Dare you - Move Forward?
Posted on February 26, 2019 by Coach Wendy Wong, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
Sometimes, we all need some help moving forward. Our logic tells us the actions are seemingly simple. Our lack of action confirms it's not easy. Why?
The LRT was full when I boarded and I was left with no other option but to stand. Slowly, as passengers alighted, I found myself a seat, silently celebrating my stroke of good luck. Not long after, I realized a cold gust of air blowing right down on me. Brrr… It was uncomfortably cold. I made a friendly remark to the passenger next to me as I tried to figure out where the cold air was coming from. She nodded in agreement. We both felt like frozen meat!
As more passengers alighted, I noticed a row of empty seats adjacent to where I was sitting, just 5 steps away. “Should I move? Would it be warmer there? Since it is cold here, why would it be any different there?” Despite pondering on these questions with my seatmate, neither of us made the move. We sat in discomfort for a good 10 minutes before I caved. Voilà! Within a quick minute, I was cosy and comfortable. I beckoned the passenger who was sitting beside me to move as well, and she finally relented.
Now, as I sat comfortably in my new seat, I wondered why it took me so long to make a simple, low-risk move? I was clearly not alone in this endeavour. I believe inertia played a role. It’s hard to make a move when there are remnants of “good” left in our current situation. I, after all, had a seat. A cold one, but at least I was not standing. I clung on to the memory of my past good fortune when I first scored my seat. Giving it up was like letting go of something that still had some value in it. I get this same feeling when I declutter and have to let go of things that no longer serve me well. It’s easy to feel comfortable with the status quo, inertia locks us in, and we stay put although slightly dissatisfied. How often do we find ourselves clinging on to mediocrity? The fear of “What if we fail?” looms. Our minds flicker between risks and opportunities. We often find ourselves stuck with indecision and inaction.
If it’s hard for the small stuff, what would it take for us to make a major life transition? Coaching is one of the great ways to get “unstuck.” International Coaching Federation, ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching significantly accelerates the achievement of clarity. It helps you make better choices and it doesn’t stop there. The process of coaching is profoundly useful to anchor self-accountability, solidify a plan, and mobilize actions toward a desired result.
As a coach, I have seen how the coaching process has accelerated the positive impact on many. Everyone needs a coach. It maximizes your potential from good to great!
Want to learn more? Check out my website at www.petadiri.com
