With most of our lives slowing down considerably with the pandemic, we may find ourselves settling into our bodies. Much like a snow globe finding calm as the swirling stop, we can see more clearly our lives in times of stillness.
We can find “knowing” by listening within. This knowing comes from the gut or the heart—rarely from the head. The whispers we might have been hearing for a long time about a needed change may be starting to feel louder now. Some of these whispers are YES choices—going back to school, seeking out new hobbies, building relationships. Other whispers may be NO choices—ending relationships, creating boundaries, quitting a job. I find YES choices much easier to embrace than NO choices; other people are just the opposite.
Coaching is about helping people to hear this inner wisdom that is always speaking to us. To discern what a path can be, and to help to create scaffolding to get there. Sometimes we know the decision and need support to make it. Othe times we aren’t quite sure what the whispers are saying yet. The snow globe is still settling.
It is possible to accelerate the process by listening more deeply to ourselves. Notice work, people, activities that charge you batteries and those that drain them. What makes your heart sing? What work and people make you feel alive?
Even further, notice how you are showing up to do the work—how you are “being” and how that impacts the quality of your work. Also note how you are showing up impacts your interactions with colleagues.
I offer an exercise below for tapping into your inner knowing—a process I use to begin the retreats that I offer on strengthening inner wisdom. Research supports the value of leaning into feelings of joy, creativity and curiosity as a way to discern your path. The process for discernment below focuses more on being curious about how you feeling/being rather than what you are doing.
- Write down three words that define how you want to FEEL about your decision–whether it be your career, your relationship or something else. These words might include: inspired, joyful, fulfilled, authentic, powerful, serving a greater good, making a difference, impactful, groundbreaking, integrative.
- Sit with eyes closed and hold these being words in your body—focusing on your heart or your gut. Ask yourself—”What work can I do that most aligns with these ways of being?” This exercise can be used globally. It can also be used to work on a specific project.
- Doing the exercise myself, I wrote: “Writing this blog, I want this work of mine to be authentic, inspired, and to serve the greater good. Before I begin writing every day, I remind myself of the purpose of my project and seek to channel this way of being as I do my work.”
Perhaps your snowglobe has calmed down such that you know exactly what your next step needs to be but you are afraid to take the leap. For others, you are feeling the unease associated with a change coming, but you are unclear how to proceed. Or perhaps a change has been forced upon you. I am always available for a free consultation to help to discern a pathway forward.
Take care of yourself, take care of one another, stay safe. Namaste.