"Never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about.”
Winston Churchill
How are you? It would be okay if you said you are confused by all of the messages bombarding you these days. I know I am. One minute I feel great and I love working from home and the solitude here; the next I dive into social media and read a post that tells me I need to take better care of myself, or grieve all the loss, or take advantage of this time for something special, but then remember all the sacrifices being made on your behalf, and then…
My good friend summed up the contradiction and the demands telling us how to feel like this:
“And then the messages about how we are all in this together, but it’s really different for all of us, so don’t think we know how everyone is feeling. And it’s ok to be upset or sad, and you shouldn’t compare how you are feeling to someone else, but be sure to recognize what people are sacrificing for you to be alive… Apparently, I am not longer an adult that can process my own emotions or make sense of the world in which I live.”
How are you processing your emotions? Are you able to get in touch with how you’re feeling, really, without any filters or suggestions?
Are you feeling the push and pull of others’ emotions – your kids, your partner, your parents, your community, your friends?
Are you taking on these feelings as your own?
I invite you to spend some time with yourself (again, in a closet or curled up in the tub if need be) and quiet all the noise coming at you and ask yourself: What am I feeling?
What arises for you?
Personally, when I’m able to shake off the sticky, slick, Facebook and news media anxiety grime and check in with myself, I actually feel energized underneath it all. Energized by my own potential. Energized by the future and the potential it holds for me.
Yes, despite all the changes, restrictions, grief, isolation, and passing anxieties, I feel energized.
How is this? How can that be? Well, you see, I am deeply rooted in my personal vision. My vision involves the growth of my business, a healthy lifestyle, getting involved in my community, social opportunities, and the revitalization of my new (old) home. Despite COVID-19, I have a vision that will last much longer than any pandemic.
Creating and Defining Vision
Do you have a vision? If so, great! I’d love to hear about it! I can support you and encourage you, and I’d love to see your vision come to life. Please share it with me.
If you said – Hell no! I wouldn’t even know where to begin! – that’s great too – because that means you can draw upon infinite potentialities.
I love potential! So many options and opportunities await you!
Now, when I say “vision,” I don’t mean a defined plan, a step-by-step guide on how to live your life (if this is what you have, and it works, keep it up!). For coaching purposes, I’m not talking about a check list or bucket list of things to get done.
I mean a vision that conveys a life you can see in your mind and feel in your heart. A life full of potential that gets you excited when you think about it.
A compelling vision is
- grounded and builds on your current strengths and successes
- bold – it will stretch you
- what YOU want (not what someone wants for you)
- palpable – you can feel it already, as if you were actually living it
- inclusive of stakeholders (family members, supporters, new people)
- motivating
Does my vision incorporate all of those elements? It sure does.
Are you curious? Are you beginning to wonder how you might develop a vision? Because, let me tell you, visions can be powerful. They can get you out of bed in the morning. They can compel you to research new ideas, compel you to discover new ways of seeing the world, compel you into taking action.
I hear you asking “Where would I even begin?” Well, I’m glad you asked!
In a coaching setting, you and I would work together to discover your strengths and the conditions in which you thrive. We explore your motivations, successes, and strategies. We would also take the time to brainstorm possible challenges that might crop up, and how you might overcome each one. And then… I ask you to commit to your vision and we continue working as you begin to make changes and begin living your vision.
Let’s Experiment!
As a coach, this is such an inspiring process to facilitate. I would really like you to experience what it might be like. Would you like to try a little experiment? I have created a short visualization for you to try. In this short guided meditation, you can practice your imagery skills and begin to develop your powerful, compelling vision.
This recording is fewer than 9 minutes and after a brief relaxation, invites you to imagine your life five years from now. Find a quiet place and give this a listen:
I hope you enjoyed that brief look into your future; I hope you felt a little excitement. I would love to hear what you imagined. Hit reply and let me know how this was for you.
Now, if you would like to continue to build a vision that gets you motivated, consider wellness coaching with me. Sign up for a free Introduction to Coaching call and we can chat more about what it would be like. I would really love to help you get to where you want to be.
So, as I bring this post to a close, I’d like to remind you that even though we are living with the reality of a global pandemic and all its unfortunate tragedy, heartache, restrictions, and new strategies for daily living, you can peel all of that away and get to your core – your essence.
You can feel positive about the future; you can feel energized about the possibilities and potential that may be lying dormant within. Just as it is okay to feel conflicted and anxious and even angry at time, it is also okay and allowable to feel positive during this time.
Make this the time you start to change. Not because there’s a pandemic, but because it’s time to stop waiting. Work with me and discover how a vision can change your life.
A Few More Reminders
You alone are responsible for your feelings. Get to the heart of your feelings, not someone else’s.
Rely on facts. Rely on reputable news sources.
Use care to keep everyone healthy.
If life starts to feel contradictory – shut it off. Whether it’s your social media stream, the news, gossip, friends… remove yourself, turn off your phone, excuse yourself to take a walk or run an errand.
Get quiet. Get present. Although the present may be the source of your contradictory feelings, being present is still important
Try this affirmation by speaking it aloud:
“In the present, I can feel what I feel, knowing that this will pass.
As it passes, I can focus on my vision.”
Let’s do that together!
Book a Session
I have set aside evening and weekend hours to meet with clients. We can meet via phone or Zoom. Take the first step today. Choose a free Introduction to Coaching session to learn more.
