Life Coach Monthly
Each month I write an article on Life Coaching for Life Coach News. I will be publishing this column right here each month, so please check back often to read my short stories, words of wisdom and news affecting the Life Coaching industry.
August 2003
It is almost fall and most families are finishing their vacations and getting ready for back to school. I want to pass along a vision I used to get through school when I was young.
When I was about 9 years old, our family moved and I started a new school. I did not like the school, I did not like the kids and I did not like the teachers. Enough said, I was not a happy camper. It was not the move or the change that bothered me, in fact, I don't think it was the work required to make new friends. I think it was the fact that for the first time in my life, I met people (classmates) with different backgrounds, different goals, different values.
I had a hard time adjusting, I had a hard time motivating myself, I just did not want to go to school and be with these kids. I even had a hard time talking about school. I wanted to get finished with school as soon as possible and go out in the "real world" and make a difference. I wanted to be in the workforce not in the classroom.
On sunday evenings I would be dreading monday morning going back to school. Having only older brothers and sisters, They always made their homework seem important compared to elementary school. I was having a tough time reaching my goal of finishing 3rd grade so I could start 4th grade, so eventually I could get out of school and get started with life.
Then one sunday night, feeling really disillusioned about school, my sister's boyfriend (now my brother-in-law) told me to try thinking about school with a different approach. Think if it as going to work, think of going to the office, not school. Think of the teacher as your boss. You want to do a good job so you can get a raise and have job security.
Although this all sounded good, I just could not imagine school as my office. I thought about it and it made sense, but to me it was still school. Then he went into the other room and brought out a briefcase, I think it use to belong to my dad and gave it to me. He said to try taking a briefcase to work. I could put all my papers and books in it. He said it would make me feel like I was going off to work, briefcase in tow.
The biggest obstacle was getting myself to agree to try looking at the situation differently. That was the biggest hurdle, but after several hours of soul searching, I decided to give it a try.
Monday morning I was up on time for work, I walked into the classroom, keep in mind, 3rd grade, with this big black briefcase, prepared for my day in the office. My attitude changes, the other kids became my co-workers and you learn to work with them and accept who they are. You can make friends outside the office.
My grades went up, my attendance went up, my feeling of self worth. All this from a 5 minute lesson from my brother-in-law and a $8 briefcase. This was nothing more than changing the way I perceived the situation. I advise you to try this exercise next time you run into an obstacle.
If you would like to discuss this more or consider hiring a Life Coach, please E Mail me or call me at 1-800-841-8776.
