As a Certified Self-Leadership Coach, I believe deeply in the potential of each of my clients to grow and live a fulfilling life. When Oliver Wendel Holmes said, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” he undoubtedly was acknowledging the full range of life possibilities that exists in each of us. To the extent that we decide what we want, each of us can make affirming decisions and lead a life of our choosing. This is what self-leadership is all about, choosing a unique and purposeful direction and heading that way.
Holmes also is quoted as saying “Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.”
This is sad but true. Many people live their lives guided by the diminishing and limiting thoughts, beliefs, and inner messages developed from their past experiences. They rely on old behavioral patterns to deal with life’s current struggles. And they end up feeling victimized, stuck, unhappy, and unsure of what to do, forgetting that they have a choice to create new and better responses to life’s challenges and opportunities, leading to a richer more enjoyable life. They wait for life to change for them, and then end up growing old without ever having chosen or pursued how they wanted to live.
What holds us back. We hold ourselves back.
So, how do we avoid spending our days guided by old thoughts, assumptions, interpretations, and behaviors, that may have worked once, but no longer allow us to grow?
In a previous blog post I wrote about making choices: https://www.watersoverstone.com/the-choices-we-make/ . It’s worth a read. I offered this prompt: Stop for a moment and ask yourself – “when was the last time I reflected on what matters most to me? What principle do I believe in? What do I really care about? Am I in a place in my life where my choices and actions reflect who I am and what I value? Is it time for new choices?”
Self-leadership is about self-discovery, affirming choices, a vison of your new path and a commitment to following it with intention and on purpose. It’s a challenging, valuable, and rewarding journey made easier with a Coach. I’d be honored to work with you. Send me note.
Next time: The journey of self-leadership
