Making Peace With Uncertainty
As humans, we often fill in the blanks, though our ability to truly listen is one of the most powerful skills we can cultivate, both in coaching and life. Not only listening to spoken words, but tuning in to the deeper messages, the underlying emotions, and the untold truths that guide us toward change and growth.
When we listen, fully present, whether to the voice inside ourselves, the person we're speaking with, or the energy in a room, we open ourselves to possibilities that might otherwise be blinded. Listening in this way invites us to ask questions that don't just get to the surface but invite inquiry that creates profound shifts.
Coaches speak often of the power of asking questions. But what makes a question genuinely transformative? It's not about seeking a quick response or resolve. It's about giving the question the time and space to settle within ourselves and those we communicate with.
Below, you'll find three types of questions that lead to lasting change:
1. Questions that Challenge Limiting Beliefs:
These questions gently disrupt the assumptions holding us back. They invite us to question the stories we've been telling ourselves, stories that may have once served us but now limit our true selves and potential. Questions like:
How does holding on to this assumption serve me, and how might it hold me back? or
Who might I become if I chose not to believe this story anymore?
When we ask these questions like these, we invite ourselves and our clients to look beyond the familiar, to see new perspectives, and to recognize the vast possibilities that exist when we free ourselves from limiting beliefs.
2. Questions that Evoke Vision:
These questions shift our focus from problems to possibilities. They help us envision the future in a way that ignites excitement and purpose. Questions like:
If success had no boundaries, how would I define it for myself?
Which aspects of my future am I most passionate about shaping right now?
By asking these questions, we permit ourselves to expand our dreams, to imagine what could be rather than what's been. In this visioning space, change becomes a desire and a driving force that compels us to move forward with more energy, confidence, and purpose.
3. Questions that Uncover Our Truth:
The answers we need are often within us. However, we require the right questions to uncover them. Questions that help explore deeper into our values, motivations, and true desires like:
Where and when do I feel most alive, and how can I bring that energy into other areas of my life?
What fears or self-doubts could be masking my deepest desires?
By listening to the voice within and finding our truth, we gain clarity and insight that guide our decisions and actions moving forward. It's a reminder that change is not about becoming someone else; it's about becoming who we truly are.
When we ask these questions, we're not just seeking answers. We're inviting a process of deep reflection and transformation. The questions catalyze lasting and sustainable change, guiding us toward alignment with our true selves more effortlessly.
Which questions are you asking yourself today that are guiding you toward the person you aspire to become?
So the next time you're coaching, leading, or reflecting on your life, trust that the questions you ask will guide you far more effectively than focusing solely on the answers or outcome.
With Grace,
Marilyn
Does change and the uncertainties in life weight you down? If you’re struggling and would like to learn more about coaching, feel free to schedule a time to meet below.
