Joining up the dots. That is often how I describe part of what I do as a life coach – listening to other people’s stories, experiences, skills, values, and enabling them to see how the dots join up to create a fuller and more beautiful picture of who they truly are.
I have been aware of joining up the dots process for my own self recently, and it relates both to creativity and to a recent achievement.
In a bit of shameless self-promotion, I am delighted that my blog has been cited in the Top 20 Christian Life Coach blogs to follow in 2018 by Feedspot. Not only that, but closer inspection of the list shows that the rest of the coaches are in the US – I am the only non American entry. Maybe my Scottish-ness is an attraction!
Learning to recognise ourselves as creative people, whatever that creativity looks like, can take time. Like new spring buds unfurling, warming up to their potential and new way of expressing themselves…it can take a while to adjust, grow, expand and see ourselves in a new light.
There have been a number of specific and affirming comments about my writing from several different quarters recently that have opened my eyes to the rekindling and awakening of my own creativity. I have always loved words, English language, and to write. But never did I link it with being creative, or really of any use beyond being something I enjoyed.
And yet, the lovely people at Feedspot listed blogs that
are actively working to educate, inspire, and empower their readers with frequent updates and high-quality information.”
Quality and consistency of posts was one of their criteria. To empower and inspire – this encapsulates my heart as a coach and is what I seek to do through my musings. Sometimes successfully, sometimes less so. But the affirmation of this from an external source means much indeed.
I left my previous career and set up my own business as a life coach over four years ago, and in that time have gained skills, clients, experience and confidence. It has been very hard work, and very rewarding in equal measure.
But it is what I set out to do. [Subtext, and therefore, no big deal really]
Integrity is one of my own values – often worked out along the lines of “if you say you are going to do something, then do it”. And so I have done what I said I was going to do.
My practical, pragmatic brain then says – keep going with the next step, keep working, don’t stop, this is what you said you were going to do. It would not necessarily occur to me to stop and acknowledge or celebrate the achievement because that seems frivolous and over the top. Because after all, all I have done is what I said I was going to do.
But yesterday, a dear coach friend from my mastermind group asked me how I was celebrating my listing in the top 20 Christian Life coach blogs list. And I was challenged to stop for a minute and recognise what I have achieved.
The third ‘dot’ in the picture is noticing what is emerging as I pay attention to my roots. Turns out, creative expression through writing is one of them.
What makes you really you?
What are the foundational things in your life that nourish and sustain you? When you strip back all the layers of responsibility, duty, busyness, commitment, service, fear, comparison and get to the real, essential you – who is that person and what do you most want to do?
How do you want to give expression to that? What would a first step towards that be?
For me joining up the dots creates this picture: I love to write, writing is an important form of creative expression for me, I can write, others are noticing and acknowledging that, and it is OK to stop and celebrate, even as I am learning and growing. And taking that forward, what might be next?
Daydreaming and empty head space are also important. Paying attention to all the little pieces of the picture as they come to light, and not rushing past at top speed and failing to see what is emerging.
Joining up the dots in your life this week, what would emerge?
What are you celebrating? What can you do and what do others affirm in you? What are you thankful for?
And what ways of creative expression work for you, that bring you fulfillment and bring others inspiration and encouragement?