It is often said, the best coaches ask the best questions. This principle works with what has been called self-coaching too. As we turn our attention to year’s end and the holidays, here are five questions to help you refocus and pursue what is most important to you. Grab a coffee and consider answering one question each day over the next few days, alone, or with a loved one or friend.
- YOU WITHOUT FEAR.
Question: If you suddenly woke up and had no fear or anxiety about the usual things that you worry about…
What would you do today? _______________
The rest of the year? ____________________
From this day on? ______________________
- THE WORLD WITHOUT YOUR BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION.
Question: What won’t happen in the world if you don’t do the things you feel called to do? –Andy Stanley
Not all feel a missional call upon their lives, but some do. If this is you, you likely believe there are some things that you simply must accomplish in your life. Or, you may fall into a second group– you are far from sure what those things are but do feel a sense of purpose and are on a life-long quest to discover what that means for you.
Question two and three tap into the reality that time is limited and that life’s routines, struggles and duties can easily pull us off target. It encourages us to think about a world where our highest goals were never pursued, how O.K. we are with that, and challenges us to take action if we are not.
- GETTING BACK TO WHY. What is your big WHY? God, Kids, Family, Work, a cause? Have you drifted away from “priority one” recently, allowing life to pull you off target for too long?
Question: What small step could you take that would point you back to your BIG WHY in some way?
- REACH OUT AND BLESS SOMEONE.
Question: What three people need to hear from you this week?
As we approach the holidays, there are people that need to know that we have not forgotten them and that they have had a profound impact on our lives. What better time to tell them than at this season of thankfulness and joy?
A challenge: Stop reading this for a moment and call one of them right now. Leave a message if you must, but reach out. If you can’t talk long because you are working, don’t wait to make the call. Tell them you just had a moment but wanted to reach out and will call again to catch up more fully soon. If you get a voicemail, leave a quick message and call someone you are likely to reach. When I do this for corporate audiences, the results are immediate and powerful. Even a five minute call leaves both parties feeling connected and thankful. It has the effect of rebooting our priorities, lowering our stress and isolation, and reminding us again of what is most important–people.
- MAKE A TERRIBLE START. Begin something this week that you know will appear amateurish, at least initially. Do it anyway. John Lee Dumas, host of Entrepreneur On Fire, one of the most popular podcasts today, said his first 50 shows were terrible. That was 1,100 shows ago! The Good Book says: “Don’t look down on small beginnings.” Expect your first steps to sub-par. Take them anyway. Robert Davis said it this way: “Implement now, perfect later.”
Question: What is one thing you are not starting because you know you first efforts will be embarrassing? Take a small step today.
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What did I miss? Do you have a question you believe should be asked as we near 2015’s end? Let us know in the comment section below and Happy Holidays!