action vs delay 1

Process

Idea------ Action Plan ------Action------- Results

Just knowing this process doesn’t necessarily bring people to action.

Why? Fear of failure, mistakes and disappointments

Know that such consequences are simply part of the process. Embrace it and move on. Become good at facing failure – learn from it

Overwhelmed by big goal and can’t see the small achievable steps or even the first simple step.

Motion creates new circumstances and awareness. Otherwise inertia, passivity of observation which though enlightening, can become boring if we indulge in it. We need a balance.

What causes delay?

Some kind of belief, judgement or underlying automatic commitment (UAC) that holds us back from taking responsibility.

We need to think clearly through the false reasoning of fear itself. The only way around fear is to move through it. Face the fear and do it anyway!

Methods to shift delay to action

* Goal setting – break into manageable steps
* Address the fears with reasoning – as illusions constructed in our mind
* Address UAC eg could be committed to failure
* Accountability – use structures
* Shift in perception eg when you come to the end of your life would you regret not doing this?

Consequences

Have the client describe the consequences of not taking action. Which is worse: Action or non-action

Note: Push and pull techniques

Reflections

Reframe delay to an opportunity for introspection / self analysis

Feelings when in action: being stretched, in discovery, excited, powerful, in control, liberating, freedom, purpose and focus, eyes are off me.

Be careful not to have too much action that can overwhelm a coachee.

Feelings when in delay: Frustrating, regrets, powerless, burdened, in the blame game, not focused, eyes are on me

Check-in with your client to sense whether the feelings above are prevalent.

Action doesn’t have to be big

“You cannot plough a field in your mind”

Delay can be OK if it’s not the right time

Lack of clarity re goals can cause delay

Differentiate between blaming and acknowledging circumstances as genuinely affecting your move forward. It can be a fine line.

We can’t control our external circumstances but we can control our reactions.

Action to deal with fear could include:

* What’s the worse that can happen. Disappointment has never killed anyone Identify that we all * face fear and need to move through it
* Tap into past successes
* Lighten the moment; use a game, make it fun!
* Create accountability structure

Do something each day that you don’t want to do

An area where I’ve been in delay - One action I am willing to take this week.

I want to find more significant time for God in my daily ‘busy’ schedule.

My action: I am committed to read scriptures, pray in tongues and to keep a journal (a blog) of my thoughts as I do so. To drive this, I’m expecting God to reveal something significant to me this week. Each week, I will run through my journal with my wife.

Which approach to generate action most appeals to you and why?

Goal setting – break into manageable steps - is the approach that most appeals to me given that ‘goals’ are a familiar concept in business planning.

One more approach

Based on the Christian principle of “Faith without works is dead” but first we must know who we are in Christ! ‘In the world’ it can be translated as knowing who we are and taking no action is fruitless but first we must know who we are!

SELF----------------------------------------------------------------------------SELFLESS
Identify applicable fears, rationalise and dismantle
Identify judgement, rationalise and lose our ego

Introspection Focus action on others
Discovery of who we are Overcome Fears


Pretend we’re going to die in 12 mths. Write how you would change your life right now. Are there different actions you would take? More actions perhaps?

I’d quit teaching, return to the UK (from Australia) and establish a church and use my 12 months grace to preach and, with Gods conviction, bring people to salvation. In particular, I would minister to my brother, who is schizophrenic and take him to the Abundant Life Centre in Bradford – a contemporary church I believe could give him practical help. Praise God!