“If you're bored with
life - you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things - you
don't have enough goals.”
– Lou Holtz
(1937- )
Coach
“Whatever you do, do
your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the
Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
– St. Paul
Letter to the
Colossians 3: 23-24 / NASV
Linda (not
real name) was a middle school teacher.
She like teaching well enough and was at a good school. Linda wanted to talk with me because she felt
she needed something more in her life but did not know what. After a short time of her telling me all that
she didn't want to do, I began to see all the classic symptoms: disinterest in
everything, indifference to new ideas or opportunities, lack of willingness to
make changes and a general sense of hopelessness - Linda was bored!
I am sure many of you have
experienced a Linda in your practice.
Sadly, the world is full of bored people. Boredom is one of the hardest battles to face
simply because people who are bored will not do anything to get out of it. It is like dealing with your kids (if you
have some).
Little
Billy: "I'm bored!"
You: "Go outside and play."
Little
Billy: "There's nothing to
do."
You: "Find something to do."
Little
Billy: "Like what?"
You: "I don't know, what do you want to
do?"
Little
Billy: "I don't know. Nothing."
And this
goes on forever!
Boredom can make your client
seem like a little Billy in your office.
This is not uncommon but it is very frustrating. So, what do you, as a coach, do to help? Try these few ideas.
First: Point Out The Problem
I can promise you that when you
tell your client that the problem is they are bored they will say, "No I'm
not!" Two things that are very
common in bored people, (1) they can't see that they are bored and (2) they do
nothing to get out of it. Help them to
see that boredom is really nothing more than a lack for vision and passion to
achieve. In short, they do not have
enough challenging goals.
Second:
Tell Them What to Do
Now is the time for the coach to
exercise some authority. If you ask them
what they want to do in life you will end up in the little Billy
conversation. They need you to be strong
and push them out of this. Start with
telling them they must do an assignment right then and there. Give them a paper and pen and have them begin
to list all the things they are really good at.
Do not add a list of what they are not good at - they will stay there
for hours.
Third:
Why are You Here
Now, ask them why they are on
this planet in the first place. If they
have sought out a coach they know they have a purpose. When I was talking with Linda, her response
was that she felt God has called her to be a teacher.
Forth:
Restart the Fire
I asked Linda what she would
have to do to be the very best teacher in the school system? What would she have to do to be the best in
the state? What are the things she would
have to change in her life to become the very best teacher she could be? Her assignment was to create an action plan
for that achievement and bring it with her at the next visit - or there would
be no next visit.
End of Story
Linda came back the following
week a changed person. She told me that
the more she worked on how she could be the best, the more excited she
got. This is true with all of us. The problem with boredom is that we lose
sight of what is possible. In fact, the
best cure for boredom is the believe you can do the impossible. We all need a bit of the impossible in our
life.
You matter to the world. You are here to make a difference and that
difference is good. Remember the
qualities of a real success-minded person: Be your best. Love God.
Have good manners. Discover the unknown.
Change the world.
John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker,
and Life Coach. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books,
training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our
website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.
© 2014 John
Patrick Hickey
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