A METAPHOR FOR THE IMPACT COACHING CAN HAVE ON YOUR LIFE

Most of us live our lives like we're walking around a circular path. At first it's all new to us. We enjoy the scenery, the sights and smells, the people we encounter along the way. As we continue to go around we become very comfortable, knowing what's around the bend and certain of what we'll encounter. Eventually, we stop noticing the beautiful scenery and grow tired of seeing and doing the same things. We become mindless, no longer really noticing anything, much less being moved or inspired by it. Life becomes boring and tiresome. We begin to yearn for more. We keep going around day after day, week after week, often year after year growing ever more empty and feeling trapped… And yet we do not leave the path. This path leaves us feeling dissatisfied, even miserable, but it also feels comfortable, secure and safe. This is what we know, perhaps it's who we think we are. Occasionally we may think about leaving the path, but to where, how, when, what if? The unknown seems so scary. So we stay with what we know, we settle, we tell ourselves it's not so bad, put a smile on our face and keep trudging onward. AND YET…

Not far from where we are, there are other paths we somehow hadn't noticed before. Each has new sights and new scenery, new people, new corners and twists. In short, a whole different experience of the world. It seems hard to imagine a life on these other paths. Now, it isn't that these paths are better than the one you're on, but perhaps another path can recreate that joy and wonder of new discovery that you used to have, that you had when you began walking on the path you're on now. Changing paths could enliven your senses, put that spring back into your step, awaken your creativity and sense of fun, enlarge your sense of possibilities. The trees would seem more lush, the birds' songs more melodious, the people more delightful. Is this, in fact, the case? Not really. The difference is not what you encounter on the path. The difference is you. When you are alive and energetic, everything around you feels exciting and filled with possibilities. Everything seems to buzz with life.

All it takes to create this sense of excitement and aliveness is to step onto a new path. As they say, "If you keep going where you're going, you'll keep getting what you're getting." So veer off your well-worn path and see what else is out there. Don't be frightened. You can always go back to your old path if you want to. But I imagine you won't. You'll start to wake up and see life in a new way. The good news is that if the new path you choose turns out not to be to your liking, you can pick another one, and another after that. In fact, once you experience this state of enthusiasm and joy in each moment, you'll find yourself exploring new paths throughout your life.