“Let go of your mind and then be mindful. Close your ears and listen!” (Rumi)
Questions For Coaches:
In what ways do you encourage clients to practice deep listening to themselves and their environment?
Reflect on a time when you let go of mental chatter and gained clarity. What did you experience?
In what ways can letting go of rigid thinking open you to new creative ideas and solutions in your coaching business?
Bonus Questions:
In what ways does letting go of overthinking allow you to experience deeper clarity and inner peace?
What practices can you adopt to cultivate deeper listening to yourself and others?
How can letting go of the need for constant mental activity improve your decision-making at work?
About Jen Waller
Jen Waller is a transformative coach dedicated to empowering individuals to get out of their own way and make a meaningful impact in the world. With an impactful, nurturing coaching style, Jen supports clients in unlocking their potential and achieving their goals. As an experienced coach and trainer, she guides clients from self-doubt to success.
Discover how Jen can support you to get out of your own way here.
“True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.” (William Penn)
Silence is not merely the absence of sound; it is a space of being—a sanctuary where the mind can find respite from the relentless chatter of thoughts and worries. Just as sleep rejuvenates the body, true silence offers a space for the mind to rest, recharge, and regain clarity.
Sometimes, it can feel that in the chaos of modern life, finding moments of true silence can be challenging. Our days are filled with constant distractions—from buzzing smartphones to overflowing to-do lists. Yet, amidst the noise, there exists a sacred stillness waiting to be discovered.
In the midst of external chaos, true silence provides an opportunity to reconnect with the innate wisdom and tranquility that reside within us.
When we quiet the incessant chatter of our minds, we create space for insight, creativity, and intuition to emerge. It is in these moments of stillness that we can more easily listen to our inner wisdom and find answers to life’s most pressing questions.
Moreover, that space that Penn is describing as true silence has a profound impact on our spiritual well-being. Just as nourishing food sustains the body, silence nourishes the spirit, providing sustenance for our innermost being. In the absence of external distractions, we can cultivate a deeper connection with our true selves and rest within that space. True silence allows us to access this innate wisdom and resilience, empowering us to navigate life’s challenges with grace and equanimity.
Yet, sometimes we resist embracing silence. We seek solace in distractions or external stimuli, unaware that true peace lies within. We’re often accustomed to relying solely on our +tellect. So, it can feel counterintuitive to give our intellect some time off—to send it on a spa break, if you will—and simply rest in that space.
There’s whole practices that allow you to embrace that silence intentionality. It can means carving out time for solitude and reflection, away from the noise and distractions of the outside world. Its also possible to take a moment at any time to let your mind quieten as best you can because that space is always available to us – even when we dont seem to feel it. I think it does means cultivating a willingness to sit with discomfort and uncertainty, or at least not resisting an of that feeling as the intellect wants to figure everything out. Instead trusting that true wisdom will emerge in the silence.
As we journey through life, may we remember the profound wisdom of true silence—a sanctuary for the mind and spirit. May we cultivate moments of stillness amidst the chaos, allowing nourishment and refreshment to wash over us like a gentle breeze. And may we embrace the transformative power of silence to awaken our true selves and illuminate the path forward.
About 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.
This week the clip chosen because of its interest to coaches is from a 2014 independent TEDx talk. Watch cognitive neuroscientist Heather Collins look at happiness, lifelong growth and your mind “Successful thinking — it’s a know brainer”.
Successful thinking — it’s a know brainer: Heather Collins at TEDxCharleston
Clip length: 11 mins 26 secs
Prefer to watch via YouTube? In that case you’ll need to click here.
In this weeks guest post experienced coach and trainer Liz Scott shares some of her personal experience about her journey as a coach.
Coaching and Wisdom
By Liz Scott
The other day a client sat beside me telling me he was stressed. He relayed stories of pressurised work, poor relationships and a tricky childhood. He had a myriad of thoughts, fears and worries and his life was at breaking point. In no uncertain terms he told me he wanted to be ‘fixed’. It was a compelling story and his impatience was palpable. He wanted some tools and strategies to find a quick solution.
The trouble is I don’t work like that any more. Although I have completed hundreds of hours of training and have a myriad of tools, techniques and theories; they are rarely used. Instead I draw on my understanding of something called the Three Principles.
The Three Principles has had a profound influence on my life (I feel more peaceful and relaxed) and I’m starting to share this understanding with my clients. It simplifies my coaching and helps me to focus on inner wisdom.
During this session with my client I noticed a deep feeling of love and compassion and I just kept bringing him back to recognising his own internal wisdom and spirit. Did he skip off into the sunset fired with enthusiasm? No he didn’t. Was this session a success? Yes it was.
The most useful thing we can tell our clients is about the nature of being human; the Three Principles provides the building blocks of understanding. When clients get a glimpse of this they start the most fulfilling journey possible. When they stop trying to fix their thoughts and circumstances they can taste real freedom.
The Three Principles points to the three components of our human experience. These are:
Thoughts: We all have thoughts and when we believe our thoughts that is our reality
Consciousness: We are all able to bring our world alive. We have the ability to experience an emotional and physical world
Mind: There is a spiritual/universal force that is behind life
When you view the Three Principles as a list you probably feel underwhelmed! When you start to experience them at work in your life it feels enriching.
I am still new as a 3P coach and my style may not be slick or clever, but it is authentic. When I get a sense of my spiritual wisdom I am able to share and respond from a grounded and loving space.
My new journey
If you’d like to learn more about the 3Ps then follow me on my journey (both metaphysical and real).Over the summer my husband and I are cycling from Devon to London and back (with our Labradoodle Buzz) to talk to authors and facilitators of the Three Principles. If you would like to learn more as we learn more then follow this link http://forms.aweber.com/form/58/1527998558.htm
About Liz Scott
Liz Scott is a leadership coach and coaching skills trainer. She works extensively in schools helping to develop coaching cultures. Liz and her husband Stu run their business www.lizscottcoaching.com and they also the leaders of a supportive network for coaches www.coachingconnect.co.uk
This week’s TED Talk clip is from an independent TEDx event:
Mapping the Mind | Colleen Mills Finnerty | TEDxJerseyCity
Clip length: 17 mins 39 secs
Prefer to watch on TED.com? In that case you’ll need to click here.
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Liz Scott is a leadership coach and coaching skills trainer. She works extensively in schools helping to develop coaching cultures. Liz and her husband Stu run their business www.lizscottcoaching.com and they also the leaders of a supportive network for coaches 