By Coach Meg
Wellcoaches Corp.
To listen to a 40 minute recording of the coaching session, and Charlotte's testimonial,
click here:Coaches get the chance to observe a perspective, or paradigm, through which a client sees his/her world.
Sometimes these are self-limiting perspectives, like "I can't change this at my age," or "I'm never going to lose weight."
Charlotte, who we met a few weeks ago, had a belief about a few of goals that made her feel limited in her ability to achieve them. Partnering with her to see the tasks in a new way, as a way to use her strengths, enabled her to see more choices for taking action.
Perspective WritingI've found that exploring many perspectives can be valuable when facing a decision, especially when we aren't clear or feel we have limited options. One way to play with perspectives is do some writing. You don't have to be a “good” writer to experiment with this and there is certainly no right or wrong way to do it. It's simply a great way to get thinking about beliefs, options, and impact.
Here are a few ways to try it out:
1.Write a journal entry written as if you were someone else (your spouse, your teacher, or your dog, for example). Look at the situation from another person's (or being's) perspective and sense what they might feel.
2.Write three separate journal entries as if the decision or change had been made one week ago, 1 month ago and 1 year ago. Reflect on the decision or change as if it had been enacted. What was the impact? What is your reaction?
3.Write a journal entry from the perspective that assumes the path you did not choose. Explore the “What ifs?” and the consequences of that choice.
4.Write a journal entry as if it were your 90th birthday party and you are reflecting on the highlights of your life. What was the role of this decision or change in those peak experiences?
5.Write a news story about the situation. Take a reporter's view, being objective and factual in your writing. Answer the questions Who?, What?, Where?, When?, and How? Interview others and include their quotes in the story.
To listen to a 40 minute recording of the coaching session, and Charlotte's testimonial,
click here:Margaret Moore, also known as "Coach Meg," is CEO and founder of Wellcoaches Corp. in Wellesley, MA.