Life Perspectives

When I was doing my certification training with the Coaches Training Institute, we were a “pod” of 9 people from various parts of the world.  It was a very intense 6 months.  We were warned that at some point we would experience the DIP – that sinking feeling that it was all too much and perhaps we weren’t good enough.  Also, life tends to happen whether or not you have the time or energy to deal with it.  We became a support group for each other.  Part of the learning was to be coached ourselves and taken to the deepest levels of resistance.

We had the privilege of being coached by extremely knowledgeable and brilliant supervisors from other countries.  One of my supervisors was a coach in London, England.  I asked her what her specialty was and she replied that she coaches “survivors of torture”.  I felt a stab in my heart.  I asked how she coped in that arena.  She then said that she only did it 2 days a week and that it did indeed bring up memories.  I knew then that she, too, was a survivor.
It was in that moment that I experienced a huge shift.  I could feel it in my body, heart and mind. 
 
Perspectives......

Although we may never personally know such grief and pain, it doesn’t mean that our suffering and adversity is not very real and that it deeply affects how we show up in the world.  But it pointed out to me three important things:

Ø  We can all, with help and support, survive almost anything because the human spirit has that capacity.

Ø  We can never really know what another person has suffered or is now suffering and therefore we don’t have the right to judge.

Ø  We are not meant to travel this life journey alone – we all need someone to who can show us the greatness within.

My perspectives changed that day and I could hear, feel and absorb this woman’s incredible strength and courage.  Essentially, we’re all survivors.

What would it mean in your life to tap into your innate strengths, core values and courage to live the life that is truly your own?  Don’t wait for when you think you have “time”.  A coach can help you put the past to rest, unload your stress and move forward.  You owe it to yourself to take the first step.

Pema Chodron: This Lousy World