Marion Miller of Melbourne Coach, shares her incredible insights into being a passionate & purposeful woman!

Marion - Thank you so much for taking the time to answer the following ‘quick questions’ about your business and your philosophy on health, life, fitness and ‘living your passion’!

Marion – the owner and founder of ‘Melbourne Coach’ is a one – stop wonder woman for mindfulness, life and professional support. She’s made her mark on the world in so many ways and has a thriving Life Coaching business in Melbourne; is an author of a Mindfulness Workbook and runs regular drop-in classes, workshops on  mindfulness techniques (from personal experience, they are fantastic!!).

Read, and be inspired ladies!!

                                   

1)   Tell us a little bit about what your business is about.

Melbourne Coach is a Life Coaching and Mindfulness practice on Burwood road, Hawthorn. I work with clients one on one helping develop their personal and professional lives, achieve compelling life goals and be more present through powerful questioning and drawing from a toolbox of Positive Psychology, Art, NLP, Mindfulness and business training.

I currently have two main coaching programs the Mindful Life Coaching Program and Creative Business Coaching Program, both run for six weeks and give clients a chance to identify core values/strengths, uncover limiting beliefs, develop confidence, learn/practice mindfulness, learn business skills and action strategies for business, career or personal life. The programs are multi-dimensional aiming to re-balance and help clients find meaning creatively in their day to day lives while working in a client-generated partnership.

2)    How did you get to where you are right now? (Business and/or life).

I got to where I am today by working hard and making lots of mistakes. I tried many different things to learn what I didn’t want to be when I grew up and being creative and entrepreneurial I thought the answer was saying yes to everything! After some experiences doing that I see that much of what I did fail at has been pivotal in helping me understand what was authentic me and to clarify exactly what I do want in my business and life. I also learned a lot all along the way and see value in everything I have done. Listening to feedback and making an effort to improve myself as well by looking at the gaps in my understanding has helped me create something unique now at Melbourne Coach and it’s authentic because there is only one me.
Now it’s about simplifying, refining my niche and saying no. This might sound strange but if you don’t define your life and work someone else will and once you stop reacting and responding to everyone else’s ideas and start generating from an intrinsic space you get to shape your world.

3)    How would you define ‘good health’?

I like the world health organization definition of good health, it’s my go-to definition.  The Constitution of WHO (1946) states that ‘good health is a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’

4)    What comes to mind when you think about ‘living with PASSION and PURPOSE’? And how do you do this in your days?

Living with passion and purpose for me begins with spending my life in the service of others, first and foremost my children so that they can develop into happy and prosperous adults who contribute to a better world and also in the service of my community. I chose this path because of the challenges I experienced growing up second generation removed from WW2 and experiencing first hand the kinds of traumatic impact that can have on family, I discuss this in more depth in my book. Myself struggling later in life with anxiety and panic attacks and having overcome it with Mindfulness practice and a deep awakening I feel not only did I choose this pathway but it chose me. I come from a rich, historic culture and ancestry and have grown to understand much of the human condition through self-inquiry into the light and dark sides of my personality and bring wisdom to my Life Coaching and Mindfulness practice.

Passion is the fire energy and emotion you bring to what you do, you can’t fake it, it is what motivates you and purpose is the meaning behind who you are. Not everyone in life finds a purpose or calling but if you do look into your history, family, ancestry and through that lens respond to the world by having the courage to be a solution you can find your purpose. You find purpose within.

5)    What does a day in the life of you look like?

A day in the life of me? I have four daughters under 12 and we work as a team. I sometimes meditate for 30 mins first thing at 5.30am, often joined by one or more daughters. I have a coffee and do a 20 min workout using an app and often joined by my eldest, we buddy up and motivate one another. We fly out the door for school and work by 8.30am and 3 days a week I see clients in Hawthorn and the other days I am either writing books, developing programs, having meetings, finding new clients, and preparing for my workshops. After all kids in bed I often write, meditate or research/read. I don’t watch TV ever, I also paint some evenings and I like to cook healthy, fresh home meals as often possible.

6)    What is most important and valuable to you?

Most valuable to me are my relationships with family, friends and clients. I value being authentic, kind, courageous and being able to help clients live a meaningful life and overcome challenges.

7)    What is your biggest obstacle/hurdle/challenge that you have been through and how did you over-come this?

Probably the most challenging thing I have had to overcome was my mother’s illness that went on for a period of 10 years and her sudden death after also losing both my grandparents in the same three years and all family left in Australia on her side. It made me question everything including what is the point of my life.
I also think leaving a 13 year marriage and re-creating my identity as an independent, assertive single woman and mother was a massive challenge nothing could have prepared me for.

8)    What’s next on the cards for you (and your business)?

I am promoting my most recent published book Mindfulness Workbook and going to have a book launch very soon. I am developing a new workshop and expanding my Mindfulness drop-in Wednesday class in Hawthorn to other local venues. Next week I am off to Sydney for a five-day silent retreat to explore my inner world and see this experience as very much professional development. The better I know my own mind/body the better I can facilitate others to know theirs.

9)     What is the best advice you could give to women wanting to live their BEST life?

My advice for women wanting to live their best life. I would say look at who you are, where you came from and what is meaningful to you. Don’t chase and strive for success or be attached to it but rather try and cultivate something everyday that feels purposeful and serves something much larger than your self. Listen carefully to people and ask yourself and others the right questions and your pathway will become clear. I always say look at life like this is your last day and don’t waste it because the truth is the future is uncertain and every moment is a chance to make a another beautiful memory you can be grateful for. Live for experiences and not things and try to be kind and make sure if you run into problems repair where you can. Don’t seek only light and happiness because the dark has value and can ground you to your human truth, when we avoid it we only perpetuate the problems of the world. Work with coaches, mentors and create a community surrounding you that values you and can grow you. You become like the people you spend time with so choose wisely and believe in your dreams even when others don’t. Step out of your comfort zone, because facing your fear is the only way to truly live your best life.

For details on Marion’s new book, check out the following link: http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Workbook-simple-8-week-present/dp/1530996473/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460976617&sr=8-1&keywords=mindful+workbook+marion+miller

                      

Or, you might like to check out her services on her website and social media platforms: www.melbournecoach.com.au

@melbournecoach on IG, FB, Twitter

PLUS – anyone who signs up to Marion’s ‘Melbourne Coach’ website http://eepurl.com/bdZgdn will receive a FREE PDF Mindful Life Coaching Planner and $50 Coaching voucher – woohoo!!!

THANK YOU so very much – keep doing the amazing work that you are, you are definitely inspiring a lot of people out there, including me!!