In January I started a six month course in Narrative Coaching with Dr David Drake, a leading specialist in this field. Narrative Coaching is based on the concept “that stories are at the core of what makes us human“, and is aimed at supporting people in a safe and structured coaching environment to share their stories, to experiment and imagine new ones, and to embody and bring these new stories into being. It is a powerful way to assist people to change.
As a continuous learner I love nothing more than the challenge of new concepts, discovering new ideas, and appreciating what a diverse and wonderful world it is that we live in. I also enjoy observing and experiencing how my learning teaches me new and different ways to live, to work with people to bring their ideas to life.
Before we started David sent us a four powerful prompts to help us prepare for the course, to get us in the right frame of mind for the forthcoming immersive learning experience. The questions were framed to encourage us to reflect on our lives, who we are in the world, what has lead us into coaching, how we work with and listen to our coachees; all important and reflective questions.
Which assumptions, habits, stories or outdated practices could you let go of in order to free yourself to work more powerfully as a coach?
The most powerful and challenging of the four questions was the one above. It was followed up with a discussion on self-limiting beliefs in our first live session. Reflecting on this question and the discussion I came to the realisation I was indeed holding myself back; that some of my assumptions, habits and stories, self limiting beliefs – around being a successful writer, a successful coach, of being the best person I know I can be – were on a continuous re-wind loop. A loop keeping me stuck just spinning my wheels.
It was a liberating realisation because it highlighted things I can let go of – mainly beliefs and old stories not grounded in current reality – and made me aware that I am standing in my own way by hanging onto these things. Importantly, it reminded me that things do not have to be this way; I can let go and move forward and that is perfectly OK.
I am still pondering the question and looking forward to discovering what else I can let go of in the coming months. What about you? Anything that is holding you back, no longer serving you, that can be released?
Drake, David B. (2018) Narrative Coaching: the definitive guide to bringing new stories to life. CNC Press, California