My Power Tool

Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?' `That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat. `I don't much care where--' said Alice. `Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat. `--so long as I get SOMEWHERE,' Alice added as an explanation. `Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, `if you only walk long enough.' ~ Quote from Alice in Wonderland

Knowing where we want to be and actually getting there can be difficult to keep in alignment. We may say we want to achieve a particular goal, yet our daily actions do not reflect movement in that direction. What is it we truly want? Why do we say we want it? How will we achieve it? What do we gain by reaching it? Are these goals ours, or something we feel we should want? Who are we achieving this for? Ourselves; or someone else? What is the timeline for our goals and is it still relevant? Circumstances affect our motivation toward our goals. If a goal was set and the situation making that goal important to us changes, then that goal may become less important or irrelevant. Awareness to the change helps to keep us on track and to be flexible with our goals. Lack of awareness will cloud our path and potentially inhibit the progress of any of our goals. The lack of awareness may show up as a lack of movement toward our goals. If our energy levels, and therefore, our actions toward reaching our goals decline, it is possible that we have become unaligned with what we say we are committed to and what our daily behaviors demonstrate. Ego may also play a role in goal setting and movement. We may have a need to accomplish something feeling that it will bring fulfillment, happiness or new insight. Yet, if this goal is not in line with our intrinsic values and believes, the viability of this goal may be cut short. Recognition of obstacles to our goals will enable us to identify why we are not moving forward toward them. Movement requires energy. Throughout the day, there are many things that require our energy. Deciding where to allocate that energy is guided by the value we place on each activity. Movement = Energy + Action

When we are in movement, rolling forward, we can feel a sense of accomplishment as we gain experiences. Learning and growing from these experiences help build momentum as well as problem solving skills that give us a platform from which to operate when another challenge arises. When we are inert, we can feel weighted down by the obstacles and emotions that surround our goal. Our life experiences, coping skills and intrinsic values and beliefs may hold us here as we give into excuses and reasons for not moving on from this place. Inactivity is the act of being motionless, inert, or stagnant. Movement is a place of motion, development, and advancement. Movement, as it applies to goals, is not necessarily physical activity. Research, completing a task, making a list; any action associated with progression toward your goal is movement. Inactivity, stagnation, or passivity is static in nature. I can cause us to become stuck. Maybe we have become fearful of something that surrounds our goal or our underlying belief is that it is not possible to achieve. The energy we dedicated to the goal will begin to dissipate and we will become inactive. Commitment Increasing our self- awareness of a situation can help identify our commitments as they exist in our values and beliefs. Recognizing Inactivity Identification of obstacles allows us to gather more information and review hypothetical situations related to possibilities of failure and that of attaining the desired outcome. Regaining Momentum Planning can help us know what to do if we recognize inactivity again. Planning is action and can help to build our momentum and energy levels. Daily Energizing Acts Actions and activities that allow us to re-charge our bodies and minds give us the power to acknowledge ourselves for all that we are working toward. Daily affirmations, talking with positive, motivating people, or taking time for a walk can keep our daily energy up and keep us focused on our goals. Creating Movement Discover what you are most excited about now as it relates to the goals. No matter how small the excitement, it is a spark, and it will create energy. Developing specific actions around that excitement can keep you in movement. Goal Setting Around Movement Looking at movement itself as the goal can help us refrain from becoming inactive again. Finding ways to re-energize each day can be beneficial to the actions we take. Powerful Questions What is your next step? What are you comfortable with doing next? Who else do you know who shares a desire to achieve specific goals and stay in movement? Interacting with like-

minded people will help the feeling of movement become natural. On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you about taking these actions? Reflection What can you learn from this? What does it feel like when you are in inactivity as opposed to movement? What in this situation can you find to be grateful for? How has this experience helped you grow as a person?

References: www.personal-coaching-information.com/effective-coaching-models www.resultscoaches.com/coach.../coaching-model/coaching-models.