as you are - or take ACTION. Speak up for your FUTURE SELF! Staying as you are sometimes feels uncomfortable. Or worse safe but boring!

Growth - and uncertainty, are uncomfortable. CHOOSE YOUR HARD! It’s YOUR LIFE. You get ONE.

I’m working with three new clients this week, all dealing with the messy middle of growth:

🔥A senior leader & director on two boards: looking to refine her priorities & streamline her life. To be seen, heard & respected as she deserves.

🔥A professional man looking to redefine himself, & reconnect to himself & as a husband/father after a burnout.

🔥 A lawyer looking for an Accoutability partner. To feel more of a sense of achievement, not just dog tired every night. Strategies to help her feel more inspired/motivated.

People I work with are challenged by:

😳 being too hard on themselves

😳 comparison despair (too caught up in what others think)

😳 overthinking to the point of extreme procrastination or mental paralysis. In as little as 1-5 sessions you can make a START!

My clients tell me:

🫶 That they love having someone objective to talk to - your partner or friends don’t want to hear about it again!

🫶 New strategies to help refine their lives so that they can feel accomplished. More confident & secure in themselves. This helps all relationships.

🫶 Someone to encourage, support & keep them accountable. Many people don’t see themselves & their needs as a priority. My past self included!!

🫶 They like options/flexibility for sessions & that they can come in person, or video or phone call internationally.

Hear it direct, read my Google reviews! Https://vickyevans.com

If you’re sick of waiting for things to get better, or scared to change, and you’d love some extra support and strategies to help, let’s talk. Having a professionally certified, experienced leadership and life coach on your side who backs you can be literally life changing.

We all love HAPPY endings. Here's the story of how I found mine. And why every day, I get to work with people who are seeking to find their happy endings. Professionally, personally and even emotionally.

I began my journey as a life coach back in 2016, after twenty years experience in the corporate world. I needed a happy ending. I needed more than that life gave me. More than the money, the perks and the title. I needed to make more of a contribution. I needed to find my life's work. To connect with my innately creative, ingenious problem solving self. AND to serve others and help them to create their happy own endings.

People who loved me, and were scared that I was making a mistake, tried to stop me. I did it anyway.

Committing to delivering two events every week was my first promise to my new life. I was plagued by self doubt and my inner critic had a field day trying to get me to forget the whole thing as a bad idea and go back to my old life. Having the courage to continue DESPITE your inner critic is one of the things I had to master. And now I help others to do the same.

I've made it as a solopreneur through a divorce, the covid years and now a recession. There is always a way that your dream life can reveal itself. And if you are consistent, courageous and take actions towards the life you want, your happy ending may be out there for you too.

My wish for anyone who needs a happy ending is to find the courage to follow your heart, listen to your head and keep going, no matter what. Believe me, it will be worth it!

The POWER and JOY of CONNECTION seems even more important when times are tough.

I’ve just returned from Brisbane visiting my sister who I haven’t seen since early 2020 (pre covid)! Connecting in real time with those we care about is so important.

I’ve connected with and welcomed three new clients this week. All in very difference circumstances, but all needing extra encouragement, support and accountability during challenging personal or professional circumstances.

Connecting with someone impartial, and professionally accredited likes leadership or life coach can provide strategies can help you feel more secure, and confident. And keep you accountable.

The top 3️⃣ challenges I’m connecting with new clients on this week are:

1️⃣ A recent redundancy or unsustainable and uncomfortable position in your workplace. I have had personal experience of 3 redundancies in my career (one on maternity leave!) to date and can help with confidence an action plan.

2️⃣ Connecting with yourself after big changes in your life, wondering why you feel adrift. I have had personal experience with reinventing myself professionally after emigrating to NZ and making a life for me and my children after divorce.

3️⃣ Feeling stuck in your head, overwhelmed and unable to make a start on your priorities. I am a recovering perfectionist and can share strategies I use to help me to stay kind to myself, in action, and accountable.

If you’re seeking an experienced double certified leadership and life coach and need impartial advice, let’s talk. I am essentially a people focussed solution facilitator. I also ask great questions and my aim is to help you to answer yours.