“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”
Anaïs Nin
I read this quote today and it resonated with me, reminding me of how courage has shaped the decisions and direction of my life. Though not the only factor, courage was essential. It allowed me to listen to my intuition and take that first, crucial step.
Today, I saw this quote in a new light: my clients’ lives shrink or expand based on my courage to be completely sincere and genuine with them.
The observations and questions that may intimidate us as coaches could be exactly what our clients need. Their courage is necessary, but ours lays the foundation.
In my work training, supervising, and mentoring coaches, we often discuss how personal fears and intentions can obstruct our courage. True coaching mastery involves the risk of offering insights that might unsettle the client, potentially causing resistance or even displeasure. Yet, usually, the client’s response is thoughtful, acknowledging the challenge of the question and allowing themselves to delve deeper.
Courage, therefore, must be aligned with the right values and attitudes. It requires not just safety, but a confidence in dealing with discomfort and uncertainty, a trust in our and our clients’ abilities to face whatever arises, and faith in our collective intelligence and creativity.