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| Gina Gardiner, CEO Genuinely You |
I had the enormous pleasure of talking to Gina Gardiner, CEO and Founder of the Genuinely You movement. She is also an author with the most current self-help book, called "Thriving Not Surviving." What stroke me the most about Gina is how genuine and caring she is and how the advice she gives to one is more of a look inside the self and soul, which is a rather different approach then many mentors and coaches have. She also had an accident when she was young at a ski trip where she was paralyzed and lost the ability to walk. But even that didn't stop her from empowering and changing the lives of many.
What inspired you to start the Genuinely You movement and what is this movement?
I have become more and more concerned about the numbers of people I meet and work with who feel isolated or alone, unseen and unheard in their personal life. Some of these are feeling this way because they are single or are recently separated, divorced or bereaved but there are others who despite being in a significant relationship feel they have no one to share their vulnerabilities and dreams with. Others feel isolated professionally. They are fearful of letting their guard down at work in case it is seen as a sign of weakness or they feel under-valued and unheard. Some fear failure whilst others hide their light as they fear success. Many people are using food, alcohol and drugs to numb their pain and this is having a disastrous impact on their physical well being. Anti-depressants now account for 50% of the prescriptions written in the UK. I am passionate about helping people recognize that they have the choice to be happy, to be successful and to live a life full of joy and fulfillment. To help them recognize that they are not broken, that they are enough and to help them access their inner resources to live life fearlessly. I believe my life’s purpose is to be of service. To support as many people as I can has required that I look to do things differently and so I have written ‘Thriving Not Surviving – The 5 Secret Pathways To Happiness, Success and Fulfillment’ and created the Thriving Not Surviving programme. I have created a membership group called ‘The Thrive Together Tribe.’ It is designed to offer people a safe place to belong, to be seen and heard and to feel supported in their journey to happiness, success and fulfillment. Members have access to a structured programme full of tried and tested principles and strategies which are easy to incorporate into daily life. A major purpose of the tribe is to support members of the group, to create and sustain lasting success. We live in incredibly troubled times. Difference and a sense of separation are constantly reported in the media. Many people live in a state of constant fear, which leads to a great deal of stress, unhappiness and depression. This in turn leads to an ever-greater sense of isolation. I believe it is incredibly important to recognize that we are all connected, to look at how we can support and help one another from a place of love, for people to step into their genuine, authentic power.
Often we hear coaches and people speaking about the self-love concept but it always echoes from one ear to the other. Your approach is very genuine. Tell us how and why is it different?
I think it comes from being authentic and coming from a desire to make a positive difference to others. Over the years, I have learned that to feel happy, to experience love from others and achieve true and lasting fulfillment you have to have a great, loving relationship with yourself. A loving relationship is not pink and fluffy – it is not about being indulgent. It is about recognizing that you are enough – wobbly bits and all. It is about recognizing our vulnerabilities and realizing that these do not diminish us – unless we choose for them to do so. It’s about recognizing that everything we do is a choice – and every choice has consequences. Even not choosing is actually a choice, and it is often when we allow things to drift that the consequences are the most far reaching. It is also about taking responsibility for our own emotional well being, for our actions and our words – or lack of them.
You had an accident when you were young and left you paralyzed and in a wheelchair. What did it take for you to come out as strong and inspiring as you are today changing lives of many?
I recovered from the paralysis; it was later following two sets of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome that I became wheelchair bound and learned to walk twice as an adult. This is quite hard to answer as I don’t think it was one thing. However, I’d been taught as a child when things feel tough a great way to feel better is to look outside yourself and to do something positive for others. I’d just become the Principle of a school and was determined that the pupils and staff should have the very best learning experience. I’d been very unhappy at school and didn’t want this to be the case at my school. Staying at home would have been torture – it is there that I was at my most limited. I lived on my own – was dependent on carers and couldn’t do anything much other than read, write and watch TV. The alternative was to go to school where there were people who could help with the practical stuff, do a job I loved, make a positive difference to others. It was a no brainer for me.
What is your goal for the Genuinely You approach?
My goal through Genuinely You is to help people recognize that when they choose to step into their real power they can have the courage to live fearlessly. That they have the capacity to love themselves and through that create loving, inter-dependent relationships with others both personally and professionally. That they can be successful and find their true purpose in life. I hope to help people recognize that they are on a spiritual journey – life is an opportunity to learn and grow personally. To help develop the spiritual matriarchs and patriarchs who will help combat the tide of hate, fear and division, which is overtaking many parts of the world. To help our children learn to be confident and open to the possibilities life offers so they can live full and loving lives. (No pressure there then!)
You also have a great book you published called Thriving. How easy to read and how life changing is the book?
"Thriving Not Surviving – The 5 Secret Pathways To Happiness, Success and Fulfillment" has been designed to be an easy read. It is practical and based on my own experience and that of the many, many clients I’ve worked with. The book has the potential to change lives hugely for the better. Within the book I cover the themes, which have come up time and again. HOWEVER, the book will only make a difference if the reader chooses to take action. If you always do what you have always done you will simply continue to live life exactly as it is. The grand gesture doesn’t work as it is rarely sustained. Think about how many people join a gym with the express idea of losing weight – yet their membership is not used after the first couple of weeks. Simple things done consistently can and do make a difference. Incorporating one or two of the principles or strategies in the book will make a positive difference. Collectively they can have a HUGE and positive impact on your life and that of those around you. All the research shows that change is far easier to achieve when you are surrounded by ‘like-minded’ positive people. This is one of the major reasons for setting up the Thrive Together Tribe. Membership also gives access to the structured, comprehensive personal and spiritual development programme of videos, activities, themed journal and inter active Internet group coaching sessions. It is a way of deepening and speeding up progress.
What can we do to bring the Genuinely You movement from Britain to the US?
I’ve already started although at the moment it is on a very small scale. I was in the US in June where I made a TV series – The Genuinely You Show, which is available free from my website www.genuinely-you.com. I also did some TV interviews on NBC and ABC. Please share the link with others – the more people watch, engage and share the better. I have featured on several podcasts, I’m a host on Passionate World Radio – all of these are based in America. I’m available to be a guest on shows, anyone who has a show or could introduce me to other hosts. Any help in spreading the word to others, signing up to be part of the Genuinely You Facebook group and sharing posts would be hugely appreciated. Reading the book and sharing what you liked or found useful. Listening to The Genuine Chats, podcasts, reading the articles and interacting. Better still become a member of The Thrive Together Tribe and help me make a positive difference. For a limited time we are offering a year’s membership for the cost of 1 month. Here is the link.
What other projects are you working on?
In the short term I’ll be releasing the Personal Empowerment Plan – or PEP talks - a 6 month programme to help people deal with stress and anxiety. Every week a video or PEP talk with share an insight, principle or strategy to help you deal with life when things get tricky. Every one of these has been tried and tested by myself and clients and they work if you use them consistently. Of course, some strategies will suit more than others but having a go will in itself help the user take control of their lives. That in itself is an important step towards feeling less stressed and anxious. I’m currently working to get accreditation for a Leadership programme from CIPD – the biggest organization in the UK to accredit training programmes in the UK. It offers a very different approach to the development of enlightened leadership. I am very concerned about how many people are stressed and made ill because the quality of leadership is bullying or down right toxic. It doesn’t need to be like this. You can have extremely high expectations, which are consistently met by your team if you use the right approach. Leadership has to start with you. So, the programme incorporates the Thriving Not Surviving Personal and Spiritual Development Programme with a leadership programme utilizing the well over 30 years’ experience I have of developing effective, compassionate leaders who bring the best out in others. I am being assisted by Danielle who has many years’ experience in developing leadership too. Those on the programme will be supported throughout by experienced mentors, there will be 1:1 sessions, videos, activities and group sessions. This should be available early next year. Because it can be delivered over the Internet it will be made available in America. If anyone is interested in being on the Pilot or would spread the word that would be great. In the longer term once the Thriving Together Tribe and the Leadership Programme (Name yet to be finalized) It is my plan to set up a Parents and a Young People’s programme. Both of which I hope will be subsidized by the Leadership programme revenue. I have extensive experience in helping youngsters and parents feel empowered and confident and know it has the capacity to make a huge difference. The numbers of youngsters on anti–depressants, self-harming or committing suicide is incredibly worrying and such a waste of potential.
How can people sign up for the Genuinely You movement and find you?
You can sign up through the website or the free app Genuinely You
You can find me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Podcasts, YouTube
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