Are you headed for the ocean?

The final chapter of the book Can't see the wood for the trees is Going with the flow.

Going with the flow is the antidote to all the other sayings covered in the book, sayings that we use when we're stuck - such as those shown below:

The main premise of the book is that nature is our coach, and nature's landscapes are metaphors for our lives. Which means the problems are described as landscapes - so too the antidotes. Which means we go from being up creeks, getting stuck in ruts or going around in circles to metaphorically going with the flow.

Not a passive or reactive sort of flow - one of pro-action and making decisions, and certainly not going against the flow. After all, you wouldn't need to go against the flow for too long for all your energy to be drained, and for that inevitable flow back to where you started. 

The problem arises when we are going with the flow and get to a fork in the river, how do we determine which of these options is the flow that takes us towards our goal, and which has the potential to get us stuck again? A frustration anyone who frequently finds themselves stuck will resonate with.

If we follow nature's metaphor the answer is simple - we need to understand which option takes us to the ocean - metaphorically at least.

Having used this 'test' with many coaching clients it's interesting how often people are able to sense which options will take them to the ocean and which won't. You'll have to try it to know to be sure for yourself.

I promise answering the question doesn't need you to replicate what I did on my book launch recently - see video below. I just felt it had to be done ;-) and am very pleased the wind from earlier in the day hadn't yet got to the final landscape we visited for the launch!

When thinking of a decision you're facing between options you may therefore want to ask "which will take me to the ocean?" and notice what you notice.

Alison Smith
The Purchasing Coach
Unlocking patterns that are keep you stuck - whether of mind, body or soul

You'll find details of stockists of the book here, and more about the Landscaping Your Life process using nature as your coach here.

Staying on track

One of the tools I use with clients is the frameworks for change coaching process (FCP). It's a wonderful tool that asks questions of the individual or group in a way that helps them understand what's stopping them achieving their goals.

I wrote a blog some time ago sharing the insights gleaned from using the process when considering 'keeping on track in a downturn'. Times have changed since then and talk is now of recovery and less of recession.

I wondered what questions I might be asked to answer if I used the cards today to address "how to stay on track." This blog is the answer.

If you want to try answering the questions yourself in relation to a situation you'd like to keep on track with, before I share my thoughts, then here they are. You'll certainly get more insight if you do.

Q1: How are you, or can you, express your feelings clearly and responsibly?
Q2: How might compromising your integrity have set, or continue to be setting, you back?
Q3: How can valuing and expressing the quality of humour act as an antidote. 
Q4: What would a role model, who best demonstrates healing to you, do in the current situation.

What did you discover from your own answers to these questions? What insights arose? What action might you want to take and when?

Here's my response to the questions asked.

Q1: How are you, or can you, express your feelings clearly and responsibly?

I'm tired! After keeping on track for the last eight years and having had the busiest 6 months I've ever had I'm tired. It feels like it's been a battle to keep ahead and yet here I am. This question seems to be asking me to acknowledge how I'm feeling and act from that place rather than battle on.

Q2: How might compromising your integrity have set, or continue to be setting, you back?

Not an easy answer and one I suspect may continue off line. I know what I want to do and sometimes I perhaps allow pragmatism to persuade me of my folly and to follow the more obvious expected route. In doing so I let go of my vision.

Interestingly I had thought my answer to the first question was taking me down the route of letting go of the vision, being practical and just going for what's easy and less tiring. I realise as I type that perhaps I'm tired because I'm not allowing the vision to inspire my action.

Which means more business values, battling for businesses soul and using nature to landscape our lives - personally, organisationally, politically and economically and using the ICECAPS checklist which starts with Integrity!

Q3: How can valuing and expressing the quality of humour act as an antidote.

I think my prescription for positivity is relevant here. Laughter is a great release of tension and yes even tiredness. So I need to remember to do more of the things that I enjoy and make me laugh, and of course less of the things that don't.

Q4: What would a role model, who best demonstrates healing to you, do in the current situation.

Not an easy card to consider in a work setting. I can't help but think for me it's about applying the ICECAPS checklist I've developed to the current situation. Because whilst it's not a word I've used, yet, healing might be one outcome when living according to the checklist. Nature certainly doesn't get as sick as humans do and since the checklist is using nature as our teacher then well being will also be an outcome.

I'll let you know how I get on in a few days once the insights and learning have had time to land and bed in a little more.

The process is never lacking in insight, challenge and revelation. If you'd like to use it on a challenge you, or your team, currently are facing then please do get in contact.

Alison  Smith
Inspiring change inside and out - in procurement and business more widely
+44 (0) 7770 538159 alison@thepurchasingcoach.co.uk

Blog 22/31 in July as part of the Ultimate blog challenge.
The process, the insight, setback and mentor cards used here are from Frameworks for Change © Innerlinks - www.innerlinks.com.