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LIFE COACHING AS PART OF PSHE EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS?

by Francesca Dal Bello
written by Francesca Dal Bello

Could Life Coaching become a regular and integral part of UK schools’ curriculum to provide Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education?

I’m fairly new to the education system and with my new passion for coaching children and young people, I’m excitedly learning about the PSHE education initiative (pshe-association.org.uk).

Coaching and PSHE Education

Studies reinforce the need to focus on students’ mental and emotional health and in the UK all schools are currently expected to provide PSHE Education in their curriculum, with key subjects (including Relationships and Sex, Health and Well-being) becoming compulsory from September 2020.

PSHE education gives pupils the knowledge, skills, and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe and to prepare them for life and work in modern Britain. – PSE Association

With Freedom Coaching for Kids offering to develop personal values, self-esteem, resilience, relationships, managing thoughts and emotions, goal setting and planning etc., this fun process could be the perfect addition to school programmes in order to implement key parts of the PSHE Education objectives.

Life coaching offers professional listening and a space for open conversation. Research shows that relieving anxiety and freeing yourself from bottled up emotions, can save you from getting into unhealthy habits to numb those feelings in other ways.

My Passion for Coaching and Kids

If you don’t know me already, my name is Francesca Dal Bello, I am the Founder of Gr8fool Limited and a fully-qualified Life Coach certified by the Association for Coaching.  My coaching aims to increase well-being, positivity and zest for life; and help people reconnect with their inner Freedom, by eliminating anything that stands in the way, to create more of it in their external lives.

I rediscovered my passion for interacting with children and young people in late 2017.  After leaving a successful 16‑year corporate job as Head of Company Secretarial (Fellow member of the ICSA: The Governance Institute), I volunteered at a College in France, presenting personal life and adventure stories to a Y10/11‑equivalent class (Read BLOG)…

Coaching for Kids - Gr8fool

…and on my last day in the office, I flew to Nepal to join a charity project helping to rebuild a school destroyed during the 2015 earthquakes.

Freedom Coaching for Kids - Gr8fool

Since then I’ve given face to face presentations to 10 more primary and secondary school classes and I run Freedom Coaching as a co-curricular club in a London secondary school.

Introducing Freedom Coaching for Kids

I’d like to share with you more details of the Freedom Coaching for Kids Programme I currently follow in my co-curricular club in London.

Summary

A life coaching introduction and practice for students to help them reach more inner freedom, develop self-esteem, set positive goals, manage thoughts and emotions and deal with challenges with optimism. Thus creating more well-being, boost health and happiness and reach fulfillment in life.

Aims and Objectives

Feeling good helps perform better, boost heath, improve relationships and increase creativity. The course is designed to enhance well-being applying also elements of positive psychology (increasing PERMA: Positive emotions, Engagement/Flow, Relationships, Meaning/Purpose, Achievement).

What can you expect from the course?

  1. An opportunity for students to experience something new, learn how to express themselves openly, engage with how they feel and the consequences of theirs actions.
  2. Students will progress with each class tailored to allow them to grow in how they think and act.
  3. Students will be encouraged to display an understanding of core values by the way they speak to one another and engage with the topics and issues discussed. They will push themselves by developing a growth mindset.

Class Format

The course comprises of (ideally) 5 to 6 classes, each including all or a combination of the following:

  1. Setting intentions for the class, opening up to spontaneous discussions.
  2. Presentation of class topic and related supporting research/studies.
  3. “Story-telling” (personal life stories) to create connection and for inspiration.
  4. Practical exercises to engage with the topic, with the rest of the class and use as take-away tools.

Topics and Content (variable with the flow of the class)

Here-below is a summary of the course content, delivered applying coaching practice for self-discovery and growth, supporting aims aligned with some of those highlighted in the national PSHE Education programme.

  1. INTRODUCTION – Life Coaching:

The course starts with an ice-breaker, introduction to life coaching practice and the subjective meaning of freedom. We learn about coaching synergy, powerful questions and different way of “listening”. Students will assess their current level of freedom and satisfaction in key areas of life (eg. wheel of life). During the course, we will keep tabs on changes and improvements.

  1. GOAL SETTING – Courage to Change:

The aim of this class is to encourage positive change and getting out of the comfort zone, where the growth takes place. Students will learn to set specific goals (SMART), the benefits of repeated practice and learn about empowering and limiting behaviours. We explore the topic of courage to change (“belief-results” system), the individual meaning of achievement/success and how to break-down a goal plan into manageable stepping stones.

  1. EMPOWERMENT – Unleash the Superhero:

This session helps discover the unique potential in each one of us and the important impact we have on our own lives, people and the environment. The aim is to boost self-confidence, by unleashing the superheroes and uncovering students’ qualities. We will identify strengths for growth as well as coping mechanisms to manage challenges, perceived “weaknesses” and self-sabotaging voices in the head.

  1. MINDSET – Power of Gratitude, Love and Kindness:

In this class we cover the positive effects of gratitude and connectedness (love and relationships).  We learn about appreciation and mindfulness (being more present) and two key energies that drive our daily actions: Love and Fear. We also discuss how to become more optimistic and shrink anxiety and worries, through increased thoughts awareness.

  1. FUN STUFF – Joy and Playfulness:

Happiness shared is happiness squared. There are things we have control over and for everything else we can control how we choose to react.  In this session we talk about choosing positive emotions and “Life as a rollercoaster”; how to embrace the ups and downs and hoops with playfulness! Take the ride of life with openness to experience, adopting more positive perspectives and welcoming uncertainties with curiosity.

  1. RESPONSIBILITY – Freedom of Choice:

The final class recaps the topics covered and reviews the wheel of life assessment.  We bring attention to the opportunities available in life and the freedom of choosing the story we want to create for ourselves. How to use visionary shields from negativity, and experience better results and achievement with excitement to continuously learn and self-discipline.

Let’s Connect!

To talk about how life coaching could be integrated into a PSHE Education programme, or discuss opportunities to run Freedom Coaching for Kids (or similar bespoke courses) at your school or privately:-

You can message me via website links: gr8fool.com/ , Facebook Messenger or Instagram
Email me at: francesca@gr8fool.com or
Call/Whatsapp this no.:  44 (0)7766 652 561

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FREEDOM COACHING FOR KIDS: SCHOOL CO-CURRICULAR CLUB

by Francesca Dal Bello
written by Francesca Dal Bello

I am running a Freedom Coaching for Kids co-curricular club at a Secondary Boys School in London. And I am loving it!

It was the first time I introduced my coaching programme to Year 9 students and the coaching subject was new to the school too.  The first term was quite challenging and exciting at the same time. It started with a sense of doubt and some reluctance to participate. Half of them expected Freedom Coaching to mean being coached in some sport, and running freely outdoors.  I reassured them that we would be doing some fun and freeing exercises, but mostly of the mind.

Over time the students grew to like the class stories, exercises and dynamics, and by the end of the 5/6 week course, they expressed heart-warming feedback.

At the end of the first term, I asked my students to share what they take away from the club experience:

I feel more positive and I notice more positives around me

 

I learnt I need to create small steps to achieve my big goals

 

I liked the sense of community in the class, everyone sharing opinions together

 

I loved being listened to

 

I learnt to appreciate more…

FREEDOM COACHING AT SCHOOL

The aim of the club is to give an introduction to my Life Coaching focused on Freedom and put it into practice to help the students reach more inner freedom, develop self-esteem, set positive goals, manage thoughts and emotions to deal with challenges with optimism. Ultimately to create more well-being, happiness and sense of fulfillment.

COURSE CONTENT AND TOPICS

The club is run with the support of presentation slides, practical exercises, open questions and answers, adventure and personal life stories and it covers the topics here-below.

Students are invited to complete a self-assessment of the freedom and satisfaction they currently feel in keys areas of their lives and think of goals to work through, for practical application of the course learning.

Courage to Change

The course starts with an introduction to life coaching and the subjective meaning of freedom. The topic “courage to change” is designed to encourage positive change through awareness and doing things differently; getting out of the comfort zone and into the learning zone, where growth takes place. The students learn about motivation, empowerment, limiting behaviours and beliefs.

Unleash the Super-hero

After learning about change, how do you put it into practice when you don’t really believe in it or yourself enough? This topic helps discover the unique potential in each one of us, our special qualities and the important impact we have on our own lives, our people and the environment.  The aim is to boost self-esteem, self-love and confidence, by unleashing the super-heroes inside, befriending our weaknesses and taming the self-sabotaging voices in the head.

Power of Gratitude, Love and Kindness

I invite the students to discover the positive effects of gratitude and appreciation, love and connectedness.  Through a class exercise, they are encouraged to share what they are thankful for and keep regular gratitude journals at home too.  We also cover the two key emotions that drive most (if not all) of our decisions and actions: Love and Fear; and how to shake off bad feelings and replace them with good ones (get into your power state).

Joy and Playfulness

Ok, no one ever said that life would be easy! However we have the power to make it fun and playful.  There are things we have control over and for everything else we can control how we choose to react to them.  In this topic, we talk about life as a roller-coaster, and how to embrace the ups and downs and hoops.  I share tools and exercises to help enjoy the journey (ride) and be more resilient by adopting more positive perspectives and welcoming uncertainties with curiosity.

The Choice is Yours (Create Opportunities)

The course concludes with a recap of the topics covered and an assessment.  This topics brings the attention to the limitless potential and opportunities available.  Quote by W A Ward: “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it you can become it!”. How to create a vision unique to our values and passions, and make more conscious choices aligned to them. Accepting responsibility for the choices we make, hence the results we attract.

COACHING FOR KIDS: SCHOOL CLUB, ONE-OFF AND BESPOKE

To find out more about Freedom Coaching for Kids, whether in schools, for group or one to one sessions or create bespoke courses, get in touch.  You can send me a message below or contact me by email: francesca@gr8fool.com  and francesca.dalbello@gmail.com.

Miss Miss, can you take my full name please? I’d like to sign up to the Freedom Coaching club in the next term again!

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GR8FOOL FREEDOM STAND AT THE AMA MUSIC FESTIVAL

by Francesca Dal Bello
written by Francesca Dal Bello

Let me tell you about that time I said YES! to hosting a Gr8fool Freedom Coaching stand at the Italian AMA Music Festival.

AMA Music Festival

FIRST, SOME GOSSIP…

Back in 2005, my dear friend Andrea Dal Mina had the brilliant idea and determination of organising a local music festival in the old town centre of Asolo. My Birthtown in Italy!

I’ve known Andrea since we were teenagers. He had long hair, played drums in a cool band and I had a big crush on him. The crush was mutual and we were together till I moved to London at 17.  Our special friendship spans over a quarter of a century!

Asolo is a charming historical town (borgo) in the province of Treviso, North of Venice.  Here’s a flavour of the love it attracts globally… with some gossip news:

  1. Asolo is among the top 20 most beautiful borghi of Italy.  borghipiubelliditalia.it/en/borgo/asolo/
  2. Brad Pitt visited Asolo earlier this year and adored it. tribunatreviso.it/brad-pitt-ad-asolo-e-alla-tomba-brion
  3. In 2017, Wyatt Rockefella chose Asolo as the setting for his wedding. ilmessaggero.it/societa/gossip/rockefeller_matrimonio_wedding_asolo
  4. Asolo is often used as a movie set, including the Ripley’s Game starring John Malkovic telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/723965/Italy-Being-there-with-John-Malkovich

Oh, and incidentally Andrea features in this movie as an extra. How funny!
Here’s a link to the clip: youtube.com/watch/ripleys game (in Italian)

Gr8fool Blog Freedom Stand

ABOUT AMA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Over time, the festival grew both in popularity and size. It eventually needed to relocate to a larger space on the outskirts of Asolo and more recently to a new area near beautiful Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza).

I am super proud of Andrea, Founder and Art Director of what in 2015 became officially known as the AMA Music Festival. It now attracts c.20,000 festival goers each year, who enjoy a 4-day programme of music and events.

AMA Music Festival

SAY YES! MORE

When Andrea asked if I was going to show up at AMA this year, I was still touring Europe in my campervan. The festival dates didn’t work for me because I was planning to return to the UK around that time.

Then he tells me Mahmood (an Italian singer I like) was headlining on the Saturday night and suggests I could have a stand for Gr8fool. Both fun reasons to spark a Yes! in me.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into but I liked the opportunity of creating a space to promote the Gr8fool vibes of Freedom, Adventure and Gratitude. The challenge was on.

“Book me a little corner for Gr8fool and put me on stage for 15mins, and I’m there!”

ACKNOWLEDGE FEARS AND GO FOR IT..

How am I going to show up with a stand on Freedom Coaching in an area where life coaching is still vastly unheard of and at a festival where all other stands will be selling either food and drinks or clothes and accessories? With the exception of promoted no-profit organisations, including the amazing SeaSheperd Italia.

I never hosted a corporate stand before and I was going to be travelling, vanlife-ing on the road right up until my return to London to catch a flight to Venice just 2 days before the event.

As an optimistic, I knew somehow things would work out wonderfully, and they did.  But it couldn’t have happened without the precious support from amazing people at home, especially my family.

Gr8fool Freedom Stand

WRITINGS ON THE WALL!

The Gr8fool Freedom Coaching stand was a great opportunity to promote the brand, inspire freedom and adventure, and create a space to spark curiosity, where festival goers would want to hang out.

While thinking of how to use my 3m x 3m space, I remembered Italians love writing on walls… and on anything really. I decided the main feature would be a wall made of wooden structure covered with white brick wallpaper, inviting people to write and share their meaning of Freedom: “La Liberta’ e’…”

In the meantime, photos of my travels, vanlife and adventures would roll on a big screen and I designed little cards that people could pick out of a bowl. On each card they’d find an act of kindness, gratitude or foolishness that they could play out at the festival.

By day 3 I had to add new layers of wallpaper, the wall had been so popular.

ASK FOR HELP

I ordered most of the marketing material online for delivery in London and at my parents’ in Italy. Dear friends lent me a large TV screen and a tripod. My creative nieces Giulia and Ilaria helped me with fun ideas and banners. My awesome dad got his lifetime carpenter friend to cut pieces for the wall.  I borrowed plants and furniture from my amazing mum who also hand-crafted strings of flags reusing old fabrics. And last but certainly not least, my ingenious twin brother Filippo helped me put it all together and dismantling everything at the end. A Rock Star!

The best team work and support ever. THANK YOU! I am so Gr8fool for the people in my life.

Gr8fool Freedom Coaching Stand

FREEDOM IS….

It was a free wall, hence no rules applied.

Some language was quite strong, others scribbled their artsy signatures or quotes… but most of the wall was filled with lovely definitions of Freedom / Liberta’.  Here is an extract from the list I transcribed from it (translated into English where needed):

1. Live it. Love it. Colour it until you lose control of it.
2. GOD
3. Not being Criticised
4. [Using each letters of LIBERTA]: Read. Learn. Wellbeing. Empathy. Respect. Transparency. Love
5. Think Freely
6. Be Who the F**k You Want
7. When you are yourself, no judgement weighs you down because it’s just envy for your freedom of being.
8. Not telling lies
9. Freedom is a running horse
10. Drawing of a Unicorn
11. Feeling grateful always
12. Loving who you want when you want
13. When you feel nothing could be better than it already is
14. Finding yourself
15. Be who you want to be
16. I love my mum and dad
17. Being happy always
18. Free hugs…I’m a cactus [drawing of cactus}
19. Hakuna Matata
20. Live day by day
21. Travelling
22. Born this way be free
23. Being able to express yourself freely, with no fear of judgement
24. Travelling and discovering new places
25. Honesty
26. Being Single
27. Having limits
28. Making other people happy
29. Wellbing (in all areas)
30. Living at 100km/h

The stand and wall were enjoyed by friends and people of all ages. It felt very special.

LESSONS LEARNT

Stepping away from the Gr8fool freedom stand every now and then allowed people to feel comfortable about spending time in it, interacting freely and being creative.  One evening, a lively guy I met at the stand loved the idea of the “acts cards” and suggested we walked around the festival to get more people to pick and play. It was so much fun.

Gr8fool AMA Music Festival

Loads of people participated, despite many showing initial reluctance, wondering what catch would hide behind it. There was no catch of course, the idea was to trigger little challenges and new thoughts.

The stand was a real success in terms of the level of fun and engagement I wanted to achieve.  I was looking to create a meeting point where people could get curious, inspired and ask questions.  In terms of promoting the business brand, I did expect to gain more followers however I’ve learnt that the easiest way to reach this goal next time would be to simply ASK.

Write a clear invitation to “FOLLOW @thegr8fool on INSTAGRAM !”

Simple.

GR8FOOL FREEDOM VIBES ON STAGE

I forgot I previously jokingly asked Andrea to give me a slot on stage… it was not that kind of event but the joke manifested it regardless…!

Gr8fool on Stage

On the last night, I started packing up my stand around 1am while the closing act was still playing.  I had a 10 metre battery-powered string of lights hanging around the perimeter of my gazebo and instead of rolling it up as normal I started spinning on the spot, making the string wrap around my body.

A classic Francesca random act of foolishness.

Result? I looked like a human Xmas tree!  So I decided to take a walk with the lights flickering around my silhouette, and it sure did attract attention, and most importantly smiles.

On my tour I bumped into friends, including the President of Sea Shepherd Italia who loved the energy from the walking light show. He suggested I share it on stage and dance by the DJ. You What?

After all, one of my Gr8fool cards did say “Dance like there is no tomorrow!” Why not! …acknowledge the fears and go for it anyway, right? and say Yes! more….I was handed a VIP pass and led backstage.

Step up, dance and share your Gr8fool vibes 😊

Gr8fool on Stage

Bring on the next AMA Music Festival! And to find out more about Gr8fool and my Freedom Coaching programmes, visit: gr8fool.com/freedom-coaching-programmes/

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3 MONTHS TO CHRISTMAS: 3 STEPS TO STILL REACH YOUR GOALS 2019!

by Francesca Dal Bello
written by Francesca Dal Bello

The 3 months countdown to Christmas has kicked off. How far do you still have to go to reach the goals you set at the start of 2019?

How did the Summer just end? Time flies and I don’t know about you, but with the start of Autumn/Fall I feel as though the rest of the year will simply roll down the hill, faster and faster to the bottom. Too fast to get anything more done.

Not true. The good news is that three months is still plenty of time to make positive changes and achieve a lot. You can change your whole life in a day, so imagine what you can still do with 90+ days.

Here are my 3 steps to help you reach your goals 2019 so you can spend your next Christmas not only opening boxes but ticking many off too!

Reach Your Goal STEP 1: Review Your Goals 2019

What goals did you set for the year, and are you still committed to them?

If you feel you haven’t progressed much with certain projects you had in mind since January, perhaps self-doubt or procrastination aren’t the only elements to blame for the lack of results. You may have outgrown them.

Refresh your goals, write them all up again clearly and assess how keen you still feel about reaching each one. Ask yourself: “Is this a goal I really wanted for myself, or was it something I felt I had to do or have?”.

If the commitment is still genuine and there, use the simple SMART tool to review and define your goals in more detail. Make sure each goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Based.

Reach Your Goals STEP 2: Power up the Motivation

You can boost your motivation by experiencing what it would be and feel like on accomplishment. If getting there equals a super duper happy rate of 10 out of 10, create a list of what that would actually mean. Use the present tense (I am, I feel, I have..) to describe your 10/10 and add visuals and emotions to help you fell in that moment as if it were happening now.

Then for a brief moment, imagine what it would mean to NOT achieve your goal at all. What would a zero out of 10 look and feel like?

This exercise creates power synergy to move you forward and reach your goals. The vivid visualisation of your goal completion will motivate you towards it, whilst the frustration of not experiencing your goal will push you forward, away from that sense of failure.

Reach Your Goals STEP 3: Moving Forward with Action

The next step is to dissect your goals into bite size actions. Start by identifying the broader areas you would need to work on, followed by a list of actions required within each area.

When compiling an action list, we tend to end up with more actions piled up closer to the goal-post, and we don’t know where to start. Try working your way back and organise your plan of actions beginning from deadline date (Christmas) to today’s date.

Break your plan down into 3 months, and ask yourself what would need to happen in the last month leading to Christmas (25/11 to 25/12)? And then the month before that? And the one before that?.

Finally, dismember each month into weekly targets, still working backwards, and you will come up with what needs doing this week.  Commit to an action per day and review your plan regularly.

In your list of things to do, include also “NOT do dos” to eliminate unnecessary steps and distractions, and to recognise what you can or need to delegate.

Celebrate your Milestones

I mentioned 3 steps to reach your goals 2019, and I am confident that these alone can help but here’s a bonus tip: Don’t just focus on the Destination, Enjoy the Journey!

In your plan, pick your milestones and celebrate each success achieved along the way. Reward yourself for the progress you make. You could share your achievement with others, invite friends to get together on those dates. This will add accountability and make it fun.

Create your own Advent Calendar, rewarding yourself on key dates or every day as you progress closer to Christmas, your goal-post.

If you want someone to hold your hand through this process, from now till your achievement, why not treat yourself to a coach or mentor. It’s amazing what the extra support can do. As a Freedom Coach myself, I love supporting people on their journeys to their desired goals and a more fun experience of life.

Feel free to connect below or browse my programmes: Freedom Coaching Programmes.

For regular #dailyinspo follow me on Instagram: @thegr8fool

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A SPIRITUAL RETURN TO THE UK: SOULCIRCUS FESTIVAL & GLASTONBURY

by Francesca Dal Bello
written by Francesca Dal Bello

After 4 weeks in France, mostly along the South then up the West coast, on 15 August Peter Van and I returned to the UK for our final leg of vanlife together. We took a ferry from Cherbourg in Normandie to Poole, Dorset.

A Spiritual Return of the Freedom Coach

Gr8fool Vanlife

What awaited on the other side was a spiritual week of connection, healing, breathwork, gongs, yoga and intense energy vibes. I was heading to the Soul Circus Festival in the Cotswold (England) for the weekend followed by a trip to the mystical Glastonbury.

I have been to the infamous Glastonbury festival 3 times but I never visited the actual town. Tut tut.

Spiritual and Magical Glastonbury - Front Shop

SOUL CIRCUS FESTIVAL

https://www.soulcircus.yoga/

SoulCircus was so good and tons of fun too.  The life coaching academy I qualified with (Mindful Talent) in partnership with Breathpod (you must check them both out!) hosted a tipi at the festival, with a 3 -day programme packed with cool, transformational sessions of breathwork, body movement, meditations, talks and sound healing.

They organised tickets for those of us in the “Mindful Talent tribe” that could make it, and take this perfect opportunity to meet and connect in person.

As recently posted on my Instagram (@thegr8fool): “You can become a GREAT coach with a great accredited coaching course. You can become an OUTSTANDING one with an outstanding tribe who has your back!”

Spiritual Journey - Life Coaching with Mindful Talent Tribe

Life Coaching

Have you ever tried a breathwork session? If you haven’t, please don’t delay it any further.  Breathpod is a great go-to place.

At the festival, I really enjoyed the gong and sound healing sessions and one called Psychedelic Breath Circle.  Oh my goodness, was I in for a surprise.  I had no idea what to expect and funnily I had conversations about trying “eye gazing therapy” just before going into the tipi, despite being secretly intimidated by it.

The mysterious psychedelic session involved exactly that. We sat in two circles, one facing the other. On rotation we were guided to move along and stare in the left eye of the person in front of us. 4 different people for c. 10 mins each. The process was not easy but we were gently guided by Stuart Sanderman of Breathpod, and supported by our breath.

It was a strangely difficult but profound experience. After a while, you connect with the no-longer-stranger in front of you at such a deep level, you feel you’re looking right into their soul.

Peter Van Therapy

Peter Van loved the festival vibes and having visitors sleep over and popping by for breakfast and teas!

Gr8fool Vanlife

Gr8fool Life Coach

GLASTONBURY

After such a powerful weekend at SoulCircus, Glastonbury seemed like the perfect place to let it all sink in.

England offers the best farm campsites and I love pitching up on a field of perfect green grass, immersed in quiet nature and surrounded by animals: cows, horses or alpacas!

Vanlife Gr8fool Coach

In Glastonbury, I found parking for the campervan at the RJ Draper factory and store. From there you can easily walk to town and all the major hot spots: Chalice Well, White Spring, Tor and the Glastonbury town and Abbey site

Chalice Well Garden

https://chalicewell.org.uk/

The home of the famous red spring (red because the water is rich in iron which leaves red residues), believed to have sprung where the Holy Grail of Jesus was once placed.  I bathed my feet in the healing water pool, took a stroll through the beautiful garden and enjoyed a meditation by the well.

When I reached the garden top, with a view of the Glastonbury Tor, a swarm of beautiful dragonflies appeared. See if you can spot any in the picture below.

Glastonbury Tor

http://www.glastonburytor.org.uk/

Freedom Coach

Walking up the Tor hill was peaceful and beautiful. From the top, you get a 360 degree breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. WOW.  I zig-zaged my way up from the back of the hill, and returned from the front, a slightly steeper descent. Both easily manageable.

Gr8fool on the Road

White Spring

https://www.whitespring.org.uk/

Another healing spring located only a few metres from the red spring, yet rich of a very different mineral: calcite. This spring is accessible inside a candle lit sanctuary building, with pools filled with the chilled spiritual waters, surrounded by various shrines.  Many people go in full body and naked.  I undressed down to my undies and soaked up to thigh-level. I don’t really tolerant icy water very well.. but I appreciated the calm and cleansing experience.

[for obvious reasons, no photos could be taken 🙂 ]

Glastonbury Abbey

https://www.glastonburyabbey.com/

I didn’t expect the Abbey site to be as big as it is. In fact, I knew very little about the place so I really enjoyed delving right into it.  Getting to know the history of the early Christian foundation in Britain and the legendary (or true?) burial location of King Arthur. You can easily spend a whole day exploring and relaxing here. I got in late afternoon, and stayed till closing time.

There’s something really magical and spiritual about Glastonbury. If you’re in tune with energetic fields, you won’t miss the vibes!

I closed my spiritual trip through Glastonbury with a visit to the quirky Bocabar for brunch and a catch up with a friend who saw through my Facebook check-in that I was in the area.  This cosy cafe’ is in the Red Brick Building, on the outskirts of the village. A successful recommendation from a local I met the day before.

Crossing the Channel with Peter Van felt like an emotional goodbye to a big chunk of incredible vanlife memories we shared in “mainland Europe”.  Spending the first week in England surrounded by so much healing and spiritual energy really helped me rest and prepare for the upcoming transition from Nomad life to… let’s see what’s next!

Spiritual Return to the UK - Gr8fool Peter Van

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PUY DU FOU (“HILL OF THE FOOL!”): BEST SHOW IN THE WORLD!

by Francesca Dal Bello
written by Francesca Dal Bello

“If you’re driving back to England via the West Coast of France and Normandy, you must go see the Puy du Fou night show” – recommended Isabelle.

I met Isabelle at a stable in La Camargue (South of France) after an incredible 2-hour horse ride in beautiful wilderness and beaches.  Gr8fool Freedom Coach

I rarely dismiss a recommendation and with a name like Puy du Fou (Hill of the Fool!), I couldn’t ignore it.  And gosh, am I glad I didn’t!

GET ME A TICKET!

I looked it up online (www.puydufou.com/en/la-cinescenie-0) and thought: WOW, get me a ticket!.

For some reason, I didn’t pay much attention to the daytime programme of the Grand Parc and focussed on booking myself in for the evening show. The Cinéscenie. Tickets were sold out ages ago, but I didn’t give up. I created an account with a French ebay-equivalent called Le Bon Coin, and checked daily until I got one.  I was so happy I snoopy-danced!

CAMPING AT PUY DU FOU

I arrived at Puy du Fou the day before my show date.  The 3 campsites nearby were all fully-booked. Of course, being a spontaneous traveller, I hadn’t planned ahead. As a last resort I drove to the gigantic campsite at Puy du Fou and it turned out to be the best option!

A friendly, serviced and spacious camping area right on site (https://www.puydufou.com/en/camper-van-site) where 100s of other vanlifers awaited to see the best shows in the World.

I settled in nicely, knowing I had a whole night and day before the show. That evening I could hear some of it and saw the stunning fireworks from my van. If I were excited about seeing it before, now I couldn’t wait any longer.

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THE GRAND PARC AND SHOWS

Around 3pm the next day, I took a stroll in the direction of the Grand Parc entrance to find a place to eat. Still clueless of the park’s magnitude and what it offers (https://www.puydufou.com/en/spectacles).

I was practically on site so the only restaurants were inside. At the ticket office I was told I could still go in and make it to a few shows until 7pm-ish.  My intuition said “YES, go in!”.

I bought a last-minute day ticket and spent the rest of the day working through the programme, hopping around the huge park from one incredible show to another. As happy as a fool. Feeling high and emotional like a kid.

This is no ordinary theme park with rides; it is more of a giant park of theatres taking you back through history, traditions and time . Wonderful.

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NATURE AND ANIMAL WELFARE AT PUY DU FOU

The Grand Parc of Puy du Fou is an unbelievable place.  It is very green with plenty of space to walk around nature, through entertainments and live recreations of old medieval villages.

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The shows I saw (I managed 6!) were all mind-blowing, with amazing structures and stages, fantastic acting, acrobatics and stunts, fights, fire shows and special effects. They brought tears to my eyes.

I felt particularly emotional during the Dance of the Birds of Prey. I am a huge fan of eagles and stokes, so this spectacle was very powerful and special. But I felt a little torn too.  Many animals take part in the shows. Puy du Fou is said to home and care for around 1500 animals.

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I don’t support the use of animals for our entertainment so I was worried about contributing to it.  I was reassured that all animals are loved and well taken care of and they do appear to enjoy playing their phenomenal contributions to the shows. Especially the horses and dogs. I also noticed how well connected the birds and carers seemed to be, from the eye gazing and smiles. But I am aware this is not Freedom.

I am hopeful that Puy du Fou acts more like an enjoyable sanctuary for these wonderful beings, than an abusive entertainment place. They promise to care for their animals and they are committed to a number of wildlife conservation programmes (https://www.puydufou.com/en/our-promises).

CINÉSCENIE

Camping at Puy du Fou was very handy.  I could easily return to my van in between the visit to the Grand Parc and the night show, taking time to reset and put some warmer layers on.

I never dreamt of seeing anything like Cinescenie in my lifetime.  It is simply the biggest and most striking theatre stage and show one could ever experience.

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Outstanding. From its breath-taking grandeur down to the smallest of detail. A spectacular and intricate collaboration between super creative and talented humans (many young ones too), and adorable and very cooperative animals, all in a gorgeous setting of nature, lakes and castles.

A story beautifully presented with technical genius, stunning light-shows (including images projected on the buildings, windmills and water jets!), and gorgeous fireworks.

I totally get why the Puy du Fou (Hill of the Fool!) won best theme show in the World !

Trusting that their commitment to the environment and animal welfare is genuine and real, I highly recommend you all put it on your bucket list!

I messaged Isabelle to thank her for the amazing tip and to let her know I made it happen.

It’s wonderful what you can attract into your life when you stay open to new connections, new adventures and dare to be a little playful. 🙂

Gr8fool vanlife Freedom

Happy Me at the end of a TOP Day!

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LIFE COACHING IN LONDON FOCUSED ON FREEDOM

by Francesca Dal Bello
written by Francesca Dal Bello

I am a Freedom Coach in London and my life coaching focuses on freedom.

But what does this actually mean? In 2017, I qualified as a life coach accredited by the Association for Coaching, with The Mindful Talent Academy, and quit a secure 9-5 job to embark on new adventures and travels.

I call it a journey of freedom, which after a few months led to setting up my own life coaching practice under the brand Gr8fool.

Gr8fool was created for a crazy solo motorbike challenge (read blog: My Solo Harley Ride) and it evolved into a means to bring more freedom, gratitude and positivity into my clients’ lives.

During my self-development, I realised the impact freedom plays in reaching my successes and happiness in life. With that in mind, I wanted to share the same benefits with others.

Further research taught me how unique freedom can look and feel like for each of us. Click on the audio link on the homepage (gr8fool.com/) for a brief audio (7mins) on what I‘ve learnt so far about the meaning of freedom.

HOW CAN LIFE COACHING HELP ME REACH MORE FREEDOM?

I’ve yet to find a simple solution for lasting freedom.  So until then, we need to embrace the work and commitment required to get there.  It takes a good dose of determination to get unstuck.  Free ourselves from everything we’ve accumulated over time and stops us from living the best experience on this wonderful planet.

As a Life Coach in London, I provide the guidance and support to ease the challenge and make reaching freedom an enjoyable and fun process. This includes also finding courage to change, increasing self-love and zest for life and unleashing the super-hero within.

I believe we all have potential to create the life we’re able to envision for ourselves; and more than we can imagine in fact.

Yes, you can find an ideal partner, get a Lamborghini, reach financial security, exhibit your art, become the best leader, travel for life, get fitter and healthier, win that job promotion, release an album, change career, escape the city and a million other things.

My purpose however is not just to accompany you through to living the dream.  I help you figure out what you really want, instead of what you think you need to subdue negative beliefs, insecurities and fears.

Life coaching focused on finding freedom will help you achieve your goals. So you create a life aligned with the true you, free from anyone else’s expectations.  Design a life based on your unique desires, to experience real, unbridled and lasting happiness.

I believe that we appreciate our lives and create so much more when fully connected with our inner freedom. Only then can we manifest the external freedom to match.  Only then, will you feel freedom and fall truly and madly in love with life.

This is why my life coaching in London is focused primarily on finding freedom.

CLICK HERE to pick the perfect freedom coaching course for you and book a free / no-obligations discovery call with me.

I can’t wait to connect with you!! 🙂

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HOW DO I OVERCOME PERFORMANCE ANXIETY?
BlogCoachingLifestyle

HOW DO I OVERCOME PERFORMANCE ANXIETY?

by Francesca Dal Bello
written by Francesca Dal Bello

Many of my coaching clients often ask me: How do I overcome performance anxiety?

Fear of performing in front of others can affect all of us. Even a talented singer like Adele gets nervous before a live show and a professional like Tony Robbins has a powerful warm-up routine before stepping on stage.

Recently, I was in Dubrovnik (Croatia) shooting a promotional video for the company (Elddis.co.uk/) who loaned me my campervan for the Van-Life adventure I’m currently enjoying. I thought I would sail through it having filmed before, a few months earlier (LINK to Venice video). Instead, anxiety and insecurity cropped up to sabotage my performance.

There are six steps I use in my coaching programmes to help clients achieve more freedom, and which work for calming performance anxiety too.

DISARM PERFORMANCE ANXIETY!

Over-thinking and people-pleasing are the factors that impact me most. What are yours? Being aware of the blockages helps dealing with them and focus on what’s more important.

Humans are hardwired to seek social acceptance and geared with sophisticated defense mechanisms.  They’re triggered at the tiniest perceived danger: shame, failure, and pain all play a part.

MY STEPS TO OVERCOME PERFORMANCE ANXIETY

1. CHANGE

Get ready to change mindset with the following actions:

  1. Remove all judgements, do not take things personally and make no assumptions.
  2. Disregard unfounded fears.
  3. Snap out of anxiety with calming or energising rituals. Offset trembling voice, shaky hands, memory loss, panic, with happy thoughts, a dance, smiles and slow breaths.

2. UNLEASH THE BEAUTY

I use all tools and knowledge I have, unleashing my unique traits, powers and abilities, like there’s no tomorrow.

Many uncontrollable factors can affect performance: environment, mood, health, and weather but I have control over giving my personal best, push as far as possible in that moment.

3. POWER OF LOVE

All systems need fuelling and ours works best when powered by Love.

Based on like attracts like and Love being unconditional, I fuel up to give my best performance reminding myself to LOVE ME, LOVE what I do, LOVE my audience, and LOVE whatever outcome.

4. HAVE FUN!

Have fun performing and your audience will enjoy it too.  I try not to take anything too seriously and get on with living my best life.

5. SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES

Each performance is an opportunity, regardless of outcome. I appreciate failing as much as winning. Worrying about how it will be received takes me away from the focus I need to be my best and the joy of the moment.

6. CHOICE IS OURS

Ultimately, the choice is ours.

I choose whether to change or not, show up in all my beauty or hide behind imaginary fears, fuel up with love or not, enjoy performing or create hardship, appreciate all opportunities or live miserably.

THEORY TO PRACTICE

Anxiety almost ruined my filming experience.

As the spotlight turned on me, so did my worries about my looks, choice of words, being difficult for the crew, pleasing my sponsors, my viewers opinions, missing opportunities and so on.

The moment I practiced my six steps to overcoming performance anxiety, it all changed.

If you’re looking to overcome anxiety and reach more freedom, so you can get on with living your best life, find out more about my freedom coaching programmes (LINK to PROGRAMMES) and get in touch below.

And if you’re looking for some home remedy, I hear tumeric for anxiety works well too.

TRY try my FREEDOM TEST!

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I LOVE LIFE – IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER
BlogCoachingTravels & AdventuresVanlife

I LOVE LIFE – IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER

by Francesca Dal Bello
written by Francesca Dal Bello

Yes, I love life and in return, it keeps on getting better and better.

Unbelievably, I have only a few weeks left of my vanlife year with Peter Van (Sponsor: Elddis) and just as I think it’s OK, I’ve seen it all and it can’t get any better….it simply does.

I arrived at the Dune du Pilat (https://www.ladunedupilat.com/) around 9 in the evening, looking for a camping to pitch at, and my jaw literally dropped to the campervan floor when I caught first sight of the Great Dune.

This planet Earth is insanely beautiful, and I fall in love with it more each day.  What an extraordinary natural freak-show, a sandy mountain, formed over time that keeps swallowing up the coastal habitat.

I found this areal view online, to give you an idea (I have no drone).

MY DAY AT THE DUNE DU PILAT

This site is incredible. The energy is wonderful. I spent an entire day here, 9 hours!

Entry is free but the parking isn’t. Fair enough. If you’re happy to walk a couple of extra minutes, by turning right at the roundabout as you arrive (instead of straight for the main entrance) you find a free parking lot, by the forest.  I actually camped up here for 2 nights, surrounded by many other vanlifers and right next to wild trees and wild life.  On the first night, a wild boar turned up to my van, and made the dog next door bark like mad. I didn’t see the boar, unfortunately, but I could hear them out there.

As you approach the most popular entry to climb up the Giant Dune, you find services and a few handy souvenir shops, bars and restaurant.  From April to November, there is a temporary staircase to help you reach the top of the Dune. Otherwise have fun tackling the sand. I’ve seen a few people on all fours, too funny.

It’s a good, challenging climb but the reward is mind-blowing.  Spoiler alert: From the top you will get a panoramic view of an extensive green forest to your left, and a stunning bay to your right.

This place has a magical energy.  I walked along the top ridge then settled down for a while, relaxing and soaking it all up. I met other travellers and we helped each other take cool photos (like the feature imagine). Then I ran down the sandy hill to the beach, shouting “whoohoo” and laughing out loud. Yes, crazy.

I walked along the length of the shore to the other end, to get closer to the many colourful paragliding canopies dotting the skies and the sandy slopes. The ocean was so nice and cooling and as often happens, connecting with water helps me get lots of new ideas and insights.

Slowly, I made my way back to the North side and (on recommendation from a couple of dear friends) I climbed up a wooden staircase leading to the stunning La Co(o)rniche Hotel.

I LOVE LIFE

La Corniche is a luxury hotel with a great pool and bar with a view of the entire Dune bay.  I treated myself to a light lunch and a couple of cold, light rose’. Blissful.

I’m often the only person sitting alone in these places and that gets noticed, and I don’t mind at all. I smile at everyone and share the happy vibes.  I was feeling so good, in such a great place, at the best table and on the most comfortable settee, in the middle of the terrace.

A perfect environment for letting the mind go, get creative and jot down fun ideas. I tackled a lot of work, preparing to exhibit Gr8fool at a music festival in Italy just in a few weeks time.  An amazing very lastminute opportunity with AMA Musical Festival.

Then a lovely art teacher from Bordeaux approached me and joined me at the table for a nice chat.  She saw me smiling a lot and felt the need to tell me how beautiful, at peace and happy I looked.  She was intrigued to know why. A goose-bumps moment.

I told her I am in love with life and a place like Dune du Pilat reminded me of how blessed I am to be on this planet and be able to experience it.

FINDING LOVE & FREEDOM

I climbed back up the mountain of sand to join many others, chilling as the sun prepared to set on the horizon. The vibes were so powerful and fun.  The best part? Watching people run down the Dune with childlike love for life, joy and freedom. Many dogs too.

I did the same again when I left the site… I ran down the steep hill feeling in love, happy and FREE.

If this is the first time you hear of the Dune du Pilat, I bet you’ve just added it to your bucket list? Great!

And if you’re looking to fall back in love with life and reach more freedom, send me a message and let’s connect.

Click for My Freedom Coaching Programmes

Gr8foolly,
Francesca

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FREEDOM TO BE: What Type of Vanlife are You?
BlogCoachingLifestyleTravels & AdventuresVanlife

FREEDOM TO BE: What Type of Vanlife are You?

by Francesca Dal Bello
written by Francesca Dal Bello

Wow, I’ve been living my freedom vanlife for 10 months now! Read all about it here: Vanlife Blog.

I am on the road around Europe with an adorable Fiat Ducato – Compass Avantgarde CV20 campervan, built by Elddis UK (Elddis website). His name is Peter Van.

I have the freedom to be wherever and to do whatever I want. Every day I can choose to have a similar day to the one before, or to embrace change. Learn something new, see new places, talk to new people, try new activities, act in new ways, etc. Or not.

Vanlife can be experienced in so many ways: So what type of vanlife am I, and are you?

DEFINING VANLIFE…

What does vanlife even mean? It seems like a silly, simple question with only one possible, obvious answer: life + van = living in a van.

But no, I’m here to validate that there is so much more to it. People attach different meanings to this lifestyle and experience it very differently to one another.

We can all agree that vanlife essentially means living in a movable vehicle rather than a fixed home.  But based on my experience and observing others, it can feel and look unique to each of us.

And for the purpose of this post, I’d like to extend the term to caravanners and tent-travellers too.

I’ve met people travelling with motorhomes and caravans larger than my flat in London, and others with their homes wrapped into a small tent, packed on their bicycle racks. Common denominators? Moving, wheels, nature, adventure.

FIND YOUR VANLIFE-STYLE

I’m aware this post is about to turn into a form of Vanlife Test.

Here are just a few vanlife-style options that I’ve put together based on what I’ve lived and seen over these past months on the road. They are not complete, of course; the options are infinite. You can create your own lifestyle, setting, backgrounds, surroundings, routes, feelings, journey.

The choices are endless, and the choices are yours.

In fact, we are free to choose from loads of options in our lives, whether our homes sit on wheels or not. More than you are currently imagining!

The list here-below will appear overly black or white, but imagine each title as a form of scale from 1 to 10, where at one extreme (1) you have the first description and at the other end you have the second (10). Your vanlife-style could sit anywhere on or between 1 to 10, or fluctuate each day depending on how you feel, or you may enjoy a mixture of levels and extremes.

Like an Instragram picture, you can move these filters up and down to change your vanlife-style as you please.

Wanderlust traveller  1<___> 10  Wanderlust entrepreneur

Is your vanlife solely for travels, mostly to explore new places and roam around the planet; or do you take your work and nomadic business along with you too?

Temporarily  1 <___> 10  Permanently

Do you jump in your motorhome, caravan or on your bike (with tent) for short, medium, long periods at the time; or are you permanently living on wheels? 

Planned down to a tee 1 <___> 10 Spontaneous flow

Would you have it all mapped out, with plans organised for each day; or go with the flow of the moment, following signs, mood and synchronicity? 

All kitted out  1 <___> 10  It will all work out

Do you pack everything and anything, and can’t wait to use your latest gadgets; or see what happens trusting in an adventure, finding the tools as you go? 

Campsites 1 <___> 10 Wild camping

Do you prefer sticking to camping sites only, ideally fully catered and with a pool; or tucked away in the wilderness of nature?

Solo Travellers  1 <___>10  Here with my crew

Are you on a self-discovery journey and love yourself enough to take full control and hear your every thought; or roaming with the whole family and pets? 

Settle in and stay  1 <___>10  Hop on and off daily

You stay in a location long enough to know the local grocery manager; or pitch-in and pitch-out more often than you visit the loo?

See it all FOMO 1 <___> 10 Chillout JOMO

You can’t leave until you’ve ticked the full guide list at your location; or happy to miss-out and chill (see it maybe next time)?

Packed my routine 1 <___> 10 Open to something new

Does your routine remain unchanged (same wake up call, eating habits and fashion style); or do you adapt and play with local traditions (change your breakfast, wear new clothes, etc)?

THE RESULTS ARE IN: YOUR TYPE OF VANLIFE IS…

Personally, I like spicing up my life with change, and my freedom vanlife with a bit of everything from the scenarios listed above. If I were to score myself in each category, I’d probably end up with an average score of 5 or a new result each week.

There are days I look for a wilder camping option, other days I long for a glamping place with pool and spa.   I generally don’t over-plan but at times I prefer knowing exactly where I’ll be for the following week or two. I love socialising, yet I regularly shut out from everyone and enjoy my “me time”.

My vanlife varies a lot.

What kind of vanlife are you or would you have, if you were to take up a new, more nomadic and nature-based lifestyle?

ENHANCED FREEDOM, AWARENESS & GRATITUDE

Unless you’re as cold as icebergs or as stubborn as a mule statue, one thing is pretty much guaranteed to happen on a vanlife journey: increased freedom, awareness and gratitude.

I was an established grateful practitioner even before starting vanlife, but being on the road alone has taken my gratitude to another level.  The increased freedom and enhanced awareness has rocketed my appreciation for everything, good and bad, thus the enjoyment for everything as well.

Maybe because most tasks require a little more effort than usual, or because every inch of space matters or perhaps because not everything is as handy as it would normally be. The coffee from the little stove tastes better, the hand-washed laundry (or the wait for your turn at the washing machine) adds extra scent, every drop of the hot shower feels amazing, nature’s sounds and colours are boosted, you care for yourself and the people you meet and around you.

If you’re not living the vanlife, not to worry. You can increase your freedom, awareness and gratitude anywhere you are.

WANT TO CREATE MORE FREEDOM?

It is my passion to support adventurous people committed to evolve, learn and create something new. I am a Freedom Coach because I want to help everyone reconnect with their freedom.

Do you know how free you are currently? Take my Freedom Test here: https://gr8fool.com/freedom-test/

If you’re considering making a change from where you’re at (be it jumping on board the freedom of vanlife or making a few key adjustments to your current circumstance), and want to increase your awareness, gratitude and freedom: please connect with me!

You can message me below or click on my social links (facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)

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