We teach our coaches at Seattle Life Coach Training (SLCT) to compassionately understand that every time we are meeting a client that they are going through some kind of change. We refer to this space as a Gap.
The GAP is defined as: You’re not where you were. You’re not where you want to be. You’re in-between brewing a new possibility.
Coaching clients through their GAPS is something we must get very comfortable with, as this is why they are paying for your services. To help them navigate tricky situations, helping them move from one place to the next.
In London, when riding the train there is a “Mind the Gap” announcement at all underground stations. The announcer advises passengers to be aware of the gap between the train and the platform. A warning, not to fall into the empty space. I use this example, as a metaphor, to emphasize the importance as a coach to help the client mind the gaps in their lives.
These are very important moments in our client’s lives full of possible undiscovered truths, lessons, and blessings. Coaches create bridges from one place to another. Therefore, both coach and client should really “Mind the Gap”. Gaps are a reset and place to brew new possibilities.
Some clients will decide to make a change that might be more interpersonal, like changing behavior or a habit that is no longer serving them. An example might be Facebook or social media, TV, gaming, smoking, alcohol, chocolate, sweets, shopping and anything in excess, etc.
In order for us to understand what it really feels like to “Mind the Gap,” we must step up and into making a change for ourselves. All GAPS are taking us into something new; therefore, it is all about embracing change that promotes a better you.
Seattle Life Coach Training (SLCT), both on-campus and online, believes and teaches from this premise:
In order to ask someone to transform their life, we as must be willing to do our own work first. At SLCT we invite all our students to go through a personal, professional and spiritual transformation. Everything we teach in the 120-hour life coaching program we ask our students to try it on in their own life.
Now I ask you to try it on. A Possible Personal Assignment for You:
Let go. Make a change. Give something up. Only you will know what that may be. Ask yourself this question: What in my life is not serving me to become my greatest and highest self?
Whatever change you decide to make, must be something that will stretch, but not break you. Clearly write and state what you will be giving up and changing in your life. To make this change even a bigger deal you may want to consider speaking and sharing it with others you trust. Even asking for support while making these changes. This is your opportunity to step up and into the topic of change. Whatever you declare, must be done for a minimum of one week. This 7-day commitment will give you the opportunity to shift, change, and up-level your own life, which will create lasting new normals.
Now, I leave you with a beautiful writing from Melody Beattie, the author of the book – Codependent No More
The winds of change blow through our life, sometimes gently, sometimes like a tropical storm. Yes, we have resting places—time to adjust to another level of living, time to get our balance, time to enjoy the rewards. We have time to catch our breath.
But change is inevitable and desirable.
Sometimes, when the winds of change begin to rustle, we’re not certain the change is for the better. We may call it stress or a temporary condition, certain we’ll be restored to normal. Sometimes, we resist. We tuck our head down and buck the wind, hoping that things will quickly calm down, get back to the way things were. Is it possible we’re being prepared for a new “normal”?
The change will sweep through our life, as needed, to take us where we’re going. We can trust that our Higher Power has a plan in mind, even when we don’t know where the changes are leading.
We can trust that the change taking place is good. The winds will take us where we need to go.
Today, help me, God, to let go of my resistance to change. Help me be open to the process. Help me believe that the place I’ll be dropped off will be better than the place where I was picked up. Help me surrender, trust, and accept, even if I don’t understand.
I accept change and know that these changes are taking me to where I need to go.
And So It Is. ??
~ Richard Seaman
