Instability
Positive perspective Negative Perspective
- Excitement Anger
- Opportunity Fear
- Choice Confusion
- Optimism Aggression
- Impulsiveness Lack of Control
- Stimulation Paralysis
What differences exist between the two states and the possible perspectives! By understanding and using these different perspectives within the concept of Stability / Instability we can help our clients move from one state to the other (and back again!) as needed.
Reflections :
- What does Stability/Instability mean to you?
- What role has it played in your own life?
- When has Instability forced you into action?
- How could you use this tool in your coaching?
Some of our client will set Stability as a goal. Some can only operate best in a setting of Instability! Most are somewhere in between – using Stability as their launching pad for personal growth, choosing to move into Instability to challenge themselves and grow.
Instability will act as a stepping stone, possibly on a path back to a different level of Stability. Our role as coaches is to help our clients with their goals. This may be to :
- work with them as they seek to achieve a state of Stability
- to encourage and guide them to step consciously away from Stability, into Instability, to achieve desired growth
- to live with Instability that is not self-imposed
When your clients come to you during a phase of Instability in their lives, use this power tool to get them to focus on the positive aspects of this new phase :
Seeking to achieve Stability –
- What does a sense of stability mean to you?
- What would represent stability for you?
- What will your life look like at the end of this period?
Stepping consciously into Instability –
- What do you want to achieve?
- What do you think you need to do to achieve it?
- What can you give up?
- What new emotions are you feeling?
- What new opportunities does this open up to you?
- What are you risking?
Living with Imposed Instability –
- What action can you take to make these opportunities into a positive experience for you?
- How else can you look at this situation?
- What can you be grateful for?
- What would you like your life to look like in a year’s time?
- What is the worst/best thing that can happen?
References :
Abraham Maslow “A Theory of Human Motivation” 1943
Hans Jurgen Eysenck (1916-1997) Four Temperaments model