Creative Conversations
Just as the warmth of Spring triggers the onset of new growth, internal and external change can be the impetus for creative seasons in our lives. How we leverage these seasons of change can make all the difference. Creative conversations play a big part in the process.
The creative middle…that’s what I call the place between endings and new beginnings.
It’s that often overlooked space in transition seasons which holds some of the biggest potential for discovery and growth. If we leverage the creative middle wisely and engage it fully, we’re most likely to meet with success on the other side. If not, we miss out on some wonderful opportunities to co-create an ideal future in partnership with the Alpha and Omega…God Himself.
Transition triggers the creative process like nothing else can.
Just as the warmth of Spring triggers the onset of new growth, internal and external change can be the impetus for creative seasons in our lives. How we leverage these seasons of change can make all the difference. Creative conversations play a big part in the process.
Creative conversations…
What are they? What do they look like? Are you having them?
Creative conversations are ones that challenge us to think outside of perceived limitations and boundaries. They inspire us to experiment with new ways of believing, being, and doing. They cause us to see some situation -a crisis or conflict for example- from a new angle. They open our eyes to what could be. When we’re fortunate enough to have them, creative conversations can be the impetus for renewed hope and resolve.
Reflect on a time when you had a creative conversation with someone at a critical moment or crossroads in your life. What was the impact?
As I work with fellow transitioners, I’ve become convinced that some kind of consistent processing over a season is the key to successful transitions. I’m not simply talking about one-off conversations. These conversations can be inspirational and challenging, but with no follow-up or follow-through, we can stay stuck.
While navigating some personal life and ministry transitions, I’ve learned the value of consistent coaching sessions to keep me fully engaged in the creative process. If you’re not benefiting from consistent, creative conversations in your season of change you could be feeling alone, isolated, discouraged or confused. You could be stuck!
Coaching and Creative Conversations
Hiring a coach, particularly one in touch with your unique needs, can be a great way to break out of the isolation and start some creative conversations. A good coach is trained in the art of asking great questions and facilitating a structure around those questions to help you consider all the components of a healthy transition.
There are multitudes of titles connected to coaches these days: life coach, executive coach, health and wellness coach, transformational coach…and the list goes on. I often refer to what I do as transitions coaching, but in reality I’m a life coach who happens to be passionate about coaching around life purpose and transitions. Get the idea? We could spend a lot of time discussing what a life coach does and doesn’t do, but I often say the best way to learn is by experiencing coaching first-hand!
When transition first triggers a creative process, it can feel more like confusion than opportunity. Something is upsetting the norm, and we’re not sure what to think about it and how to respond to it.
I recently coached a missionary whose overseas assignment was coming to a close. He wanted to engage the creative opportunity as part of the shift, particularly in the area of pursuing a writing career. Our series of coaching sessions lasted several months. As one creative conversation built upon another, confusion ultimately gave way to confidence as he began to see the creative writing process as an extension of his calling.
When someone dedicated to your personal growth and professional success expresses belief in you as a person with God-given creative potential, the borders begin to expand. We begin discovering creative opportunities to live out our life callings. This is the role of a great coach.
Interested in getting coached? Here’s some tips to get you started…
Find the Right Coach for You
Whether you’re part of a business or ministry, inquire about the possibility of in-house coaching. If available, is it right for you? Or would you benefit from working with a coach somewhat more removed from your organizational and/or ministry context? You may also want to ask around for recommendations. It’s very likely that someone in your circle has benefited from working with a coach and would love to give you a referral.
Take your time and talk to a few potential coaches personally if you can. Get a feel for what they offer and what they’re passionate about when it comes to coaching. Some coaches offer complementary discovery calls, which serve to give both client and coach an opportunity to determine if the coaching relationship will be a good fit.
What will it Cost?
Funding personal coaching may be a concern when money is tight. Here’s some thoughts and suggestions…
Inquire with your HR department about helping to fund a season of personal coaching. Convinced that hiring a coach can be a great step toward personal and professional development, some businesses and non-profits are ready to invest in this way. At the very least, your inquiry could raise awareness of the need and spark a dialogue.
Always keep in mind that working with a great coach will be well worth the time, effort and any out-of- pocket expenses you may incur. Therefore coaching should be viewed as an investment, a means of stewarding our life callings well.
In summary, a great coaching relationship will challenge you to be your best and to live up to your God-given potential. It will require courage and intentionality on your part. What impact could a season of creative conversations with a coach have in your life right now? Are you ready to find out? Schedule a call HERE.
Source Image: https://www.newhope.com/business-resources/authenticity-workplace-starts-conscious-conversations
Owning Difficult Transitions: 3 Ways to Break out of the Blame Cycle
Blaming ourselves, other people and outside influences are all signs of being stuck in transition. Discover 3 ways to break out of the cycle of blame and optimize your potential in difficult transitions.
Most of us don’t knowingly choose hard transitions. They just happen.
A few years ago I decided to take on a teaching and mentoring role at a private university in the U.S. between overseas assignments. It turned out that the institution was on the brink of closure. Morale was at an all-time low, and I was the newbie coming into what I would soon discover to be the countdown for closing the doors of the college.
The initial decision to take on this role catapulted us into a huge family transition, one that seemed to have more negative impact than positive at the time. What’s more, it just kept getting worse. I began blaming myself - that my decision to lead my family in this direction was a major blunder on my part, and now we were all paying for it.
I found myself with tons of negative self-talk and a very critical attitude. Some days I was blaming the difficult transition on myself. Other days I was angry at others and blaming them. Poor decisions were to blame. American culture was the culprit. You name it, I blamed it.
I soon discovered that blaming and negative self talk only made things worse. Can I get a witness?
Whether we blame ourselves or others for our difficult and prolonged transitions, either way we are not taking responsibility, not owning our transition. When that happens, we get stuck.
Have you found yourself in a transition that seems to be spinning out of control? Are you feeling stuck in a cycle of anger, confusion and blame? What could it look like to approach your transition differently?
Let’s make a fresh start with this thought: the soil of difficult transition is often fertile ground for growth and development. Think about that last statement. Do you believe it? If not in your head, at least in your heart?
Here are 3 ways to defeat the cycle of blame and maximize your growth potential through a hard transition:
1. Go for a long-term perspective. Now from my faith orientation, long-term reaches into eternity. What if this season is preparation ground for the next? Is what you’re experiencing somehow tied to a yet unseen, bigger picture? Prolonged transitions can be really hard but they are never without purpose, EVEN WHEN OUR POOR CHOICES HAVE ADDED TO THE CONFUSION. Focusing long–term can help us gain clarity and break free from hopeless thoughts and attitudes.
2. Get personal when it come to values and priorities. Remember, transition is not setting the agenda, you are. Our personal values remind us of what really matters. Faith, family, friendships, the ways we rest, re-charge and renew- all can serve as anchors to help us ground ourselves and bring joy in the moment when we’re tempted to focus only on the complexities of transition and forget what really matters.
3. Talk about it. Seek out a trusted friend, counselor or coach to process your hard transition with. Tell your story. Worries and concerns which are brought into the light have much less chance of dragging us into the dark side of blame and confusion. Chances are you’re not the only one trying to navigate a confusing transition. When I finally began to understand this fact I started approaching my relationships differently. Rather than avoiding people and conversations I started pursuing them. You can do the same by turning your transition into a series of growth-inducing conversations.
It's time to break out of the blame cycle and leverage transition for optimal discovery and growth. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you navigate a season uniquely designed by God for your ultimate good.
Merry Christmas,
Founder & Coach, Encompass Life Coaching
P.S. As your coach I’m here to support you. Schedule a complementary discovery call to get started on your journey.
Expressions of Faith
Trying to reach your goals and wondering where faith comes in? Smaller yet more consistent splashes maintain the ripple effect more than a big splash every once in a while.
In the world of life coaching, action steps are expressions of commitment to our goals. No coaching session should end without some kind of intentional action toward a stated goal. Coaching clients who do their homework and follow through reach higher levels of growth and success.
Our faith works the same way. It becomes useless and lifeless without expression.
Faith expressing itself in love, the apostle Paul says, is a clear sign that we are allowing God to rule our hearts. When I was younger, these expressions of faith were more life-altering because they were big decisions that would forever change the course of my life: going to college, choosing my life partner, landing on a career choice, moving my family overseas...
As I age and mature, however, I'm learning that the smaller, seemingly less significant choices have just as great, if not greater impact over time. And guess what? It takes more faith to live in obscurity, doing the right thing even when nobody around us notices. Smaller yet more consistent splashes maintain the ripple effect more than a big splash every once in a while.
Think about it. What do you want to accomplish? How can you reach your goal(s) through consistent and intentional choices? What kind of expression can you give to your faith today?