Heaven is here
As a plastic surgeon I thought that I could fix everyone and make them happy with surgery. And I could, as a reconstructive cancer surgeon. Some people wanted the big holes created by other surgeons removing their malignant tumours filled by me. The evidence shows that this can improve patient satisfaction. Yet surgery almost killed me. Surgery takes competitive people and turns them into toxic mentally ill egocentric beasts. I didn't know the difference between happiness and joy. I didn't know that I was ill. A staggering 85% of doctors have experienced mental health issues. Forty one per cent of affected doctors did not discuss their issues with anyone, through fear, and a quarter (24%) felt that there is a stigma attached to mental health issues. Yet the institutions that are supposed to look after doctors are failing miserably. Mental wellbeing is critical to our survival as a species. Up to 300,000 people with mental health problems lose their jobs each year. Today, it will be you or one of your loved ones. Publicly available data shows that two out of three surgeons in some surgical subspecialties have mental health conditions. But no-one, including the Royal College of Surgeons, is doing anything at all about it, out of fear for their own survival. What is the point of these institutions? Over one in five UK surgeons are alcoholics, with many more having other mental health issues. Surgeons have a six times higher suicide rate than the general population despite our resilience. The burnout rate in the NHS is 75 percent. Mentally ill surgeons have a six times higher complication rate. 36 percent of UK surgeons have trauma symptoms, and 12 percent of UK surgeons have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. According to "The Body Keeps The Score" by Van Der Kolk, nearly half of childhood trauma survivors numb their feelings with addictions. 75 percent of superachievers suffer in silence from childhood trauma, until it's too late. The effectiveness of medical organisations depends on the wellbeing of doctors. Michael West, professor of organisational psychology, said that the NHS should be run on compassion. In his interview, he says that the total lack of a compassionate view towards NHS staff in regard to their wellbeing has created the workforce staffing crisis in medicine. That is why you are waiting so long for appointments, procedures, and surgery. It's not due to the 'junior' doctor's strike. Doctors don't want to be doctors any more, because we are treated like dogs (and put down) by those who are supposed to care for us: They don't care.
No-one can actually truly fix anyone else. Why? Because no one is truly broken. People simply need to see themselves as whole and to remember who they truly are. They need to re-integrate and embody their fractured psyches - inner child, higher Self, and shadow (the inner critic can go into the bin in my humble opinion, but you can turn them into your coach if you prefer). People need to heal themselves. But they can't do that if they don't know that they are ill, or if they are in an environment with zero compassion.
Nothing that another person can do, say, or give can fix you, make you feel whole, or heal your fractured psyche. That is a path that you must walk your Self. It’s only a 30cm (12 inch) path from your head to your heart. Yet it’s the journey of a lifetime.
I have walked this path. The path from pain to peace. I know it very well. The path from your self to your Self. From your mind to your heart. From overthinking to awareness.
This is the Truth about how I woke up from surgery. I woke up from the nightmare. And so can you. We can get it, together, You can invoke your ‘God mode’. You need to surrender before you walk the path. To do this, you need a guide: An Enlightened Witness. You need to drop your ego. You need to embrace your Higher Self. You need to love your vulnerability, hug your authenticity, and take off your mask and suit of armour. Be your Self.
Say no to conflict, drama, blame, and chaos. Never get up from the seat of your soul. You need to become comfortable with not knowing. You need to love Faith, and wake up to real, unconditional love. Forgive, forget, and live in the present moment. Quieten your mind, and open your heart. You need to find a way of staying sane in a mad world. Embrace infinite possibility. Ask in every moment only: “What would love do?” Just rest in awareness. Stop caring what others think. Choose Heaven on Earth. Meditate. The only work that you can do is on your Self. Go for walks in Nature. Read (see my reading list.) Love your Self. Feel. Say hello to Truth and wisdom. Get your life into balance. Communicate effectively with your loved ones. Realise your Real Personal Power. Serve. Drop fear like a stone. Find your inner joy. Fuc* shame. Find your VOICE. Speak Truth to ‘power’. Be a light to others. You are a Super-achiever - you have just forgotten that. Super-achieve.
I swapped the blue pill for the red pill. This is nothing less than Self-realisation and Enlightenment. You need to choose to BE, in every moment. How did I do it? Well you might just have to wait and read my book. Or email me to continue this conversation. I am now a Transformative Life Coach (TLC): I have shifted from fixing people on the outside, which doesn't ever bring lasting joy and peace, to guiding people into themselves, which is the answer to everything. Wake up from this dysfunctional, Dystopian, illusory, mentally ill, nightmarish world into a life that is better than a dream. Come home to you.
Watch this space…
Please let me know if you would like to join our 'VOICE for men' VIP community: 'Vulnerability & Openness Is a Choice Ensemble', 'Visibility Is Power', where men can find their strength, courage, and authenticity, by dropping their egocentric fears and instead communicate openly with vulnerability. We are co-creating this space. It will change your life. It will empower you. This community is a safe space for men to connect and discuss philosophy, spirituality, positive psychology, awakening to Self-realisation, wisdom and timeless Truths, to share our experience, strength and hope, and to find solutions to our pain and fears. Our meeting is free to join. There is no script, just sharing. Thank you very much to Selwyn, counsellor, for co-hosting.
Email me: hello@transformativelifecoach.co.uk
My gift is to be your guide on your very own 'Hero's Journey'...
“Transformative life coaching uniquely creates and holds the space for you to see your self afresh, with clarity, and step into new ways of BEing, which will transform how you perceive and intuitively create your world. My work is to guide you to raise your own conscious awareness to the level that you want to achieve.” Olly Alexander Branford
My coaching themes and services: Transformative Life Coaching, Transformational Coaching, Life Coaching, Personal Coaching, Positive Psychology Coaching, Recovery Coaching, Trauma Informed Coaching, Work Addiction Coaching, Workaholism Coaching, Addiction Coaching, Mindfulness Coaching.
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Suggested Reading
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Hello,
I am very pleased to meet you. Thank you for reading this far. I very much look forward to connecting with the highest version of you, to seeing your highest possibility, and to our conversations. Please do contact me via my website for a free connection call and a free experience of coaching.
See you soon,
Olly Alexander Branford MBBS, MA(Cantab), PhD
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I have a Bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences from Trinity College, Cambridge; a Master's Degree in Philosophy from Trinity College, Cambridge; a PhD Doctorate in Scientific Research from University College London (UCL); a Medical Degree (MD/MBBS) from The Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London and have been a doctor and reconstructive trauma and cancer surgeon in London for 20 years. I have published over 50 peer reviewed scientific journal articles, have been an associate editor and frequent scientific faculty member, and am the author of several scientific books. I have been awarded my Diploma in Transformative Life Coaching in London, which has International Coaching Federation (ICF) Accreditation, as well as the UK Association for Coaching (AC), and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). I have been on my own transformative journey full time for four years and I am ready to be your guide to you finding out who you really are and how the world works.