knowing


Embracing Intuition: Navigating Life’s Uncertainties

This image is split in half on the right is a quote written in black text on a white background. On the left is a black and white photograph of Zora Neale Hurston, an African American lady, taken in the late 1930's/ early 1940s when she would have been in her late 40s early 50s. The photograph is taken outside and from a slightly lower angle so although she is looking forward its not at the camera. She is wearing a hat at a slight angle and her hair is cut short in an age appropriate style. she is partially smiling.
She is wearing a top that is showing as grey and the weave of the material is visible. Around the neckline are circular metal embelishments.
The text to the right reads: “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” (Zora Neale Hurston)

Happy Sunday! Today’s quote is:

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” (Zora Neale Hurston)

Hurston’s words capture the essence of the ever-changing nature of our experiences, where some periods are characterized by questions and uncertainties, while others bring clarity and understanding.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your intuition guided you towards a decision, even when logic seemed to suggest otherwise? This silent knowing, this deep sense of intuition, is a powerful guiding force that often defies rational explanation. It’s a whisper from within, nudging us in a certain direction, urging us to trust the process even when the path ahead seems unclear.

Intuition

Intuition, often described as our inner knowing or gut feeling, is a powerful yet subtle force that guides us through life’s uncertainties. It’s that quiet voice within us that whispers guidance when logic falls short. For example, think back to a time when you had to make a significant decision, and despite all the pros and cons laid out before you, something deep inside urged you in a particular direction. Perhaps it was a job offer that seemed perfect on paper, but your intuition told you it wasn’t the right fit. Or maybe it was a relationship that looked ideal from the outside, but your inner voice warned you of underlying issues.

These moments of intuitive insight often come when we least expect them, and they can be easy to dismiss or ignore, especially when they contradict our rational thoughts. However, learning to trust our intuition is essential for navigating life’s twists and turns with grace and confidence.

For me, this sense of intuition or innate wisdom recently manifested in my decision to pursue a Transformative Coaching certification. Despite feeling that the timing was not ideal from a logical standpoint, I couldn’t ignore the persistent pull towards this opportunity. Trusting my intuition, I took the leap, and as I embarked on this journey, I began to understand the subtle yet profound ways in which our inner wisdom shapes our experiences.

In embracing the uncertainty of life, we cultivate a deeper sense of trust in ourselves and the universe. We learn to listen to the whispers of our intuition, recognizing that they often lead us towards growth and self-discovery. It’s about surrendering to the unknown, letting go of the need for certainty, and allowing ourselves to be guided by the wisdom of our inner compass.

Ultimately, learning to trust our intuition is a journey of self-discovery and growth. It requires patience, practice, and a willingness to lean into the unknown. But as we cultivate a deeper connection with our inner guidance, we gain a powerful tool for navigating life’s complexities with grace and confidence.

Moreover, being comfortable with the unknown doesn’t always mean passively waiting for answers to come to us; rather, it’s an active engagement with the process of self-exploration and discovery. It can be about asking the right questions, exploring new perspectives, and being open to the lessons that each experience brings. Just like when googling for an answer and changing the wording of the request can produce a different set of answers – sometimes the requests we make to our own inner knowing/wisdom can seem logical to our intelect but changing that wording can produce different answers.

As we navigate through the uncertainties of life, let’s remember that every question, every moment of doubt, is an opportunity for growth and self-awareness. It can be in these apparent moments of vulnerability that we can discover our true strength and resilience, and it’s through embracing the unknown that we unlock the door to endless possibilities.

Whilst it may appear that time has a strict linear progression of cause and effect, in my experience we don’t always know the answers at a time when we think that we “should”. Which is what I think Zora Neale Hurston is pointing towards with this quote. Sometimes the answer to explain what our wisdom is guiding is to do isn’t actually revealed to a later time.

In conclusion, Zora Neale Hurston’s quote serves as a poignant reminder of the cyclical nature of life, where questions and answers intertwine to shape our journey. By embracing uncertainty, trusting our intuition, and remaining open to the mysteries of the unknown, we embark on a path of self-discovery and transformation that leads us towards deeper understanding and fulfillment.

About Jen Waller

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.


Knowing versus Doing

In this week’s guest post Amber Fogarty shares her expertise and thoughts about what will assist you, as a coach, to continue growing.

Knowing versus Doing

By Amber Fogarty

In my last Coaching Confidence blog post, I wrote about the importance of being coachable. I also emphasized the value of HAVING a coach if you are a coach.

Here’s the undeniable reality: Even coaches get stuck. Our lives aren’t perfect, and we shouldn’t claim that they are. In many cases, we KNOW what we should be doing. We just don’t always do it. Right? In each of our lives, there is often a gap between knowing and doing. At times, that gap is as wide as the Grand Canyon.

We’ve all heard the saying that “knowing is the enemy of doing.” Knowing is also the enemy of learning, and we always have more to learn.

At a recent team meeting of the coaches in the SOS Coaching Network, we discussed the pressure coaches often feel as they strive to be “a product of the product” and how tough it can be for coaches to challenge themselves in the same ways they challenge their clients.

Our founder Bill Moyer, a veteran coach of 25+ years, imparted this advice, “You can teach something you haven’t mastered, but you can’t teach something you haven’t tried.” He reminded us of the importance of continuing to strive to become a better version of ourselves.

Bill’s words of wisdom ring true, “Perfection is not a realistic goal nor is it relatable for the people we work with. Our clients don’t need a perfect coach, but they do need a coach who’s growing. Working toward our full potential is a lifelong journey. We can NEVER stop growing.”

One of our organizational mottos is, “If you don’t grow, you go.” We share our personal development goals and continually work to achieve them. We encourage each other, while recognizing the need for personal accountability in addition to accountability to each other and the clients we serve. All of us are in the personal development industry, so we must remain committed to our own personal development.

Give some thought to these questions today:

  • Am I stuck? If so, what am I doing about it?
  • Where do I see a gap in my life between knowing and doing, between my thoughts and my actions?
  • Am I striving for perfection, an unattainable goal?
  • Do I challenge myself in the same way I challenge my clients?
  • Do I have a personal development plan that outlines specific goals that will help me to reach my full potential?
  • Do I have a coach who I meet with regularly who holds me accountable for the goals that matter most to me?

 

About the Author/Further Resources

Amber Fogarty is a Partner and Coach with the SOS Coaching Network, which unites an elite group of coaches, trainers, and consultants from around the world, providing them with personalized programs, one-on-one and group coaching, and tools to help them succeed in the rapidly growing coaching industry. Learn more at www.soscoachingnetwork.com.


Am I Uncoachable? Am I Unapproachable? 1

In this week’s Friday guest post coach Amber Fogarty shares her thoughts and experience with those who are uncoachable and unapproachable.

Am I Uncoachable? Am I Unapproachable?

by Amber Fogarty

Raise your hand if you’ve ever encountered someone who was uncoachable. How about someone who was unapproachable? Surely, you’ve encountered both types of people in your coaching business and in your community. Being both uncoachable and unapproachable is one of the worst combinations.

Take a moment to think about yourself and your interactions during the last month. Can you think of times when you’ve come across as either uncoachable or unapproachable or both?

Many blogs posted on this site have highlighted the importance of coaches having coaches. I strongly believe that one cannot be an effective coach without a coach of his or her own. One of my mentors in the coaching industry, who has been a coach for more than 25 years, once told me that “a coach without a coach is a con artist.” Strong words, but words I believe to be true. How can we sell the value of coaching to others if we don’t have a coach ourselves? We must be a “product of the product.”

But what makes someone uncoachable? There are so many factors that can contribute to “uncoachability.” Here are a few of my favorites, worded as I statements so that you can challenge yourself to think about whether or not each one applies to you.

  • I am uncoachable because I do not want to change.
  • I am uncoachable because I do not believe that I need to change.
  • I am uncoachable because I believe I know more than the coach. (Knowing is the enemy of learning.)
  • I am uncoachable because I think it’s not the right time to (fill in your excuse here).
  • I am uncoachable because I think something or someone else needs to change before I do.
  • I am uncoachable because I need to be in control 100% of the time.
  • I am uncoachable because I do not like to be challenged.
  • I am uncoachable because I am not open to feedback.

Bearing all this in mind, are you uncoachable? A very wise coach once told me that being coached is about being open to all possibilities. It is about being challenged to be a better version of yourself.

How can you strive to be more coachable? To be more open to feedback? To embrace change?

I recently was introduced to a networking expert by one of my coaching clients. I reached out to this new contact so that we could get to know each other and see if there were any opportunities for us to help each other. Her response to my request for a meeting indicated that she was really busy and was “only meeting with people who could directly impact her cash flow.” How could a networking expert be so unapproachable?

As coaches, we may at times believe that we have all the answers. We may be tempted to fall into the trap of believing that we don’t have anything to learn from a particular person or about our area of expertise. Knowing truly is the enemy of learning, and we always have more to learn. So let’s make a commitment to being approachable and coachable. Our families, our friends, and our clients deserve it.

About the Author/Further Resources

Amber Fogarty is a Partner and Coach with the SOS Coaching Network, which unites an elite group of coaches, trainers, and consultants from around the world, providing them with personalized programs, one-on-one and group coaching, and tools to help them succeed in the rapidly growing coaching industry. Learn more at www.soscoachingnetwork.com.