Welcome to “Wholly Naomi.” This book is not just a story, but an invitation for you to start your journey with MyNine Ways, guided by the experiences of Naomi.

Life, with its inherent complexity, is a rollercoaster of experiences and emotions. On one hand, we encounter moments brimming with joy and pleasant surprises, filling our days with happiness and a sense of fulfilment. Everything seems to align, and our spirits are high. We feel motivated, energised, and in tune with our surroundings and our inner selves. These moments are the highs of the rollercoaster, where we feel on top of the world.

However, life isn’t always smooth sailing. Just as we reach these highs, we also face the lows; periods marked by sadness, disappointment, and unexpected challenges. Things don’t go as planned when our best-laid plans fall apart, leading to feelings of frustration and despair. It might be a personal setback, a professional failure, or an unforeseen circumstance that throws us off course. These moments represent the downward spirals of the rollercoaster, where everything can seem daunting and overwhelming.

With this constant ebb and flow, it’s not unusual to feel a sense of disillusion. The continuous effort to achieve our goals, coupled with the daily obstacles we face, can take a toll on our mental and emotional well-being. There’s often a feeling of being stuck in a rut, going through the motions without purpose or direction. This disenchantment can lead to a disconnection from our deeper selves. We may forget what drives us, what we value, and what brings us genuine happiness.

This disconnection can make the challenges of life feel even more insurmountable. We might question the point of our efforts, leading to a lack of motivation and a sense of overwhelm. It can become a cycle where the more disconnected we feel, the harder it becomes to face life’s challenges, and the more challenging life seems, the more disconnected we become.

I believe that the greatest work of our lives is to get back to who we are and become all that we can be—to be our best selves and live our best lives. Or, perhaps better said, to do the work of becoming our best, leading to better, happier, healthier, wealthier, and more successful lives, as the word “best” implies a definitive peak or finality often associated with achieving something.

Life will continue to do what it does, and the ups and the downs will continue too. But we can change how we journey through it. With each passing day, we can gradually transform our dreams into tangible realities, growing into the very lives we had once envisioned for ourselves. Life provides an ongoing process of becoming, not just a series of destinations.

I am excited to introduce you to MyNine Ways, a pathway comprising nine key numbers, from 1 to 9, that serve as guides to help you become the best version of yourself and lead a life you love. This process is more than just a method; it’s a symbolic language designed to lead you towards a happier, more fulfilled self. MyNine Ways encapsulates a comprehensive approach to personal growth and fulfilment, offering you the tools and insights to enhance your journey to a better life.

If you are a life coach, you can use it to facilitate and guide your coaching conversations, with the same goal in mind; to empower others to become better versions of themselves and lead happier, more fulfilling lives. As a coach, you will want to apply MyNine Ways, gaining firsthand experience of their effectiveness. This practice not only enhances your understanding of their impact but also allows you to embody the values and behaviours associated with MyNine Ways. By doing so, you become a living example of what it means to operate at your best, demonstrating these principles to those you coach and support. Why is this important?

When we are at our best at any moment, we give our best, and we change the world for the better. Investing in our personal growth and well-being will not only benefit us but also make the most positive contribution to the world. We become the change-makers, the inspirers, and the uplifters in our communities and beyond. We are then the models of the compassionate, driven, and empowered individuals the world needs. By creating a ripple effect of positivity that touches the lives of those around us, we lead lives we love and help others to do the same.

So how do we embark on this transformative journey?

It begins with seeing—recognising what’s working well, what’s not, and identifying opportunities for improvement. Assessing each area of our lives is the starting point. It’s like taking a compass reading to navigate through unchartered territory.

What aspects of your life are thriving, bringing you joy, and aligning with your values? For these are points towards your true self. What’s not working as well as you’d like it to? For awareness is the first step toward change. What are the opportunities for your personal growth? For these are the stepping stones to becoming your best; being better and happier. What no longer serves you? For letting go of old ways provides new space for change.

I’ve written this book with one heartfelt aspiration. A hope that you’ll embark on your own journey of change through Naomi’s story. A hope that not only you connect with the significance of each number entwined with MyNine Ways, but also be inspired to continue your learning and application of those Ways in your lives with me. Over more than a decade has passed since I have been working with MyNine Ways and have become skilled at applying them to any challenge or opportunity on my way to leading to a better, happier, healthier, wealthier, more successful life. A life I love to lead.

As you start this adventure, I want to ensure you get the most out of your reading experience. Wholly Naomi is to be read sequentially, with each chapter building upon the one prior. This life is a continuous journey of growth, and so too is Naomi’s story. It’s possible that you’ll find aspects of her character and circumstances that resonate with you, and as she embarks on her journey of MyNine Ways and transforms her life, you too may experience many of those changes.

So, while you may go back to the previous chapters, I encourage you to resist the temptation to skip ahead; at least, not until you have read the entire book once. Embrace the story unfolding in front of you with an open heart, chapter by chapter, and immerse yourself in this journey.

Have a journal or a notebook ready as you read. This will be your space to capture your insights and reflections. Wholly Naomi isn’t just about reading; it’s about engaging with the content on a deeper level. Your journal will become a repository of your thoughts, allowing you to track your own growth and discoveries while giving you an understanding of what you want more of as you travel alongside Naomi.

Each chapter holds a unique perspective and a distinct lesson. They are crafted to guide you through MyNine Ways, providing you with thought-provoking insights that encourage self-reflection and introspection. Think about the nine numbers, their meaning, what they symbolise, and have to teach you about yourself and your life.

As you delve into the pages of Wholly Naomi, you may notice that not every exercise undertaken by Naomi is explicitly detailed in the book. This approach is intentional. Some exercises are highlighted for sharing Naomi’s story, while others need to be done under further guidance. The focus of this book is to capture the essence of Naomi’s encounter with MyNine Ways and for you to be introduced to them.

In the story, I’ve shared the link to my website www.mynine.co where you can download the MyNine Ways Wheel, a tool to help you visualise and assess nine crucial aspects of your life. It’s like a compass that guides you on your journey to self-improvement.

This wheel offers a visual representation of MyNine Ways, each marked by a number. It aims to prompt you to assess your happiness levels and be more mindful of your present circumstances. It will also help you work better in any of the Ways that need more effort.

In coaching circles, we often use the measure of satisfaction with one’s life. Satisfaction commonly refers to the fulfilment of our desires or expectations. It’s a sense of contentment that arises when you achieve a goal, meet a need, or experience something positive. Satisfaction can be more specific and tied to achievements or circumstances.

While satisfaction is valuable for specific goal attainment, assessing the level of happiness provides a more comprehensive and enduring perspective on well-being. It encourages us to consider the broader aspects of our lives that contribute to a fulfilling and meaningful existence. Happiness is an all-encompassing feeling that is not dependent only on specific achievements or events.

Assessing your happiness encourages you to consider the lasting impact of your choices and lifestyle, promoting sustained well-being. While satisfaction and achieving goals contribute to leading better lives, our emphasis here is on the holistic view of our well-being—placing happiness at the forefront. Happiness is tied to the quality of your relationships and social connections. Happiness is aligned with engaging in activities for their intrinsic value and joy, prioritising the experience itself over external rewards or achievements. We’ll take a holistic approach to assessing your life, the happy way.

I encourage you to complete the MyNine Ways Wheel as and when prompted in the book. It’s an opportunity to engage with the story more actively and absorb its significance. As you journey alongside Naomi, make notes about your thoughts, reflections, and updates. As your understanding deepens, so will your assessment. The Wheel will become a personal record of your insights, serving as your guide on your path of self-discovery.

As you turn the pages, remember to approach each chapter with an open heart and mind. Allow yourself to resonate with Naomi’s experiences and pause and reflect on how her journey relates to your own. Take the time to jot down your thoughts, questions, and moments of clarity. By recording your impressions, you’ll be able to revisit and track your growth. Should you have questions, or wish to share your experiences with me, I’d love to hear from you. Please email me at louise@mynine.co or contact me via my website.

I believe that the pages ahead hold not only Naomi’s story but also the potential for your own discovery. I wish you a better and happier life; one that feels more balanced, beautiful, and whole; one that I know you deserve and are worthy of. I wish you will help and inspire others to discover the same.

Yours,

Louise Gilbert

Auckland, New Zealand

[Excerpt from Wholly Naomi]