Mission Imperfect: navigating life with coaches Kirsty and Kathryn

Last week we spoke about waiting for the right moment… which frustratingly doesn’t always come of its own accord. It means we have to sometimes make a move and face uncertainty to get anywhere. We don’t like uncertainty but it is possible to move forward, with doubt, and reduce that discomfort as we go. We have 3 tips for you to help you ‘leave the waiting room’  - please do let us know how you get on if you try them!Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

We’ve all found ourselves in situations where we are waiting for the right moment. Problem is, will that moment always just arise and announce itself conveniently for us? Probably not!Waiting can be wise, keeping us from potential discomfort, but it can actually create discomfort of its own – and the longer it continues it can get harder to stop waiting! We discuss why we play the waiting game, what we are actually waiting for (it’s often not the moment, it’s a feeling), and perhaps we build ‘readiness’ rather than find it. (And stay tuned for next week’s episode in which we share some tips on starting something, even with doubt) Today’s question for you to mull over:‘Is there something in your life that you have been saying ‘not yet’ to, but the ‘when’ part doesn’t seem to be getting any closer?PS Kathryn is no longer waiting to get a cat – in between recording and releasing this episode, one year old Nellie has joined the family!Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Making assumptions about what people are thinking and feeling based solely on our interpretation of nuances of behaviour and manner can lead to lots of wrong conclusions and misunderstandings.So, following on from our episode on the perils of mindreading, this week - in a more or less bitesized episode - we’re offering you tips, tools and techniques to stop mindreading.Find us here:Kathryn: ⁠www.kbmindfulcoaching.com⁠      Kirsty: ⁠www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk⁠And on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball⁠  Kirsty on Instagram - ⁠www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/⁠

You may not think you have psychic powers, but the chances are that you’re doing a fair bit of mindreading.Don’t believe it? Then join us for this episode to see if you recognise any of the ways of jumping to big conclusions on very little evidence - and the problems that doing so can cause.As well as the important question “What the hell’s going on if Kathryn or Kirsty refuse a biscuit?”, we invite you to consider: In which area of your life are you most prone to mindreading - and how accurate is it?Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

“No” may well be a complete sentence, but it’s a hell of a lot easier to keep giving a fake “Yes” than to suddenly switch to just saying “No”, isn’t it?Following on from our episode on Thinking No, Saying Yes, this week we’re offering you tips, tools and techniques for Thinking No, Saying No - when you want to.Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

How often do you find yourself thinking no but saying yes? What makes you do it and does it get you what you want?And how does this relate to cold water swimming and a viral Biscuit Appreciation Society?Join us for this week’s Mission Imperfect to find out!Today’s question for you to consider:‘What most often causes you to say yes when you’re thinking no, and how do you feel about it?’Find us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: ⁠www.kbmindfulcoaching.com⁠  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball⁠  

In this week’s special episode, coaching takes the biscuit! What’s as good as coaching, and loved just as much (if not more) by us? Biscuits!We may have mentioned them once or twice in other episodes but we’ve decided they deserve a focused episode on their own: What makes a good biscuit? The downsides of biscuits (e.g. shrinkflation and ‘chocolate-flavour’ coating), Superior biscuits, To dunk or not to dunk,Eating etiquette, Quality v quantity ...We’ve given it all some serious thought! Be prepared for strong views, passionately expressed.Today’s very serious and important question for you to consider:‘What is your top biscuit - and what does it say about you?’ (If you don’t have one, we suggest you immediately start researching - maybe a coaching session would help…?!)Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

What really is within your control - and what isn’t? Tricky one, but luckily in this week’s coaching bitesize episode, we have the ‘spheres of control’ concept to take you through to help you decide and answer that question for all of life’s situations and challenges. There’s more than we often think outside of our control, and it can be draining and frustrating to try and shoehorn more within our control than actually belongs there – as this exercise will help you discover. And Kirsty invents ‘the iceberg of control’ as an alternative view!Today’s question for you to mull over when something is being particularly vexatious to you:‘What circle does this really belong in? And are there any part of this issue that I can have in my innermost circle, if so, what next?’ ResourcesBlog on the spheres of control - https://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/are-you-really-in-control Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Control is one of those words that can invoke quite a strongreaction – neither  ‘control freak’ nor  being ‘out of control’ have especially positive connotations to them do they? But we actually can benefit from accepting some of our lackof control, which we explore in this week’s episode. Our wish to have control often stems from a desire for safety and trying to manage uncertainty (completely understandable!), but there are downsides to trying to keep too much control. Stay tuned for next week’s coaching bitesize episode when we explore the spheres of control to help you determine what exactly is – and isn’t – within your control. Today’s question for you to mull over:‘Is there something you are trying to control in yourlife in order to feel safe that perhaps you can’t (totally)?’ Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

A reset may imply ‘delete and start again’ – but it doesn’t have to be this drastic! This week we are discussing the benefits of having a reset: when, how and the signs one might be a good idea. We have a few questions on reflecting on your current reality and six core life ‘components’ that could form part of your chosen reset. The only golden rule is honesty and some self-compassion! Today’s question for you to mull over:‘Which part of  your life wants a little more honesty or attention right now?’ (And what might be a first step to work on rather than a total overhaul?)ResourcesBlog - https://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/how-to-reset-and-refocus-at-any-time-of-yearFind us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Last week we were talking about the possibility of getting better at feeling good enough, and this episode provides practical tips, tools and techniques to help you to stop being such a tw*t to yourself and start recognising what’s good about you.If you find this useful and want to dig deeper into the right ways for you of making the changes you want to make, then get in touch to find out about our 1:1 coaching.Resources:Stop Being Such A Tw*t To Yourself / Kinder Self-Talk Exercise:https://www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk/resourcesFind us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

In a world where we have more scope than ever before to compare ourselves with others, the chances are that there is some way - ok, let’s face it: probably many (many) ways - in which you don’t feel good enough.In this episode, we’re looking at how that happens and considering the possibility that you can learn to see yourself differently and get better at feeling good enough…if you truly want to.And we’re definitely not going to do that unethical social experiment we talked about. Honest.Today’s question for you to mull over is:What’s the first thing that comes to mind about yourself when you hear the phrase “Not good enough”? How true is it?Resources:Blog on not feeling good enough: https://www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk/post/we-literally-buy-into-our-own-inadequacyFind us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

Following on from last week’s episode on ‘If it works for you, it works!’, this episode provides practical tips, tools and techniques to help you to:recognise what matters to you; follow your own path, rather than allowing others’ views to divert you, avoid creating dependence on external things to create the change you want in your thoughts, feelings and behaviour.If you find this useful and want to dig deeper into the right ways for you of making the changes you want to make, then get in touch to find out about our 1:1 coaching.ResourcesValues episode on SpotifyValues episode on AppleFind us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

If you’ve ever wanted to try something that you think might help you, only to have people around you be sniffy about it because it “doesn’t work” or “it’s not scientifically proven”, then this episode of Mission Imperfect is perfect for you!We discuss how something can work for one person but not another; the power of belief (hello, Placebo Effect), and how the Universe will persist in working even without a comprehensive scientific explanation of how it does so. We get mildly distracted by chocolate, smelling nice, and “The Secret”, but do pretty well at sticking to the topic (by our own lamentable standards, at least). Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode, is actually a choice of 2 questions - you can choose which one to answer, or go for both! What are you telling yourself you NEED to have/do in order to feel the way you want to, and how true is it?What are you drawn to but are not trying because of what other people might say or think, and what difference would it make to you if it helped?Resources:“I know” episode on Spotify“I know” episode on AppleFind us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

Following on from last week’s episode on motivation, this episode provides practical tips, tools and techniques for what to do when your motivation has gone AWOL. From asking a different question (as opposed to ‘why can’t I just do this?!’), to effort and working with your motivation preferences, we’ve got you covered!If you find this useful and want to dig deeper into the right ways for you of making the changes you want, then get in touch to find out about our 1:1 coaching.Find us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

Why do we act / behave / do what we do? Well there’s a million-dollar question! But our motivation has a lot to do with it – it is our driver to move from thought to action. So of course it can be problematic when our motivation seems to vanish!This week we talk about sources of motivation, which can be different for all of us, what’s tricky about motivation and how we can try to understand it better for ourselves – to our advantage. Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer:‘What do you understand about yourself and what you find motivating? (Are you using this to your advantage / do you know what pitfalls to look out for?)’Resources:Blog - https://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/my-mojo-has-left-the-buildingConfidence episode:On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2fAEkqv6sgzmEHkfvPMXju?si=pCL1oC3CRjalWJ_kP_pFQQOn Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mission-imperfect-navigating-life-with-coaches-kirsty/id1774218514?i=1000677577773Maslow’s hierarchy of needs:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needsExtrinsic and intrinsic motivation:https://www.simplypsychology.org/differences-between-extrinsic-and-intrinsic-motivation.htmlFind us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

This coaching bitesize episode provides practical tips,tools and techniques for creating and using a ‘wheel of life’.  It’s a popular exercise, and we talk you through how to doyour own, and more importantly what to do with it when you’ve done it! If you’d like support interpreting your wheel (or evencompleting it in the first place!) or setting intentions for the year, do consider getting in touch to find out about our 1:1 coaching. Resources:https://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/using-the-wheel-of-life Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Following on from last week’s episode on pausing, this episode provides practical tips, tools and techniques for creating and using a pause in your day to day life.If you find this useful and want to dig deeper into the right ways for you of making the changes you want, then get in touch with either of us to find out about our 1:1 coaching.Find us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

Hello and a warm welcome back to Mission Imperfect for series 4 in 2026!  As mentioned in today’s brief extra introduction, Kathryn ishosting a free online workshop – Reset and Refocus for 2026: Beyond New Year’s Resolutions. It’s on Wed 14 Jan at 1 pm (UK time), so if you’re tuning in before 14 Jan, please sign up for this free, informal and reflective workshop here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/lCAo7fm7SCiWxKFWYPC2SA Back to today’s episode, and we are talking about theimportance and value in pausing before you continue – having had a pause ourselves from releasing new podcast episodes in December last year.We discuss the signs you may need a pause, what a pause canlook like, and bust some myths around pausing. Stay tuned for next week’s episode when we return with acoaching bitesize episode with some tips, tools and techniques for you to try on this topic.  Today’s question for you to mull over: ‘Where in your life could one intentional pause make thebiggest difference right now?’ Find us here: Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com     Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here: Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Mission Imperfect is a year old - well, a year and a little bit, if we’re being pedantic, because, in keeping with the MI ethos, we’re late in noticing our anniversary!!So, in this episode, we’re taking the opportunity to reflect on the last year and consider whether Mission Imperfect is a success or a failure - and whether those labels even matter…And there’s an announcement about some changes, as we follow our rule about questioning the rules we’ve set ourselves for MI.Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode, is:What in your life could be considered both a success and a failure, and how do you feel about letting go of the need to label it as either?Resources:Episodes referenced:Eating for Energy on SpotifyEating for Energy on AppleGuidance For Life on SpotifyGuidance For Life on AppleFind us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

We know that ‘rules for life’ sounds catchier but that doesn’t quite fit with our imperfect ethos of finding your own way here at Mission Imperfect! That said, we did think of a few ‘guidances’ for life that everyone may benefit from hearing: each is open to your own personal interpretation, context and circumstances to become hopefully more useful than a set ‘rule’. We cover just 5 in this week’s episode, it could become a recurring theme though! Do tell us in the comments if you have a golden ‘rule’ for life that has served you well. Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer:‘If you had to pick one to shape your life, what’s the first rule/guideline that comes to mind?’Find us here: Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Why do we hold onto so much negative stuff? What does “letting go” mean? How do we do it?We manage to discuss all of this without singing That Song, and Kathryn coins the phrase “Be at one with the biscuit”, which might just be Mission Imperfect’s new motto.Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: What are you holding onto that no longer serves you?RESOURCES“She let go” - by Safire Rose, read by John Siddique (also on the Insight Timer app)https://youtu.be/MBCfAbZZjqY?si=zsgkIe2ouy6PXEGwComfort Zones episode on SpotifyComfort Zones episode on AppleHow to move on, let go of past mistakes and reinvent yourself - The Mel Robbins PodcastFind us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

Today’s episode is a special guest episode with Dr RebeccaWilliams, a former GP and now stress management consultant, and we discuss, (unsurprisingly!)  all things stress; what it is, how it shows up, the harm that long term stress can cause, how we tend to cope with it and some healthier alternatives we can try instead. Stress isn’t quite the same as pressure or anxiety, and can leave tell-tale signs even in the most unexpected places, as Kathryn finds out this week. Rebecca shares some invaluable insights, resources and tips,and 3 key questions we can all make use of to reduce and assess our stress levels. Today’s question for you to mull over and which Kathryn alsoanswers in the episode: ‘Which tip or tool might you introduce to help you manage stress?’ Resources:Rebecca’s self check-in questions:   https://williamsstressmanagement.co.uk/stress-self-check-in-tool/Rebecca’s book on stress: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dealing-Stress-Mind-Body-Spirit/dp/1497493668 Find Rebecca here: https://williamsstressmanagement.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamsstressmanagement/ Find Kathryn and Kirsty here: Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here: Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Today’s episode is a special guest episode with SandrineOlmi, the Relaxed Nutritionist, and we discuss what we eat, specifically for better energy levels!  We dive into: eating with the seasons, why all calories arenot created equal, when we eat, fasting, leftovers and why eating for better energy doesn’t have to be costly or time consuming with Sandrine’s tips! Today’s question for you to mull over and which Kathryn alsoanswers in the episode: ‘What’s a new dish / recipe  / ingredient you are inspired to try this week to give yourself an energy boost?’ Resources:Sandrine’s high energy shopping list:  https://www.savoirfayre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/High-Energy-Shopping-List.pdfThe ‘clean 15’ and the ‘dirty dozen’: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/full-list.phpFind Sandrine here: www.savoirfayre.co.ukInstagram: www.instagram.com/savoirfayre_nutrition  Find Kathryn and Kirsty here: Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here: Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Humans seem to have a preoccupation with having purpose (and perhaps rightly so, as we discover in this week’s episode). But we can get wrapped up in it and what it means, such as equating it with our value as a person. It can get tricky!We discuss why a sense of purpose matters to most of us, what this could mean and look like, and how to find or reconnect with it again. Todays’ question for you to mull over and which we also answer:‘Do you have a sense of what your purpose is right now? Has it changed?’Resources:Blog - https://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/finding-your-purposeValues episode on SpotifyValues episode on AppleBook – Moral Ambition by Rutger BregmanFind us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Today’s episode is a special guest episode with ShannonMurphy, a professional organiser, and our topic is one with more to it than meets the eye – decluttering.  It’s more than just getting rid of things and tidying up,which may sound worthwhile but not particularly inspiring. We are exposed to so many messages of ‘buy this!’ and ‘you need this’, but Shannon shares some key questions to help us realise what we actually want to have in our homes, andthe knock-on impact that decluttering can have on our wellbeing.We discuss some myths over decluttering and minimalism, and share many practical ways we can all get started, and keep going when we get stuck.  Today’s question for you to mull over and which Kathryn alsoanswers in the episode:  ‘Where currently feels cluttered within your home or lifeand what will you do to simplify it?’ Resources:Shannon’s 15 questions to help you declutter:  https://www.simplliving.co/post/15-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-declutteringFind Shannon here: www.simplliving.co and www.Instagram.com/simpllivingco Find Kathryn and Kirsty here: Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com     Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here: Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/ 

How would you feel about #banmirrors?We invite you to imagine not being able to see yourself when you wanted to, or to catch sight of your reflection dozens of times a day. We’re so mind-blown by the idea of not being able to check our appearance before leaving the house, or not being able to tell if our hair is doing something weird(er than usual) that we quite forget about biscuits. Shocking, I know.Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: How do you think your feelings and behaviour in respect of your appearance would change if you couldn’t see yourself?Resources:Self-image episode on Spotify Self-image episode on AppleFind us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball 

Is practising gratitude worth a go? This is exactly what we try to answer in this week’s episode, along with what are the things we may be grateful for, and what to do with those feelings of thankfulness. Research all seems to point in a positive direction when it comes to the benefits of gratitude: physically, emotionally and mentally. Perhaps worth knowing more about then! Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer:‘What are you truly grateful for today?Resources:Blog - https://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/is-there-really-power-in-gratitudeFind us here: Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

“I know”: a statement of agreement, support or understanding, or shorthand for “You can shut up now, because I’ve decided that you can’t tell me anything new, so it’s my turn to talk”?We discuss how the belief that you know something - whether about a subject, about how someone else is feeling, or even about yourself - can blind you to new information, and we suggest some ways of avoiding the “I know” trap.And if you think you know what we get distracted by, you’re probably wrong, because it’s not biscuits this time!Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: 'What do you know about yourself that might be stopping you from knowing yourself better?'Find us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

We may have heard of the term quiet quitting when it comesto work, but what about quiet quitting in life?  If quiet quitting means something along the lines of ‘mentally checking out’ rather than actually checking out, then surelyit is possible for this to happen in our lives as well as work, especially since we don’t get the choice to actually leave!This week, we discuss why we may engage in quiet quitting,and if there is an alternative that maybe doesn’t have to be noisy quitting. Also why sometimes we are in in favour of actually quitting (and it not meaning failure).   This week’s question for you to mull over, which we alsoanswer in the episode:‘Where might you be quietly quitting, and can youidentify why this is?’ Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com   Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

As thousands of young people leave home for university, we take a look at Empty Nest Syndrome: what is it, why does it happen and what can you do about it?We get so engrossed in the subject that we don’t even mention biscuits…But to make up for it, we do  get a tad distracted by catapults…Grab a cuppa and a biscuit (or a catapult) and join us to find out more!Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: (Answer the first part with whatever number immediately comes into your head - you don’t have to justify it - just be curious about it!)On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is “Not at all” and 10 is “Entirely”, to what extent is your sense of identity and purpose centred on being a parent?How do you feel about that?Resources:Roots episode - SpotifyRoots episode - AppleValues episode - SpotifyValues episode - AppleFind us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

September often has more of a new year feeling to it than January. There’s new beginnings, a change of season, children back at school (finally!) … it just feels more like a fresh start kind of month somehow!In this week’s episode, we cover why having a pause and reset can be beneficial at any time of year, and importantly, how to attempt one. Where is your time and energy going to be well spent, especially after the summer months which may have involved giving a lot of time and energy to others?Today’s question for you to mull over and which we alsoanswer:‘Imagine you’ve been gifted a half day, or even just anhour or two. How could you use this time helpfully for a reset andwhat might it reveal for you?’Resources: Kathryn’s pause and reset workshop replay: https://subscribepage.io/mid-yearworkshop Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

This week we take you inside the workings of a coachingsession. Whilst nothing will compare to actually experiencing one, we try to explain what you could expect from a session – that is, with a coach like one of us! We cover how it will start, progress, the main ‘body’ of thesession, how it will end, and what you may feel during and after a session. If you’ve experienced something entirely different we’d love to hear from you!Today’s question for you to mull over and which we alsoanswer in the episode:  “What would you like to discuss with a coach right now ifyou were given the chance? (Even if you knew it might feel a bit squirmy at first)” Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com    Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Today’s episode is a special guest episode with Amy Downes, The Content Wizard, and our topic this week is a meaty one – social media and our wellbeing (can the two mix?!). Amy is a huge Harry Potter fan, hence the many (apt) references – such as how we avoid the ‘Dementor’ mode of social media (when it sucks all the joy from us by usingit). Social media is a form of escapism, but there is a dark as well as a light side to it. Amy is very candid about her own experiences of socialmedia, for better and for worse, personally and professionally, from trolling to real-life friendships made over social media.  She gives us all plenty to think about, anddiscusses the signs we may notice that mean we may want to consider how healthy our relationship is with social media.Today’s question for you to mull over: ‘What step, even a small one, might you be able to taketo improve your social media wellbeing?’ Find Amy here: www.facebook.com/groups/contentwizardsand www.instagram.com/contentwizardukResourcesAmy’s 'Conserve Your Magic: Mini-Guide' (a small collection of spells to help find ways to feel calmer around social media. Designed for small business owners, it contains tips on boundaries and balance that will be helpful to all - both in personal and working life!)  subscribepage.io/8IlQ3e  Find Kathryn and Kirsty here: Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com     Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here: Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

“Doing your best” is often seen as an excellent antidote to perfectionism, so you’d think that here at Mission Imperfect we’d be all in favour of it, right?Er…not quite…Join us for a chat about how the idea of doing our best can make us feel under pressure to consistently deliver our best output, or give us an excuse not to step things up…and how context is everything!We also disappear down a rabbit hole after biscuits (unsurprisingly) and cake (mildly surprisingly). We’d like to say we did our best not to…but we can’t.Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: In what situations are you most likely to feel that you’re not doing your best, or that you should be able to do better? What will you do to start changing that?Find us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

The idea of trusting your intuition is very appealing, isn’t it? But what if that first, unthought response to a situation or opportunity is not your gut instinct but rather the deeply embedded programming created by years of dealing with other people’s reactions to what you say and do?We argue that spending time thinking about your first response to something can help highlight the true voice of intuition, that can’t be thought away.We also get somewhat distracted by definitely not going cold-water swimming. So much so that biscuits fail to feature, much to the disgust of Kirsty’s gut, literally and metaphorically.Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: Where do you think your programming most blocks or trumps your instincts/gut/intuition, and what will you do to change this?Find us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

What even is overthinking – how is it different to otherthinking?!This week we consider how overthinking leads to a lack ofaction, increased rumination and staying in ‘what if’ territory. We also discuss our preference for deeper, wider or newthinking and how to spot the difference between this kind of helpful thinking and less helpful overthinking, plus how to help steer your thinking towards the former rather than the latter! Today’s question for you to mull over and which we alsoanswer in the episode:  ‘Have you been overthinking about something recently? Howdid you move past it?’Find us here: Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here: Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Being present means not being mentally absent. Ah, guilty as charged then (on occasion)!This week, we discuss why being present even matters, and why we can find it so tricky to master. Luckily, we have a few ideas to help us be more present, even though Kathryn admits to being a planner, and Kirsty tries to change the past through willpower alone.Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: : How present are you on a daily basis? Could you improve it?Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Roots: restrictive, anchoring, connecting, trip hazards, something that needs dyeing…?Having agreed that this isn’t about hair, we manage a quite sensible conversation about the ‘woodwide’ web, and (surprisingly) avoid getting too distracted by cream teas, only to end up discussing trees walking about and swinging anchors; daps; bonsai rejection, and our (temporary) failure to be more firmly rooted in biscuits.You had to be there, really - and it’s not too late! Grab a cuppa and a biscuit and join us!Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: 'What does the idea of roots mean to you?'Find us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

Today’s episode is a special guest episode with John Bryant,Low Carb Coach, and our topic this week is a great one which impacts us all – sleep. A good night’s sleep is the holy grail we wish to have and repeat, but it can feel out of our hands to get!However, fortunately there are some things we can doto help ourselves which John generously shares with us all – from sleep cycles, body temperature, caffeine, alcohol, and blue and orange light!  Today’s question for you to mull over and which Kathryn alsoanswers in the episode:  What is one thing that you could do today for a betternight’s sleep? Find John here: https://www.jbryantcoaching.comResourcesBook – ‘ Sleep’  by Nick Littlehales, on audible here - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sleep-Audiobook/B01M0M549M And John’s ‘Sleep Optimisation Guide’ available here:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/17nWnwscBl9uwglsTdP5bp0pdKtH4ZHCR/view Find Kathryn and Kirsty here: Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here: Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Too much of one thing (even biscuits!) isn’t good foranyone. But how on earth do we lead a ‘balanced life’? This week we discuss what’s tricky about the concept ofbalance in the first place, a life ‘see-saw’, and how we can create a semblance of balance (rather than a perfect equilibrium). We also pick apart the term ‘work-life balance’ and replace it with a life smoothie! Today’s question for you to mull over and which we alsoanswer in the episode:  "What does balance look like for you right now? Isan adjustment needed for that to be achievable?” Resourceshttps://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/is-it-possible-to-have-balance https://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/how-do-i-balance-everythingFind us here: Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com  Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here: Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/ 

This week we delve a bit deeper into life coaching: when isit likely to be useful, what coaching offers and when it might be time to try it.  Of course we are biased, but with good reason – in a lot of life’s ups and downs, coaching can be useful, complimentary to other initiatives and a way to unravel the messinessof life to make it all feel a bit simpler. Coaching can be proactive, not just as a last resort intervention. There is no ‘I must be struggling to justify this for me’ threshold. In all the enthusiasm for coaching, we neglect to mention biscuits, sorry! Today’s question for you to mull over and which we alsoanswer in the episode:  “What’s one thing you’ve been thinking about for a longtime, but haven’t acted on yet?” Resourceshttps://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/what-s-on-the-other-side-of-life-coaching Find us here: Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com     Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk And on social media here: Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

This week, we’re pondering whether it’s possible to be judgement free…spoiler alert: we don’t think it is.But nor do we think judgement is necessarily a bad thing - providing you can notice you’re doing it and are willing to change your mind.This one was recorded when we were both pretty tired, so we’ll let you judge for yourselves (see what we did there?!) as to whether our moment of biscuity spiritual enlightenment was a product of genius or exhaustion.Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: What do you notice about yourself when you’re being hardest on other people?Find us here:Kirsty: ⁠www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk⁠Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - ⁠www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/⁠Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

These days we are all so busy, it takes conscious effort to slow down. In our quest for evidence on why slowing down is important, we discover some fantastic new words including ‘spuddle’ and ‘boondoggle’ and spend rather too long if that might make a person a ‘boondoggler’ or someone who just spends time ‘boondoggling’?!On a slightly more helpful and practical note, we discuss why we may want to slow down a little every so often, how to do it, and how it can help us speed up (in the right way!). Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: : What might you achieve (possibly more quickly) by slowing down?Resources:Kathryn’s blog on the 7 types of rest: https://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/the-seven-types-of-rest-and-are-you-getting-enough-of-themFind us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Being fearless might sound cool, but it can get you into all sorts of bother with sabre-toothed tigers and axe murderers.We consider how fearing less might be a healthier - and longer lived - alternative, and suggest some ways of dealing with fear… if, that is, you decide the regret of not facing the fear will weigh heavier than the fear.Because sometimes the fear is right. Just consider those films where someone staying in a sinister, isolated old house with no lights goes to investigate a scary noise…Sometimes, hiding under the duvet is the only sane option, right?Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: 'What fear (past or present) are you embarrassed to admit to? What has helped or could help you deal with it?'Resources:https://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/regret-weighs-heavier-than-fear⁠Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

Routines, patterns of behaviour, habits (e.g. eating biscuits with a cup of tea) are often done without our conscious awareness. This week we are talking about forming new habits, and breaking old ones, and just why that can be so hard! But we also have some top tips for supporting habit development and desired new behaviours, although Kirsty and I agree that biscuit-eating isn’t a habit we want to give up! Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: ‘Is there a habit you would like to build or break? (What will you do to aid this successfully?)’Resources: https://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/new-habits-lasting-changeandhttps://www.kbmindfulcoaching.com/post/habits-that-serve-usFind us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

The Black Knight and the last biscuit help us take a look at how positivity can turn toxic. On a more positive note (see what we did there?!), we also suggest the red flags to look out for, and how to keep to the positive side of positivity (which can often sound counter-intuitively negative).You’ll never hear the phrase “At least” in the same way again!Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: What’s the thing you most dread hearing when you confide in someone about a difficult situation or feelings?Resources:https://youtu.be/ZmInkxbvlCs?si=VWJ7GbHIxdzIgev1Find us here:Kirsty: ⁠www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk⁠Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com     And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - ⁠www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  

‘What if’: two very powerful words that can take us in many different directions! Today we talk about the human tendency to ask ‘what if’ (or as we call it, ‘what iffery’ ), both in a positive and a negative way, and where it can lead us, for better or worse. Also, we discuss adding one small word to the beginning – ‘so what if’ and just how this can change our thinking about what may come next!Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode: ‘Where are you doing the most negative what-iffing and what can you change it to?’Find us here:Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukAnd on social media here:Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball  Kirsty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/

We explore what people pleasing is and isn’t, why it’s a problem and how to start to stop it.Bad news: if you think people pleasing is simply being a nice person and putting others first, then this might be an uncomfortable listen for you - especially the rather ouchy definition Kirsty offers…Good news: easing up on the people pleasing doesn’t turn you into a selfish arsehole. And if you want to prove that to yourself, we have some suggestions to help you get started.Worrying news: we fail to come up with biscuit metaphors…luckily, Kathryn fills the gap splendidly with baskets of eggs and driving.Today’s question for you to mull over and which we also answer in the episode:What is it that bothers you most about the idea of saying “No” to someone?Find us here:Kirsty: www.coachingbykirsty.co.ukKathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.comAnd on social media here:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneballResources:You can find the Kinder Self-Talk and Values exercises here:https://www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk/resources

This month, Mission Imperfect is 6 months old! We have released an episode every Wednesday since our launch in Oct 2024, and decided that is worth a moment of acknowledgement and celebration. Whilst as coaches we spend a lot of time helping others look forward, focusing on the what now and next, there is value in appreciating just how far you've come too - which we encourage you to do in this week's episode!It's been imperfect, life is, and fortunately so is the name of our podcast. This week's question to mull over:Consider a way in which you've stepped out of your comfort zone in the last 6 months. How do you feel differently about it now compared to at first, and what's your key learning from the experience?Find us here:Kirsty: ⁠www.coachingbykirsty.co.uk⁠Kathryn: www.kbmindfulcoaching.com      And on social media here:Kirsty on Instagram - ⁠www.instagram.com/coachingbykirsty/Kathryn on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kathryneball