The essence of coaching is helping people to find their own way to overcome things that hold them back or limit their potential. This month I’m writing a shorter article. There are no tips. Instead I want to offer you challenge. That is, to answer the question “what one thing could you do (or do differently) that would have the most impact on your life?” Take a few minutes to think about it. You’ll probably find the answer is easier than you think.
Last week I met a client I shall call Pat. He came to me to help him to develop a social life. He’s very successful professionally and has a comfortable, settled home life. However he realises he is quite isolated. When I asked him how he holds himself back, he said that it was his laziness in taking initiatives in his social life. In order to overcome his inertia, he realised that all he needed to do was to pick up the phone. He gave me a list of four friends that he would re-establish contact with in the following week. As a result of our discussion, he got back in touch with them and has overcome the stumbling block that was holding back his confidence to initiate social contact.
Another one of my clients, Brian, is held back by apathy and lack of motivation. He is a freelance designer who is engaged by companies to work on specific projects. When he’s busy with a contract, he has no problem with motivation. It’s when he’s between projects that the apathy sets in. For him, making a decision to do something proactive about looking for work rather than waiting for it to come to him was all it took to overcome his blockage.
I think that we all know ways in which we hold ourselves back or limit our potential. I wager that most of us also know simple ways in which we could do something about it.
This month, why don’t you challenge yourself to find one new thing to do? Or something that you’re going to do differently. What holds you back? Identify what you will do. Decide when you’re going to do it. And do it! May it be an important step on the journey towards leading the life you truly want to lead.
Enjoy the rest of the summer!
