In coaching it is great to feel a shift in a client. It may be a small one that is a small step toward their ultimate goal or a big one that appears as an “a ha!” moment and changes everything. The cool thing about a shift is that it requires nothing in the external world to change. The things around you are all the same but you shift how you experience them.
This past weekend I connected with a friend from out of town who had a long layover at the Phoenix airport in the afternoon. She had a curious wonderment of the Arizona heat, “Wow, it is amazing how hot it is!” We felt the breeze like an oven door opening as we walked across the street. She laughed and took a picture of the 122 degree reading in my car after it had been sitting in the sun.
A few weeks ago I decided that instead of internally or verbally complaining about the heat I would express my gratitude for air conditioning. “Thank you for the invention of air conditioning and the smooth running of the units on my house and in my car!” When some one expresses how awful the heat is, I smile and ask, “Isn’t it great to have air conditioning?” Nothing changed with the heat but I shifted slightly and became happier and more at peace.
How can you shift? Please share in a comment