What's the first record you ever bought?
That may sound like a strange question to start today's blog off with, but just go with me for a moment.
Have you ever had one of those conversations with friends where someone asks you about your first music purchase and then you have to "admit" what it was? Sometimes, there's this sheepish quality to your voice like you should be ashamed of your answer?
What's mine? The first album I bought was "Barry Manilow Live - the Double Album". Now are you getting my point?
In fact, when my partner and I first moved in together, there was a conversation about whether or not our CD collection should be mixed together. I was over-ruled particularly because of some of the things in my own collection. For example, for some reason I had "The Partridge Family Album" in there. Again, see my point, or more precisely, see my partner's point?
OK, I'm not actually ashamed of these things. I have a wide variety of taste and at different times of my life I had different favourites and I like to sometimes take a trip down memory lane with some of these things.
So, what's my point?
The point is to dance to your own music, both literally and figuratively.
We have the opportunity to not be shy about what we enjoy or have enjoyed once upon a time. We can stand up and be confident in our understanding that everything we have experienced makes us who we are today and that the tastes and opinions of others, although important at times, do not need to be the basis for how we see ourselves.
I'm not writing this blog to justify my music tastes, honest. It just dawned on me today, while observing friends' behaviours about making fun of each other about their music tastes, that it could be an interesting topic for some coaching questions.
So, here they are...
Coaching Exercises
1. What are the things you like (or have liked) that you're fairly confident aren't widely accepted by your friends, family members, colleagues etc.? This can be music, art, clothing styles, TV shows, movie genres...anything.
2. What was or is the enjoyment you get from these things you like? How have they impacted on the person you have developed into today?
3. How comfortable do you feel sharing with others your past and present interests and passions? Do you ever get shy or embarrassed, or do you share confidently? What's happening in your head and in your body when you share? What responses do you typically get and how do you feel (react and/or respond)?
4. What opportunities exist for you now in terms of self-development about self-acceptance and self-confidence?
5. As a result of these questions and your considered responses to them, what are you committing to?
As always, if you need any further personal support in response to any of these coaching exercises, please consider using the askacoach.com service.
All the best,
Noel
Noel Posus - Master Coach
www.askacoach.com Join our newsletter by clicking here.
Noel Posus is on the Board of Directors and is the Head of Marketing - Asia Pacific for The-ECI - www.europeancoachinginstitute.org
Check out The Inaugural ECI Australasian Coaching Conference - The Future of Coaching: Embracing the Opportunities of the 2010s at http://www.europeancoachinginstitute.org/conference_2008/
November 20-22, 2008 - Sydney Australia
Comments