I have found it difficult until now to know what to write for on my coaching blog. I don’t really use social media so putting my voice online I find a tricky thing to do as I am not sure what to say/do/be.
It is only now that I have a sense of the impact of this training. It has changed my life. The sessions are so beautiful intense that I struggled afterwards to know what to think, how to be, what I wanted to say. It is only now with some distance and for the experience to filter through into the cracks of my life, that I can even begin to understand the power of this way of working and approaching life.
The trainers where amazing teachers; patient, open, accepting. The sessions were well paced, thought out and managed. They created a space of trust, understanding and ultimately love. It was a very powerful learning environment that asked you to be present in every moment. At certain moments I was speechless and needed space to reflect and absorb this new way of thinking.
Currently, I have been exploring using coaching in a group verses one to one setting. I am enjoying the group dynamic that emerges through group coaching. It has been interesting to observe how people interact with each other and to bring my awareness to the importance of listening skills. This way of observing within a group setting has really informed my one to one coaching and enabled me to improve my listening skills. I am wanting to develop my one to one side to my coaching practice further.
I have also observed in my coaching practice the value to creative thinking and how powerful being able to imagine another version of reality can be. Working with metaphor or clean language is an area that I would like further training in so I can work at a deeper level with it. It works for me as a process for thinking and if a client is interested in working in this way, I have noticed the transformative way that it can work within someone thinking.
Since the training, I have delivered all my free sessions back to my peer network through WARP at g39. I have continued to offer creative coaching to arts professionals in Cardiff on a pay as you feel basis. I have done this while I development my practice as a coach. I have also been working with Cardiff Metropolitan University to offer coaching to recent graduates. I have started to explore other avenues for ways of pushing my coaching into other work environments. This has led to conversations with a number of businesses. I have also begun to have coaching myself so I can experience having coaching. I felt this was a really good way to understand how I can gain more knowledge about my own coaching practice.
For one of the written pieces, I wrote a poem as it was the only way I could even begin to express how I understood the coaching process as well as describe how the experience had impact me.
The Sweat Is With Them.
I realise what I have been missing as I sit in this half moon semi circle of chairs. Here, I am held by the teacher’s voice, presence, gaze. I now understand what it looks like to be safe.
I now understand what it sounds like to be heard.
I now understand what it smells like to be appreciated.
I now understand what it tastes like to be myself. Trust.
Coaching is an unknown journey and yet it is not my journey but the journey of the other. I am here to gently walk alongside as they find their way.
It is not for me to judge.
It is not for me to offer advice.
It is not for me to reassure.
I come with openness, authenticity and my true self to hold a safe space for them. I remain in the present moment. I can do no more, no less. It is enough.
The sweat is with them.
