| When I teach or mentor new coaches, I talk | | | | beyond the drama, and then being courageous |
| about four levels of coaching - four levels from | | | | enough to say there's more to life and leadership |
| which we can approach whatever the client brings | | | | than solving problems. It starts with being bold |
| to us for the session. Life has the same four | | | | enough to choose who you will be within |
| levels, if we look at it in really simple and | | | | situations, what relationship you will have to |
| straightforward terms. | | | | circumstances, and to make a habit of asking that |
| The surface level is the "drama" - the "he said, | | | | question, "What's the opportunity here?" for |
| she said, then this happened and then she said, | | | | everyone involved. |
| and then he said" level. It's so easy to get caught | | | | Living at the opportunity level engages your soul. |
| up in that level and start reacting to the drama | | | | It gives you the space to get in touch with your |
| around us. Think about when you have gotten | | | | soul mission, your life purpose, and then listen to |
| caught in the drama level recently. It happens to | | | | that mission for how it wants to be lived through |
| all of us - you aren't alone! | | | | this situation or circumstance. At this fourth level, |
| The next level down is the "situation" level - | | | | you are able to recognize all the parts of your life |
| what's really going on, what really happened or is | | | | - work, relationships, family, friends - as vehicles |
| happening, who's responsible for it or whose fault | | | | for living your soul mission. If you try to figure |
| is it, and what do we do about it? For example, | | | | out how to fit your soul into your life, it will never |
| perhaps at work there was a breakdown on a | | | | happen. Yet when you commit to living a life that |
| project that caused a huge blowup in the team | | | | is grounded in your soul and soul mission - to all of |
| and everyone has taken sides and is pointing | | | | life offering opportunities for living deeper and |
| fingers. Who is to blame and what do we do | | | | truer to who you really are-things start to change. |
| about it? You could also call this the "just fix it" | | | | Your life takes on much greater meaning and you |
| level. | | | | greet each morning with excitement for what |
| The third level down is the "choice" level. At this | | | | you get to create that day. I invite you to make |
| level you ask "Who am I within this situation?" | | | | the opportunity level your home - to make "What |
| What's your role in how the situation came to be, | | | | wants to happen here?" your default approach no |
| what's happening now and where it will go from | | | | matter what. I invite you to live from this much |
| here? Who do you choose to be in relationship to | | | | deeper awareness. Can you make this shift over |
| this situation? There is very little in our culture | | | | night? Probably not. Can it happen in a few |
| that supports dropping down to this level. As a | | | | weeks? With focused awareness and attention, |
| culture we unfortunately default to the "drama" or | | | | you can definitely see change within a matter of |
| "fix it" level. We are well trained to be problem | | | | weeks. And you will recognize that this change is |
| solvers, look for who or what to blame, and stay | | | | only the beginning - that living from soul is a |
| at the second level. Here at the choice level, you | | | | lifetime journey of opportunity, growth, |
| realize that, although you may not be able to | | | | adventure, new experiences - it's about truly |
| change the circumstances or situation right away, | | | | being a master at the art of living. |
| you can at least choose who you will be within | | | | In summary, there are two truly essential keys |
| the situation. And that's a huge step beyond | | | | to getting on the fast track for transformation |
| where most people go. Now you are claiming your | | | | and growth, leading a rewarding and fulfilling life, |
| responsibility and choice in the matter and starting | | | | and making a significant contribution to the world: |
| to create something new. | | | | |
| Finally, there is the fourth level, the deepest level, | | | | 1. Engaging your soul and soul mission in ongoing |
| the one that we rarely get to in our culture. This | | | | conversation, following its lead, and creating the |
| is the "opportunity" level. When we drop down to | | | | life it calls you to live. |
| this level, our first question is "what's the | | | | 2. Making your first questions in any situation or |
| opportunity here?" or "what wants to happen?" | | | | moment, "What wants to happen? What's the |
| Here's where the true power lies. Here's where | | | | opportunity here?" and then responding |
| the gold is. This situation has happened for some | | | | accordingly. |
| reason. It wants to tell you something - to help | | | | Easy concepts to grasp, perhaps. Yet I learned a |
| you clearly recognize something that is not | | | | long time ago that while these concepts are |
| working or wants to change or to heal. It wants | | | | simple and straightforward, living the concepts can |
| you to pay attention - to recognize or learn | | | | be challenging. It's through meeting your challenges |
| something so that a similar situation doesn't have | | | | as opportunities, however, that you discover who |
| to happen again, and even more importantly, so | | | | you really are, recognize the difference you are |
| that everyone involved grows and moves | | | | here to make in the world, and actually do it. |
| forward. Approaching life from the opportunity | | | | Michelangelo said that the greatest danger for |
| level cuts to the chase. It gets right to what is | | | | most of us is not that we'll aim too high and not |
| out of alignment very quickly and brings things | | | | make it, but that we will aim too low and we will |
| into alignment so that synergy and synchronicity | | | | make it. The soul doesn't engage when the bar |
| can occur. Asking "What wants to happen?" opens | | | | for life is too low. The soul yearns for growth, |
| you to much greater awareness and gives you | | | | adventure, new learning, and giving back to the |
| access to much greater insight and information | | | | world. It thrives when you align your life with the |
| than just fixing it as fast as you can, and certainly | | | | greater universal evolutionary flow and respond to |
| brings much greater awareness than you find | | | | what wants to happen as a way of life. Start |
| while reacting at the drama level! | | | | living on the fourth level of opportunity and watch |
| Learning to live at the opportunity level starts | | | | your life transform. |
| with being focused and disciplined enough to step | | | | |