Last week I went to an excellent mindfulness session, run by Breathworks for CIPD Manchester Branch.
I’m a fair-weather mindfulness user. I enjoy it when I’m at a taught session, but for some reason I lack the discipline to practice it regularly, even though I know it brings benefits.
I’d had one of those hectic days: dashing for trains, dodging the rain, meetings stacked up, and when I did have a gap, I used the time to catch up on correspondence.
For the first mindfulness activity, we were invited to do a body scan. What struck me when I closed my eyes and mentally examined my body was how uncomfortable I was. I had a really odd twinge in my shoulder, and I was sitting awkwardly to accommodate it, which was creating a dull ache in my lower back. I hadn’t noticed it until then. My general busyness had meant I hadn’t paid attention to how I was feeling all day. Once I’d noticed it, I could put it right (which thankfully was no more complicated than skipping the gym for a day and paying careful attention to my posture for the rest of the week). I was grateful for the session, and pledged to take a little better care of myself. Time will tell if I stick to this!
My clients tell me that coaching can have a similar effect – turning their attention to a general feeling of unease, apathy, or sadness. When we’re busy, we often don’t have time to reflect deeply or analyse why we’re feeling a certain way – or even acknowledge the feelings in the first place. We can mask symptoms, we can plod on regardless.
Sometimes, that’s absolutely fine. But sometimes, it could mean we’re missing important clues.
I’ve had jobs where I’ve had a severe case of Sunday-night-itis. Not even just Sunday night. I’d spend my whole Sunday with a quiet sense of unease, which would grow in my mind and my belly while I waited for Monday to come. Some weeks, I’d displace the feelings by filling my days with activities. Other weeks I’d retreat to the cosiness of my home, baking and watching films and bracing myself for the week ahead.
I didn’t turn my attention to why I was feeling this way, until I had some career coaching. My coach listened non-judgmentally as I explored my thoughts and feelings, and probed gently until I came up with a way forward that felt comfortable to me. Crucially, she gave me a sense of accountability that I have never achieved with promises I make to myself, and I made progress faster, and with a clearer sense of purpose than I would have without coaching.
So, if you’re heading into the weekend already dreading what Monday might bring, perhaps it’s time for you to consider a coach too.
Comments