More so than anger, sadness, grief, joy, or happiness, we hate feeling uncomfortable. It's an itchy, loud, grumbly, spinning, achy feeling with a million shortcuts to feeling vulnerable. Like a sailboat sitting idle in a windless sea, we often resort to filling the sails with actions and words, or anything really, to get it moving - regardless of the direction.
During one of our first coaching courses, we discussed the difference between sympathy and empathy. For me, empathy meant to "sit with someone in their discomfort." To hear it, see it, feel, and take it in as your own. From these moments - clarity can emerge - but only if you let it. Often, as a friend or coach, we don't want our clients, friends, or ourselves feel uncomfortable, so we give advice, down play the situation, or avoid it altogether. The ability to recognize when to let the discomfort play out and when to take an action, is paramount to a successful coaching relationship.
Coaches don't control. They don't push. They'll encourage you to look around, take in your surroundings - so that you can open the sails and take off when you're ready.
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