I challenged myself to explain coaching in 5 bullet points or less.
The Written Version
— Every circumstance in life is made up of facts and thoughts.
— Facts are scientifically verifiable data. Thoughts are our perceptions and interpretations about the circumstances. (This means that thoughts are changeable!)
— Thoughts lead to emotions, which lead to actions.
— To change our actions or emotions, we have to change the root: the thought.
— We can’t change the facts about your circumstances, but we can change your thoughts, emotions, and actions.
The Garden Analogy
The thoughts (seeds) you choose to plant will determine which emotions (saplings) and actions (plants bearing fruit) will grow out of your circumstances (weather and soil).
Circumstances: the weather and the soil (We can do nothing to change the weather and very little in the moment to change the soil).
Facts: it’s sunny and hot. The soil is dry.
Thoughts: what kind of seed you plant and whether you water it.
— Option 1: it’s too hot and dry for anything to grow here.
— Option 2: I can choose drought-resistant seeds to plant here.
Emotions and Actions: Grow directly from the seed that was planted.
The Train Station Analogy
You’re in a train station (circumstances) and you get to choose which trains (thoughts) to hop on, and which you’ll allow to leave the station without you. How smooth or bumpy will your ride be? (Emotions, Actions)… and will this train bring you closer to or farther from your destination? (Goals)
Circumstance: you don’t get the results you’d hoped for on a project.
Thoughts: the train “I’m not good enough” shows up in the station.
— Option 1: hop on this train and take a ride (feel discouraged, isolate from others) and arrive at a destination of vowing to lower your expectations.
— Option 2: let this train leave without you and find one called “I will notice what went right, and ask for help” (feel grateful, connect with others) and arrive at a destination of perseverance.
Next Steps
It’s a simple analogy to understand, but it can be difficult to live out while we’re baking in the sun or surrounded by the chaos of a busy train station.
If you’d like some accompaniment on tilling soil and choosing good seeds, let’s chat!
Paschal Disciples 