Happy Sunday! Today’s quote is

“Truth is the ultimate end of the whole universe.” (Thomas Aquinas)

The aspect of this quote that immediately caught my attention was the term “truth.” It may seem obvious, but I believe that coaching sessions are more effective when the responses provided are honest.

Each situation is different and some of reasons I can think of that could result in a client not being truthful are: Sometimes, a client might adhere to a certain narrative to maintain their dignity, or because they are uncomfortable revealing their actual situation. In other instances, they might simply be unable to perceive the real circumstances and thus, their responses reflect their own perception of their world. (As I write this I am reminded that I wrote a post all about believing clients several years ago. Whilst my coaching has evolved since then much of that post I still think is valid – you can read “Do you always believe your coaching client?” here.)

Considering the concept of truth in the broader sense as presented in this quote, it aligns with my current coaching methodology. Truth is not just the ultimate goal; it’s a journey of self-realization and personal growth. The objective isn’t just to uncover the truth, but to aid the client in understanding, accepting, and acting on their truth. The idea is to create a safe space where they can remove their masks, narratives, and preconceptions they’ve built around themselves – that may seem true to them but discovering the real them under all of that is a real gift.

In this pursuit of personal truth, it’s crucial to remember that everyone’s truth is individual and profoundly personal. The aim isn’t to impose a generic truth on someone, but to guide them towards discovering their own truth. This is what makes coaching special – it’s an exploration, a journey, and ultimately, a transformation towards one’s personal truth.

Then there is the truth in the bigger sense, the Universal Truth – the things that are true in everyone’s experience. Gravity, for example, still has the same pull on everyone and everything in the same conditions. Universal truth transcends individual perspectives and cultural beliefs, offering timeless principles that are applicable across all contexts and circumstances. It serves as the foundation upon which we build our understanding of the world and our place within it, providing a framework for navigating life’s complexities with clarity and wisdom.

So, here’s to all of us persistently striving to seek, accept, and live our truth. May it direct our actions and illuminate our way. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Jen Waller

Jen Waller is on a mission to support, nurture and encourage coaching skills and talents from non-coach to coach and beyond.

As an experienced coach and trainer Jen is happy to utilise all skills at her disposal to assist clients from getting out of their own way and making a difference in the world with their coaching. Find out more about the support Jen offers here.