Permission to Rest
January is packed with all sorts of marketing messages on resetting your goals, habits, and wholly becoming a new person.
I'll be honest, there was a time I bought into the "New Year, New You" messaging.
I don't buy it anymore.
Perhaps I'm older and wiser.
Perhaps I'm just tired.
Where I'm at today is about learning to rest.
I'm still going after my goals.
I'm still working hard and getting after it.
But I'm doing it with a different perspective.
We are all driven by different motivations. In years past, I don't know that I was as in tune with what was driving me and my quest to be better. Today I'm digging deeper. I'm asking the questions and taking the time to pause, reflect and understand what's really going on. I'm not running full bore. I'm slower to say yes, recognize I don't have to "fix" everything, and have learned a lot by listening.
As we work with our clients, this is the unique space we get to help create for them. The space to slow down and understand what is driving their decisions, explore their thoughts, and draw out what's really important to them. Our clients are intuitive and wise. They possess the wisdom they need within themselves. Most often what they need is the space to slow down, take a breath, collect their thoughts and talk through it with someone they trust.
If, as you enter into this new year, you're tempted to move into a "new year, new you" mentality in your coaching, remember it's not your job to possess all the answers for your clients. You don't need to be the expert, amass more credentials behind your name to be what your client needs, or be all things to everyone. You simply need to bring your coach training and skills and trust yourself.
There's a lot of good in creating goals and habits. However, learn to rest and trust in the skills you bring to the coaching space. I'm confident our ICF Iowa Charter Chapter and all the coaching clients you work with in 2025 will be better for it!
Erin Lego
2025 President - ICF Iowa Charter Chapter