Every now and then you hear from someone you’ve not spoken to in a while and their story makes you really stop and think. That’s what happened recently to Funeral Notices Director Darren Minns.
Recently, Darren re-connected with a friend and former supplier to the funeral industry, Mark Edmondson. Mark has launched a new business to help people live positively, despite challenges. Interested in his story and change of career, Darren asked Mark to talk about his new vocation to help others, Positive Vibes Only.
Positive Vibes Only - When your world comes crashing down, we give you hope for the future.
What is Positive Vibes Only (PVO)?
PVO offers accessible support to anyone facing adversity. Founder Mark Edmondson works closely with clients to produce an individual plan to help them live a positive, fulfilling life. He achieves this through open and friendly conversations. Providing support to people to empower them, provide positivity and offer hope for the future.
Why is Mark best placed to help?
Founder Mark Edmondson with his family
Mark says: “Nothing prepares you for being told you have less than a year to live...”
“That’s what I faced in early 2017, after being told I had stage 4 cancer. At the age of 35, my life was turned upside down.
“Whilst I still live with cancer, my perspective on life has completely changed and as a result, I live with greater joy and appreciate what my life still offers me. That’s not to say I haven’t suffered and experienced dark times and moments. I have many of them… but I try to learn from them, feel the negative emotions and move forward.
“I’ve benefited from therapy and learnt to talk much more to my friends and family. Modern society still encourages us to be brave, to stand up to our challenges, internalise them or “just deal with it!”
“My aim is to remove that notion, to utilise professional help, talk to friends and work through those feelings, some which I had buried away for decades. My therapist, who has supported me over the last six years, has been an incredible help and allowed me to feel comfortable expressing myself to be more honest and release a lot of the built-up emotion.
“I’m not perfect and I still find moments when I revert back to the old me, or my social conditioning still prevents me from communicating effectively… but I’m now aware of that and I can apologise, explain and move on.
“By talking, I’ve released resentment, anger, frustration and many other negative emotions.
“I’ve had hard conversations with people and challenged myself to face up to the previous status quo and change it… to allow people to see who I really am.”
What are the aims of PVO?
Mark draws on his own experience to help others
Mark wants to change the way we talk to one another. He believes that almost all of us will have experienced some kind of trauma in our lives. This impacts the way we view life.
PVO tailors a service to the individual designed to help them overcome obstacles and adversity.
The service isn’t just for people who have experienced major trauma; it’s for everyone.
Mark believes everyone has a right to help and support, whatever their experience or situation.
#LETSTALK - The PVO Process
PVO uses the ‘double diamond’ model to help make people the best they can be. The process takes you on a journey from a problem to a solution. Mark guides you through the process, providing regular sessions in a safe environment. The aim being to give you a better understanding of who you are and provide you with the tool kit to guide you through life.
Get in touch
To contact Mark, email him directly on Mark@PVO-life.co.uk - check out his website here:
