Those Lies That Lead Us...
We all do it. We shift into "easy mode" and let go of what we decided we were going to do. We drift away from, and never toward, intentionality.
And whether we like it or not it is our choice. Whether we mean to do it or not it is still a choice.
It's hard to choose well and then even harder to keep it up.
You know what I mean right?
You wake up in the morning and think to yourself, "Why did I do that last night? I said I wasn't going to have ice cream while watching TV!"
Or you look in the mirror and say, "Alright, it's back to the gym for you girl!"
Maybe it's a character habit for you, like losing your cool or giving in to worry or depression. Maybe it is a habit you want to start or one you want to stop. It could be a project you want to complete or even just one you want to start.
Whatever is on your mind, or whatever you are avoiding, the choice is yours. You can blame others or excuse yourself. OR you can take responsibility for who you are and how you are living and choo...
Step 3: OK, Let's Get Some Traction!
Let's review our journey on the Bridges Coaching ROAD so far.
R - take some time to RECOGNIZE where you want to go. Where are you building a bridge to? Please don't just pick something that bugs you, or even what jazzes you. Take time to discern where God is leading you to next! More on that here.
O - consider your personality and your track record. If what you were shooting for was easy, you would probably already be there or at least on your way. A new goal, a new journey, is going to take some OWNERSHIP on your part. Ask yourself what obstacles need to be addressed for you to move forward.
This brings us to our next letter in the Coaching ROAD.
A - is for ACTION STEPS.
Most people probably find the most traction here. This answers the "Now what?" question. Learning to make SMART goals is something our coach trainees say is a highlight of their studies. Defining where you want to build toward and what has held you back are important first steps, but we still haven't actually st...
What's Up With Your Middle?
Let's talk about middles.
We all have them. We are all in the middle of something.
Maybe we are literally traveling, but more likely we are in the middle of a project, or a life change, or making a decision.
Every actual accomplishment has a start and a finish.
It's the middle where the work happens though. Or where we get stalled out.
In Proverbs 4:11 God says, "I am guiding you in the way of wisdom, and I am leading you on the right path."
It's a matter of discernment isn't? Figuring out how He is guiding us takes savvy. We get an inkling of where we should move toward something and we either heed it or we don't.
There's discernment needed for timing too. Sometimes we put things off that we should invest right away, or we jump the gun and put our energy into something too soon.
But most often we lose heart after we get started and stall out. Middles can be costly or boring or just plain take too long.
Good Coaching helps you:
- Discern your next destination with more ...
What's A Gal To Do?
It's not easy to figure out what to do.
We've been digging in to the word "Discernment" as a church staff lately and looking at what it means in our everyday lives. The Bible gives us overarching guidelines we need to adhere to - like "Don't kill people" in the Old Testament, and "Don't even hate people" in the New Testament.
But, you can't just say to do what the Bible says. Sometimes the Bible isn't so clear. Fairly often even it forwards two completely different responses. Here are a few examples:
- Share the truth in love ~ Love covers a multitude of sins
- Judge wisely ~ Don’t judge at all
- Give to everyone who asks ~ Don’t throw your pearls before swine
- Don’t take anything with you ~ Prepare well
- Be the head and not the tail ~ Be the servant of all
- Be angry and sin not ~ Be at peace with all men
You get the picture. Even the same situation in a different season of your life will require new discernment
The Bible points us to a personal relationship with God ...
What If It's Simpler Than You Thought?!
What's your recurring dream?
- Love to have a family vacation?
- Want to write a book?
- Hoping to be more at peace and sleep better?
- Like to feel healthier and maybe have a little less around the middle?
Whether your dreams are for fun or accomplishment, for physical health or emotional well-being, or to upgrade your personal life or be a better assist to someone else, turning hopes and dreams into reality and memories could be as easy as good coaching!
Good Coaching helps you define the goal, remove the obstacles that have impeded forward movement, and set up a plan with reasonable action steps and clear follow-through.
Maybe it is YOU* that is hoping and dreaming, or maybe you'd like to help others get unstuck. Walking down the Bridges Coaching ROAD helps people get "there".
Where would you love to build a bridge to?
Start here:
*Best Option: Life Coach Certification
Next Best Option: Coach Training Video Course
*Life Coaching: Associate Coaches Connections
*Self-Guide...
How To Turn Your Hopes Into Reality (Easy guide to SMART goals)
Everything starts with an idea, but some of the best ideas never grow to become real. Having ideas is a great and important first step. Making quality goals changes outcomes and ultimately transforms lives.
It has been said that if you aren’t sure where you are going you will surely get there (nowhere) or if you fail to aim you aim to fail!
In order to have a step-by-step plan or leading from God you need to have steps. You can always change them as He leads, but having them keeps in motion. It is always easier to turn a moving ship, car, bike, skateboard... whatever.
To quote American philanthropist Elbert Hubbard,
"Many people fail in life, not for lack of ability or brains or even courage, but simply because they have never organized their energies around a goal."
Dreams are unrefined hope and cost-free aspirations that we might do someday. Converting a dream into a goal is a decision to take tangible steps to pursue it. Goals are specific future targets that we are commit...
Four Flavors of People Who Benefit Coach Training [You probably are at least one of them]
Coach Training isn't only for those who want to become professional coaches. Almost everyone can benefit.
Have you ever wanted to help someone but were not sure what to say or do?
Wish you could have more meaningful conversations?
Tired of hearing the same ol,' same ol', from a coworker or family member?
Most people who take Bridges Coach training are NOT looking to become professional coaches. (But they CAN move in that direction if they so choose.)
Here are four actual people groups who have benefited from coach training!
Parents - of kids still at home, but also of adult children.
Learning to craft questions that help children make wise choices is incredibly valuable and empowering! IT takes the strain off the relationship and actually brings hope. One father of an adult child said, "I used to dread our weekly phone calls. I felt compelled to try and keep him in line and that wasn't fun for either of us. Now, I ask him questions that help him make his own choices and I actual...
Shawn Asked - I Answered [6 distinct items to look for in good coach training!]
Shawn's email was an honest inquiry about coach training. He wondered what he should be looking for in coach training and asked if I could chat. So we did.
I reviewed the coach training organization he was interested in and noted a few things he should ask. If you are considering coach training, you should ask these questions, too!
1- How many certifications, programs, or tracks do you need to take in order to actually coach people?
This was a problem for me when I took my initial coach training. I'd finish one certification and they would hold out the next as a "must-do" before coaching. After your first coach training with Bridges, you will be fully prepared to offer an actual coaching session.
2- Will all your training be with a facilitator, or are you ever left on your own?
Many coach training orgs have you "practice" coaching with a peer or fellow trainee. If your sessions are not observed or supervised this can actually be a harmful way to learn as you could be practicing po...
Beware The Drift...
Our church has been doing a series called, "Beware of the drift" on the book of Colossians. It's really got me thinking.
Likely, no one plans in advance to gain 20 pounds in 10 years.
Most people don't set out to become distant from family members.
We're not intentional about building a habit of anxiety.
We don't hope and dream to neglect our faith.
And yet, we drift toward all kinds of unintentional behaviors and unwanted habits.
Psalm 141:4a says,
"Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness"
What if "wickedness" doesn't only means violence or intentionally hurting another person? Could it also include neglecting priorities or not pursuing what God has for you?
God offers believers so much - as a people group and personally. Let me explain.
As part of God's family, we are all offered forgiveness for whenever and however we miss the mark of living how He wants us to live. There is a peace available to us that the world does not ...
What's Next? I AM
[Personal Practices]
Did Moses always kind of know he was called to be a deliverer? I'm not sure, but God certainly led him to do a great work.
How about Joshua? His path led him to step in as a successor.
Rahab was led to do a one-time courageous act.
Anna waited till old age to receive a promise she felt God gave her.
The Bible is filled with pathway stories. They are written as testimonies of faith.
Hebrews 12:1a says, "We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up."
What is the race that is before you?!
That's our quest!
We need to answer that question! YOU need to have an answer to that question!
God built us for destiny and discovery. We are all a part of the ongoing roll-out of the kingdom of heaven on earth as we participate in the plans He has for us personally.
Proverbs 4:11 is one of my favorite verses, it say...