Just Delete This If...
I kind of hate it when I get emails that say things like, "last chance" when you know they will offer "it" again, or when they say "only X spots left" when you know they would open up space for as many people as signed up.
We lean away from that kind of marketing at Bridges, but I do feel compelled to let you all know where we stand when a cohort is about to launch so:
DELETE THIS EMAIL if:
- You have already taken Bridges Coach training and are not interested in this cohort, but please stay on the list, I promise we will get back to our regularly scheduled coaching culture prompts after this email. (Feel free to consider who you know that might benefit from coach training and chat with them.)
- You have prayed about Bridges Coach training and now is not the right time for you.
If you are still reading here's a few things that could help with your decision.
1- Registraion for this fall's cohort closes Sunday, Aug 31.
2- This is the last time the course will be at this price po...
2 Essentials For A Growth Mindset (okay - maybe 3) [Part 2]
A Growth Mindset means you don't need to be stuck. You can move forward.
People get stuck when they feel there is no way out; we all tend to excuse ourselves from seeing what needs to be seen and doing what needs to be done to move ahead.
Last time we talked about the 1st essential for a growth mindset - the need for humility. If we can't see where we need help, we are not likely to receive what we desperately need. (Probably worth the click if you haven't read it yet.)
The promised 2nd essential is: Intentionality.
When I worked with youth years ago, we promoted the idea of spiritual journeying. If you are not on a journey with God, you are missing out on experiencing your faith! If you can't say what you are learning or how you are growing, you are likely dealing with pride or apathy.
Humility is the antidote for pride. Intentionality is the antidote for apathy.
Apathy says things like, "What? I'm just doing me", "Don't be so serious all the time - just relax and enjoy life"...
Should I or Shouldn't I? And The Reasons That Drive Us
We all ask that question about a pile of things every day- little things, big things, present things, future things, relational things, tactical things, all. the. things.
Let's take a look.
Here are some common questions > Here are some common ways we reason.
Should I get a latte on the way to work? > It's been a rough week, any little extra comfort is worth it.
Should I talk to my friend about her situation? > Ah... She knows I am available if she needs me.
Should I pursue a different position? > If it's meant to be, it will come to me.
Should I finally start that project? > I'm not sure if the juice is worth the squeeze.
Should I be making any adjustments to my routine (diet, exercise, devotional patterns, joining a small group, investing more in retirement)? > I've got a lot on my plate right now, best not to upset the apple cart.
Maybe you have had some of these questions. Maybe you have reasoned some of these reasons.
The Proverbs are all about choosing well. In fact, mo...
What Do Passivity, Fear, and Indecision Have In Common?
Most of us understand that to move forward, we have to ... well, move forward. We have to take steps in order to achieve movement on whatever path is before us.
What is harder to come to terms with are the ingrained beliefs (poisons)that can hold us back from said movement. Let's explore these thoughts together. See if you can identify which, if any, of the following thoughts you have had personal experience with.
- If God wanted it to happen, He would ______________. Maybe it is a vocational shift of some sort, and you are waiting for it to come to you. Maybe it's about a relationship you would like to see go deeper, but you are holding back till the other person makes a move. You get the picture. You want God to make something happen. (Of course, there are cases when one is called on to be patient, but let's make sure it is God doing the prompting and not simply a lack of initiative on our part.)
- Antidote: Look at the desire in your heart and ask God for grace to take the ini ...
Where Is He When You Need Him?! [Always Circle-Pt2]
If we are honest, we have all asked that question in some form or another at some time in our lives. Probably multiple times. The Psalms carry this type of question on repeat.
I clearly remember reading "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby and questioning this statement. "If there is a problem in your relationship with God, the problem is always with you and never with God." It seems clear to me now, but I was pretty angry when I first read it. I was trying to do the right thing so hard and yet feeling so distant.
Thoughts like these went through my mind. [Spoiler alert: These are very ugly, raw thoughts.]
- If He is really there for me/us, then why did "that" happen? (early death of friend or family member, mischaracterization, traffic accidents, abuse, poverty... the list could go on.)
- It doesn't feel like He is guiding my path when I am so confused about my next steps. (Or when I made a choice I thought was right, and things didn't work out.)
- I don't understand why provision ...
How About You - Whatcha Working On? or Where are you investing?
Can you answer one or both of these questions?
Being grounded as a growing follower of Jesus means we are going somewhere and/or doing something. We should be able to share how we are growing personally, what God is working in us, and where we are heading professionally in our work or volunteer investments.
If I were asked these questions, I could answer wholeheartedly. I'm growing in trust and rest, working on a new book on pendulums and investing in this next chapter of Bridges Coaching.
There are also personal applications for these questions. We may be working on health goals, cooking proficiency, a project in our home. We may be investing in building friendships or our retirement account.
The bottom line is that when we can answer these kinds of questions without reservation, we are on a journey. We are living life intentionally and not simply letting life happen around us.
Unfortunately, letting life happen to us is fairly common.
Oh, sure, maybe people have a retirement...
"Who Told You That?!" (plus what makes up the 'best' lies)
I have a coach who regularly asks me this question when he hears something not quite right in my thinking. He helps me see when my view of something in my life is not God's perspective. I hear him in my head sometimes saying, "Who told you that?"
Sometimes it is a literal person who said something to me, but more often it is a skewed version of what actually happened.
Eve had the same problem. God told her and Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And they were doing good for who knows how long until the devil came and twisted what God said. He morphed it into a question of God's character, "Did God really say you couldn't eat of any tree in the garden?"
Then Eve has her go at skewing the truth. She says, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden. But God told us, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden. You must not even touch it, or you will die.’"
Where did the "you must not even touch it" part come from?
The old ...
More On Your Middle!
Last time we talked about middles - how are all likely in one, or more, and how we can go through them well if we are intentional.
Once we have identified our middle - where we have come from and where we are going, we have a choice to grit our teeth and wait it out, or we can lean into what God has on offer for us in our middle. (If you missed the last blog you can find it here.)
Instead of being angsty, you can have supernatural trust. Trust and faith only work when there is risk...
Instead of giving in to depression, you can shake it off and choose joy. It may not feel real at first, but true joy happens in spite of circumstances, not as a result of them.
Instead of confused, you can ask God for clarity. You can lean into what He wants you to know in this season, not just know about it, but experience it. (More info in the recommended books below!)
Instead of it feeling l o n n n g, you can rest in the waiting. Where is there beauty around you? What are you thankful for? How ca...
10 Coaching Questions for Enneagram 9's
Can't we all just get along?
According to the Enneagram Institute, Enneagram Type Nines are accepting, trusting, and stable. They are usually creative, optimistic, and supportive, but can also be too willing to go along with others to keep the peace. They want everything to go smoothly and be without conflict, but they can also tend to be complacent, simplifying problems and minimizing anything upsetting. They typically have problems with inertia and stubbornness. At their Best: indomitable and all-embracing, they are able to bring people together and heal conflicts.
We have called personality type Nine The Peacemaker because no type is more devoted to the quest for internal and external peace for themselves and others. They are typically “spiritual seekers” who have a great yearning for connection with the cosmos, as well as with other people. They work to maintain their peace of mind just as they work to establish peace and harmony in their world. The issues encountered in the Nine...
10 Coaching Questions for Enneagram 4's
According to the Enneagram Institute, Fours are self-aware, sensitive, and reserved. They are emotionally honest, creative, and personal, but can also be moody and self-conscious. Withholding themselves from others due to feeling vulnerable and defective, they can also feel disdainful and exempt from ordinary ways of living. They typically have problems with melancholy, self-indulgence, and self-pity. At their Best: inspired and highly creative, they are able to renew themselves and transform their experiences.
We have named this type The Individualist because Fours maintain their identity by seeing themselves as fundamentally different from others. Fours feel that they are unlike other human beings, and consequently, that no one can understand them or love them adequately. They often see themselves as uniquely talented, possessing special, one-of-a-kind gifts, but also as uniquely disadvantaged or flawed. More than any other type, Fours are acutely aware of and focused on their perso...