What we’re thinking

Sitting on the bench and pressing pause

December 1, 2015

As 2015 draws to a close, for some the busyness of Christmas takes hold and the prospect of New Year’s resolutions come into focus.  A common theme in my coaching sessions has been to look back before looking forward.  To press pause and reflect before pressing play again.  One of my favourite coaching challenges is with my son’s under-14 football team.  As you might imagine, pressing pause isn’t often on the radar of these teenage boys.  None of them like sitting on the bench, being substitute, not playing on the pitch.  And yet sitting on the bench can give us a chance to press pause, to bring out different observations and ideas which we can use when it’s our turn on the pitch.  Looking back at what has just happened.  Taking the learning.  And using it.  One of my coaching clients highlighted to me the other day the value he finds in physically sitting on a bench, enjoying a view out in nature, which enables him to press pause.  Press pause to look back, to get clarity around past, present and then future intentions. And I love that challenge for myself and for others, so I thought I’d share it.

So here are three questions to consider whilst pressing pause and sitting on your bench:

1.  What’s your story of your last year?  High moments?  Low moments?  Chapter headings?  Soundtrack?

2.  Who are the people you want to really appreciate for what they’ve brought you over the past year?  Jot down names, seize moments to share your appreciation before the New Year.

3.  And look in the mirror – what do you want to appreciate about yourself for what you’ve achieved over the past year?  Things you’ve made happen.  How you’ve recovered when you’ve fallen. How you’ve handled successes. Which are the qualities you have inside that have shone on the outside this year?

Plenty of time left to focus on next year.  Let’s leave that for another time.

Find your bench and press pause.

I’m off to find mine… 🙂