EVERYTHING IS A LIFE COACHING WORKSHOPpar Simon Beauséjour
They say behind every great man there's a great woman; and I say, behind every great coach is a great life coach. I find that the way you do one thing is the way you do everything. In whatever situation you address, it’s all a matter of your posture, motivation, determination and your own personal way of doing things. This is why I titled this article: EVERYTHING IS A LIFE COACHING WORKSHOP.
Take this coach’s recent experience for example… I joined a gym! After having extensively considered the matter, read magazines, examined the options, shopped around for the plan that suited me best, arranged my schedule and made my table of 'pros' and 'cons '. Then I finally registered, prepared my bag and went over for my first session. But on the way to the gym, last minute and unexpected feelings (or in my vocabulary; “programs”) started to rise. What are those feelings? Where do they come from? And how did I deal with them? Here are a few answers.
The program of “excuses”: Anything I can find to prevent me from going; such as: - I have no time! - Go there during lunch break? Too short! - Go at night? I’ll be too tired. -This is for others; those who are already fit and want to maintain it. - I could really spend my time on something else. - My health? My doc already told me that everything looked OK, two years ago... - Wow, gyms are expensive! I could really spend that money elsewhere. - I'll wait until I’m absolutely sure before investing in it. - I know plenty of people who have started and quit along the way. - The annual membership fees are not refundable? So if I quit, I'll lose my money. And quite a few more…
The program of “what will I look like”. - Are my workout clothes up to date? or the same as my last visit to the gym, 5 years ago? – Do I have to look like an athlete and if not I will stand out? – I’m new, so I’ll be red as a tomato and pant like a dog! - All these machines! Which one does what exactly? I probably look pretty lost! - That’s how I’ll look the first time, then I’ll have to return and they’ll recognize me…
The program of “self-sabotage”: heading out to the very first session, what did I forget? The training program I had so carefully chosen on the Internet ... Forgotten? Circumstances? Confusion? Or simply a pre-programmed idea of “I told you this wouldn’t work”... Supported by a firm conviction and determination that I was doing the right thing, the exercise guide would have been one of the first items to find its place in my bag. Certainly, a lesson to be learned for the next time I find myself in such a situation.
The programs of “competitiveness” and “performance”: This exercise thing, am I doing it for me or for the others? What really matters? Be the best ... or be in shape? So why risk falling into the trap of comparing my performance with that of others around me? I must honestly admit that I did deal with that program for a while, up until it was time for the rubber to hit the road (or in this case, for the soles of my running shoes to met the treadmill carpet) and at that time, trust me, all that mattered was to make it happen and nothing else.
AND THEN… came the program of “perseverance and determination”. This is definitely the one that - in this coach’s humble opinion - allows us to make it through any test. It is the mindset that has maintained my interest all along and has seen my motivation through when the muscle pain started to appear! It allowed me to return the second time and then the next few, until the habit was established. It also allowed me to clearly see the real reasons why I got interested first and foremost.
So there you have it! My behind-the-scenes experience of that event. Of course, I could have used a thousand other life situations: my first coaching experience in front of a group, my wedding day, my parachute jump, happy situations, scary situations, sad situations or exhilarating situations. Again, what it all boils down to is this: - How am I showing up? - What is holding me back? - What is moving me forward? This coach says: it’s all a matter of awareness; of every moment of every experience. Identifying and dealing with the feelings is what sees me through with fun, excitement and a deep desire for more life experiences that will enable me to discover new and interesting stuff about myself.
What is YOUR gym? Driving on the freeway? Learning a musical instrument? Walking by a big dog? A conversation with your teenager? Dealing with your parents? Dealing with your boss? Coaching a new client? Hiring a new accountant? YOU choose… Everything is a life coaching workshop!
