A Coaching Power Tool Created by Jamie Swan
(Business Coach, CANADA)
Com-fort
A cause or matter of relief or satisfaction; a state of ease and satisfaction
Pot-en-tial
Possible as opposed to actual; capable of being or becoming; expressing possibility
Comfort is something we all feel at one time or another. We all have the rituals, habits, environments, activities and ways of being that we are comfortable with. All these different areas together create our comfort zone. This is the space in life in which we feel safe and at ease. There is certainty in it. We know how things work, we know what to expect from certain relationships, we know what we are able to accomplish, and we know our strengths.
The comfort zone is exactly that, a place where we can all feel comfortable, and satisfied. But, what happens when you start to outgrow that zone and feel a certain level of longing or curiosity for other environments, activities, relationships that are outside that zone?
Let’s take a closer look at potential. Potential is what could be, rather than what is. It’s the environments we could thrive in, the relationships that could transcend our current experience of relationship, it’s the activities that could truly ignite our passions and bring a sense of thrill to our daily lives. So how do we access that potential?
In order to access our greatest potential, we need to grow. We need to grow our perspectives, our skills, our beliefs, our relationships and our comfort zone.
There is no growth in our comfort zone. Growth lies just outside the boundaries of our comfort zone.
For many, this can be a very scary thought. Well I hate to break it to you, growing to tap into potential is scary. Really, anything outside of our comfort zone can be scary. This is where coaching is really an amazing process.
By looking for the places in our client’s lives where they feel the itch of dissatisfaction, curiosity or where they light up when they speak of possibilities that lie beyond their current circumstance, we have begun to identify some of their potential. One of the tools I like to use when I find this ‘sweet spot’ is a simple activity; let’s dwell in the possibilities. We daydream together at what an ideal life life looks like.
Often, when a client shows doubt, or fear or uncertainty in their own abilities it is because they are coming in contact with a boundary of their comfort zone. This is a major decision point for most people and as coaches, we can help them to explore to possibilities and risks of leaving their comfort zone.
This is a tool that looks for the possibility instead of specifically what’s not working. It is a tool based around finding the ultimate growth potential and seeking out ways to tap into it in a way that allows the client to feel more fulfilled and excited about their lives.
