I was recently in a second hand bookshop and a large bookshop chain on the same day.
I was fascinated by the different ways the two were laid out - the high street bookshop selling new titles had displays, open spaces and bright signs - in short, it was a retailer.
The second hand bookshop was more like a library - books were shelved with just the spines visible, grouped by subject or genre, laid out to help someone who already knew what they were looking for rather than catching the eye of a casual browser.
What I spotted in both shops though was a self-help section, crammed with book titles offering the solution to a better version of you and the path to getting there.
It is not just books which offer self help inspiration though - from parenting to diet and fitness, the best clothes, makeup tips, how to make your first million, publish your first book, learn the ukulele - there is a blog, substack subscription, youtube channel, tiktok video or podcast to help you on your way.
The most powerful of all of these are those where a real person is sharing their own real story though.
It is so much easier to be inspired, enlightened, encouraged and educated by someone who has lived experience of their own.
Lochaber-based holistic cognitive behavioural therapist and coach Lizzie Moult hosts a podcast offering just that - Choosing Change shares personal stories, from Lizzie herself and from other real and interesting souls, about how making small changes can lead to huge positive results in our lives and in our wellbeing.
I spoke to Lizzie about her own physical and mental journey which led her to her current life in Lochaber.
Lizzie is a well-travelled Australian who moved to Scotland with her husband and children in 2021 to start a new northern hemisphere life.
She explained: “I had this strong feeling that we were supposed to be here.
“I remember sitting in our home in Australia, closing my eyes and seeing this view from a sitting room window with a snow capped mountain with water below it.
“Soon afterwards my husband - an electrical engineer - spotted a job vacancy in Scotland. It was the middle of the pandemic. It would mean moving our whole lives to the other side of the world but it just felt right.”
This ability to manifest life changes, make the necessary moves to chase the right path and organise the details around creating a whole new life is something Lizzie talks to her podcast guests about.
From setting up businesses, leaving failing relationships, letting go of toxic situations and moving forward with new adventures, Choosing Change offers real life tips, shared stories and inspirational experiences to give listeners the motivation to look at their own lives and find the right path for them.
Lizzie continued: “My work is about helping people to live their authentic lives.
“I believe every aspect of our lives are improved by communication, expressing our feelings and emotions, setting boundaries and ensuring our lives are fulfilling.
“This leads to improved relationships and better mental health and wellbeing.
“From this solid foundation we can be happier in ourselves and with those around us.”
You can find all of the podcasts from Choosing Change, which include many local guests from Lochaber sharing their stories on improving their lives, at www.lizziemoult.com/podcast.
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