Today I have learned that coaching is akin to navigating a map, but not the modern, google map type with all the satellite details clear and precise. Instead, it’s like one of those maps people drew in 1500 when most of the globe was unexplored. This map has some known areas, some unknown ones believed to be paradises, and some inhabited by monsters that – in our beliefs – are better left alone. Some oceans appear on the map as bigger than their real size, and some as smaller. But it’s not about the accuracy of the map; it’s about understanding that it’s the client’s map, the only one that counts, and the one we must discover together. And in this process, we might realize that the monster oceans were not that difficult to cross after all and that the world can be traveled in full.
Today, I’ve learned that there are no limits to what we can achieve. All the resources we need are within us. There is no such thing as failure, only learning, and problems are only problems if we choose to see them that way. This mindset, which I’ve always admired but struggled to articulate, is now clear to me and fills me with inspiration and motivation.
I have learned that there are different ways to help people improve their skills, some of which I can incorporate into my career of competencies (coaching, mentoring, and training) and some that are not my cup of tea now (therapy and counseling). There is no right or wrong in any of them; it all depends on the context and what the client wants to achieve. Clarifying the differences is essential, though; I have this clarity now.
I have also learned that being surrounded by people like me is enjoyable because of their willingness to understand and help others and their empathy. Even if I am joining the course remotely, it seems very easy to build connections, and even if today, there are not that many one-to-one interactions, it feels like I have found my tribe here. We will likely build long-lasting relationships out of the CTA SCPC course. This also made me reflect that, on the other hand, connecting and relating to people who are different from me (maybe on the other side of the empathy spectrum) will require an extra effort to avoid judgment. Each of us has a life path, and that must be respected. This extra effort is not a burden, but a necessary step in creating a safe and respectful coaching environment.
Reviewing the forms and papers provided by the academy, which are valuable tools for structuring the interaction with the client, brought me into ‘action mode ‘. This means I’m now actively planning and preparing for what needs to be done to set up my practice. The thought of this, while exhilarating, also carries a tinge of scariness. I am about to plunge into a new, undiscovered sea of opportunities. But I believe that this will be an incredible adventure, and that belief is what will make it so.
