You Have the Power Within

I\’m delighted to have met some truly wonderful and inspiring coaches during the course of the Advanced Coach Training workshop that we ran from Friday to Sunday.

One such person was Jacques Gouws who recently gained certification. Jacques is doing great work to espouse the cause of life coaching in what is a relatively conservative part of the world where the very idea of life coaching is traditionally meet with more than a little scepticism!

Jacques handed me a copy of an article that he had penned for his local newspaper. I loved it, adapted it somewhat and added a few thoughts of my own. With Jacques\’ permission I have reproduced it here on the blog as a co-authored article:

[box type=\”shadow\”]“Most people live – whether physically, intellectually or morally – in a very restricted circle of their potential being. We all have reservoirs of life to draw upon of which we do not dream.”

– William James[/box]

You\’re invited

We invite readers of this article to take a little time out to look carefully at their own lives for a few moments.

Chances are you are reasonably financially stable, enjoying a secure relationship with one or more beautiful children. You’re self employed, involved in an honourable profession or vocation or perhaps you’re a valued home maker. With luck you have a supportive family and a nice circle of friends.

Life should be good … but is it?

Not knowing where to turn

Our research has shown that a great many people leading lives that, on the face of it, seem attractive, are actually deeply unfulfilled and feeling trapped – knowing that they want so much more from life but not knowing where to turn to get it.

This is a common affliction of modern day living. On the surface all appears well, but inwardly there is a serious conflict of emotions between what we think we ‘should’ be feeling and experiencing and what we really are feeling at a deep level.

Do you regularly harbour any of the following thoughts?

•    “The day to day routine is killing me. I am stuck in a rut.”
•    “I don’t feel deeply loved.”
•    “My job has become that – just a job.”
•    “The excitement has gone out of my life.”
•    “I feel like my personal growth has stagnated.”
•    “I don’t even really know who I am anymore. I wear a ‘mask’ every day.”

If so, rest assured that you’re not alone.

A strange disconnect

We speak from personal experience, when we say that many of us are plagued by a strange kind of disconnect between our subconscious and conscious minds.

When removed from the day-to-day, with time to introspect or think deeply, we are capable of visualising the most amazing and exciting things but when forced to resume ‘business as normal’ again those ideas quickly evaporate, replaced in our minds by the nagging ‘if’, ‘but’ and ‘if only’ type questions.

A state of paralysis

We seemingly enter a state of paralysis, unable to act on the promises of a better life that we are given the power to visualise.

And continued inaction has a debilitating effect, often resulting in:

•    depression;
•    obsessive or addictive behaviour, such as resorting to drugs, smoking, drinking, engaging in wanton sex and so on;
•    relationship tensions and failures with associated feelings of frustration and guilt; and, in extreme cases even
•    suicidal feelings.

Treating the symptoms

Instead of listening to the desperate appeals of our subconscious mind to take action to address the root cause of our unhappiness, we look to treat the symptoms by, for example, taking antidepressant medications. Or we look to our past to try and unlock the reasons for our unhappiness and we sign up for some form of counselling or therapy.

Of course counsellors and therapists perform a vital role in assisting people who are deeply affected by past experiences and traumas. But the truth is that for many ‘ordinary people’ the solution is not to be found in issues of their past but rather in their attitudes towards the current and the future.

A conditioned belief

In today’s world we have become conditioned to believe that the solution to our woes lies somewhere ‘out there’, when all along the solution lies within.

Did you know that, just as you have the ability to conjure up all manner of excuses for the inaction that is causing your lack of fulfillment you also possess everything you could possibly need to achieve your dreams?

By following the route that your subconscious mind (or your internal voice) has been pleading you to take, you can bring about a turnaround in your life that will seem nothing short of miraculous. Be reassured … you have the power within you.

Take responsibility

The secret is to resist the temptation to blame your environment, your upbringing, other people or simply the finger of fate and to learn to take full and personal responsibility for your own life.

If you need help doing this – and most do, then we strongly recommend life coaching. It’s not the second fastest growing industry in the world for no reason. It really works!

Life coaching – present and future focused

Life coaching is present and future focused, empowering and motivating and it offers you the tools you need to live a fulfilling life driven by the unique purpose that you are here on earth to fulfill.

You have the power within you.

Your challenge is to accept that, to access your power, to use it … and to start living again!