Coaching Perspective

What do you see? Ocean or bird?

The Baby is afraid to jump out of the car all of a sudden. He stands at the edge of the van and trembles as if I’m asking him to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge. I thought it was bizarre or even just annoying until I realized something: he’s grown. Yes, he’s taller now than he ever has been and it has happened quickly. He’s had a growth spurt of late and now he is farther from the ground when he stands at the edge of that van. Now it makes more sense that he’s scared. Right?

Things change. Our perspective changes. In parenting and in life, often just when we think we’ve figured it out, everything changes.

I had the fortunate opportunity to spend and hour with a lifestyle coach a few weeks back. Now, I consider myself a pretty introspective person. I am constantly trying to figure out why I do things and how I can change them to be a better, more kind, more efficient, less-selfish person. I could start a library with the shelves of self-help and business building books I own. What I’ve learned is that no matter how much I work on myself, it always pays to have another person’s point of view.

Lucila provided just that, and her point of view shed some light on quite a few things for me. It’s amazing what you can learn in an hour. Her insight into what I was doing was amazing. She saw right through what I was saying to what I really meant and gave me direction and permission to do things differently.

Clearly, I am a proponent of coaching as it’s what I do for a living. I will admit though, that I wasn’t sure I needed it. I mean Lucila specifically addresses moms who are trying to be perfect. Obviously, that’s not my problem! I actually pride myself on the fact that I accept what I am-which is doing the best I can.

It seems however that we all have something we’re trying to do perfectly. I may not be aiming for volunteer-baking-committee leading-tutoring-mom of the year, but I hold myself to some impossibly high standards in a lot of areas,including motherhood. When Lucila sent me the list of “Symptoms of Perfect Life Syndrome” I was mortified at how many I can check off.

• Judge yourself? Yep.
• You say you don’t have time to…? Yep.
• You think my doing more or accomplishing more you’ll be happy? Check.

The list goes on and so do my check marks. Where do you fit in to this list?  Are you missing out on life’s everyday celebrations because you’re waiting for the big life blowout party? Are you blaming others or circumstances instead of looking within? Are you belitting your accomplishments because they are anything short of an ultra-marathon or founding Facebook?

More importantly than how many things you can check off on the list, how can you overcome it and start living your already perfect life? As for me, I think this coach might just go get herself a coach.

Disclaimer: I received one session from Lucila in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own and any coaching going forward are will be on my own.