I often get asked by others, why did I become a Coach. Well I have many answers to that question. I used to think that the reasons why were all separate from each other but I have come to realize that my life experiences are all intertwined and have resulted me having to be a Coach. I am the poster child of ‘been there, done that’.
When I think about what else I could do, should do or want to do, I always come down to Coaching. Always. I like to play this mind game with myself. I ask myself ‘Is this what you want to do for the rest of your life?’ or ‘is this what you had intended to be when you grew up?’
I play this Q & A with myself for a few reasons. One, because I want to make sure I wake up every day doing what I really want to do. The answer is Yes. Secondly because I want to make sure I haven’t changed my mind. The answer is No. Third, because I want to know what self sabotaging conversation I will have with myself that day. I know I will and I want to be prepared for it. I want to know if this will be a walk in the park or an all out cat fight. Seriously, I am not kidding. I know myself and my thoughts so well now that I actually wake up and do a quick check-in. First thing I think of is what kids are where and what will they be expecting of me today. (In a blended household of 5 children, 2 ex’s and 1 spouse in the house, things can get a little tricky.) Then I think of me (I know, a novel concept for a mother/woman). A laser beam scans my brain in a millisecond; head / heart / soul / emotions / feelings / experiences / agenda for the day / week / month / year / future / past (present past and past past, you know, the, poor me in I didn’t get a date to the grad past)… In seconds I know what kind of day I could potential have, all before my feet even touch the floor!
This is all good though. Why? Because I am speaking to my little voice inside my head, not just listening. I am giving myself the choice; to have or have not…a great day. You see, we all have them, these bad guys sitting on our shoulders. We all know they are there, we are just better at ignoring them some days, not so good at ignoring them other days. The only thing that is different is the way we look at them or rather, listen to them. In my case, I speak to them, and then they listen to me.
I have decided that if I am not excited to get out of bed in the morning, then I am wasting my valuable time. I only have so many days left on earth, why would I waste my valuable time. I wouldn’t just flush money down the toilet for the hell of it, so why would I flush 24 hours down the drain? When we equate situations with money, we usually get it.
So the morale of this story? Communicate with your buddy on your shoulder, or the gremlin in your head. Its ok, they don’t bite, but you do.