OUR BLOG

I’m a coach, not a psychologist, but let’s play a little word association game.

Yin … Yang

External … Internal

Force … Intention

Wait … What was that?

Yeah, how that last pair matches up isn’t exactly intuitive.  But hang with me.

I want to tell you a story from long before I was a coach, but very relevant to my here and now.  And given what my clients say, probably relevant to you as well.

Any physicist will tell you that light exhibits the characteristics of both particle and wave.  I’m partial to the wave aspect of light, and I think there’s something to be gained from becoming “less particle and move wave” as we move through our lives.

I know that my sound a little odd but hang with me.  This is a line of thinking we get from the ever-transformational Dr. Joe Dispenza.

There’s a book I’d recommend to everyone out there … Happy for No Reason by Marci Shimoff.  It’s chock full of life coaching lessons that inform every aspect of our lives.

I was re-reading it recently as part of my morning practice and came across this story that really touched my heart and made me cry.

Let that be fair warning. 

It doesn’t get any sweeter, heartwarming or tear-jerking than this.

Think you’re pretty smart?

Really?

Computers can process information and “think” through complex problems so much more quickly and more accurately than we can that we look positively dumb in comparison.

That’s why everybody’s so het up on artificial intelligence.  It allows us to do things it would take us humans forever to accomplish if we could accomplish them at all.

But are we really talking about actual intelligence when it comes to AI?

Not really.

During the recent hurricane here in WNC, I was reminded of a distinction I learned as a brand-new life coach 20+ years ago … one that would serve all of us well to keep in mind!

Thomas Leonard, the founder of Coach U, who many consider the “father” of coaching, created a Personal Foundation Program.  It’s a pretty intense undertaking, with ten foundational steppingstones designed to enhance your personal and professional success and fulfillment.

These life affirming steps include foundational pieces such as getting rid of the things you’re tolerating, raising your standards, strengthening your boundaries, and living a life aligned with your values.  All important elements if you’re going to be happy in this world.

Enter the hurricane.

Ten days without power and water.  Thirteen days without internet … and still counting … and we couldn’t be more grateful.

We’re safe.  The puppy is safe.  The house is undamaged.  Power was finally restored this weekend.

We can get out, weaving through the remnants of the 22 downed trees … mostly huge oaks … and lots of downed wires … to get to a larger road.  We have to stick to the far side of the road to avoid where the roadbed on the dam above the twin lakes has collapsed.  It’s a mess.

I was appalled.  As a life and business coach, so much of my work is about connecting with people and helping them connect with others in a meaningful and impactful way.

So, what I saw was pretty disturbing.  The incident itself was of no real consequence, but what it implied for the way society is shifting was troubling.

You’re avoiding something, aren’t you?

How do I know?  Because almost everybody is!

As a life coach, I work with folks on their goals … the actions they need to take to reach those goals and what’s stopping them from taking those actions.  And guess what?

Almost everyone has something they just can’t bring themselves to do.  If you’re one of us, don’t beat yourself up.  It’s a human thing.

Yeah, it seems there are about as many different reasons to avoid doing what we know would be in our best interests as there are people on this planet.

Not exactly a revelation.  So why do I bring it up?

Because recently, I came across one simple statement that resonated so deeply with me that it helped me move past that “safe” place of inaction.

Human beings, corporations, countries, and entire civilizations can be thought of as operating in one of two basic modes … growing and expanding or static and complacent … maybe even declining.

What does that have to do with you?