2. Structure of Bridges to New Possibility
Objective: Visualize movement.
The client may be stuck in inaction still, not trusting the benefit of even the smallest step. Ask the client to visualize two bridges. The first bridge is twice as long as the second bridge. At the end of Bridge 1 is the outcome they want to realize in a state of Perfection. The length of this bridge symbolizes the time and frustration and heartache wrapped up in trying to reach Perfection. At the end of Bridge 2 is the same outcome completed in less than a perfect state but still a job representing Best Effort. In addition, there is another bridge beyond this second bridge. In other words, the second bridge leads down a road of more opportunity. Encourage the client to play with this metaphor. Ask questions such as: How long will it take you to cross the first bridge to Perfection? How will you feel? How much time will have passed? How long will it take you to cross the second bridge to Best Effort? And what do you think is beyond that next bridge now that you’ve realized your initial goal?
3. Structure of Documenting Small Steps
Objective: Document the tasks.
Ask the client to make note of what they completed, how they felt about what they did, and how their actions might impact their next set of tasks (or smaller steps). By engaging in this exercise, the client will begin to see the work they have done and the care and focus they do bring to their work. The focus of this structure is to increase the client’s awareness in the effort and commitment they bring when they take action. Celebrate with the client their effort, commitment, and progress.
4. Structure of Team Support
Objective: Rally with others committed to supporting progress in meeting goals
Help the client identify individuals who can hold them accountable and offer words of encouragement when the going gets tough. These may be family members, friends, or colleagues, perhaps some of whom are also pursuing difficult or challenging goals and need a buddy on the journey. Members of the client’s team may include people who were important in the client’s life but who have died yet still remain close in spirit.
5. Structure of Resetting each Day
Objective: Clear or erase judgments produced from yesterday’s actions.
Work with the client to separate yesterday’s judgments, negative or positive, from the work to be done today. Encourage the client to build on yesterday if it be positive, but to not look back in despair if yesterday’s work did not meet their standards. Encourage the client to stay in the dance and keep moving in the flow of doing. The focus, again, is on movement and realizing the value in celebrating progress, any progress, however small or immediate.
6. Structure of Practice
Objective: Acclimate to a daily routine of taking action without focusing on results
This structure is closely related to Resetting the Day. It speaks to accepting when things go wrong and being always in a state of self-forgiveness, celebrating the resiliency of spirit. The structure of Practice shifts focus from self-judgment and towards accepting the possibility of what may happen if we try again. Ask the client to trust in their capacity to see a different perspective of the action they tried yesterday, for instance, in order to create a new solution for today. Practice is about letting go in order to make room for something new. Every day we get up and stay in action.
Throughout this exercise (or set of exercises) in helping the client become more aware of the value and benefit in taking action and celebrating progress, the coach also needs to be mindful of remaining in that same heartset of progress. In this sense, there is not one path or one right solution for the client to find; there are many. The coach may throw some Light on the path but the client will weave that Light into their own tapestry of hope and courage and passion as they step forward into the open experience of Progress and leave Perfection in a place of honor, always in mind but no longer overshadowing the energy of action.