Following the Metaphor
(Two of my coach clients practicing with each other)
What
would you like to have happen?
For me, I think it’s
about being busy. I’d like to be busy.
And
what is 'busy' like?
Maybe it’s like canoeing down white water rapids instead of being stationary in
a lake; an element of movement, like going down a slide. An element of movement,
some sort of slide downhill.
And is
there anything else, when you talk about going down rapids, this movement
downhill, is there anything else about that?
Well, it’s
invigorating, it’s fast. Instead of the rapids, it’s a picture of a slide, one
of these slides you see shooting downwards, changing direction, the whole
element of speed, excitement, uncertainty.
So
when you have this element of speed, excitement, and this uncertainty, is there
anything else about that?
It’s fun; it’s
enjoyable. Yeah, it’s fun.
And what is it about 'fun'?
Because it’s
happening so quickly you can’t quite control it, but you can; you’re on the
edge. I think that’s what I like about it. Time goes quickly, minutes go
quickly. I think it’s the quickness of speed that gets me.
Is
there anything else about that speed, where time moves quickly?
Well, the key is the
angle of the slide. Unless it’s angled a certain way it stops; the angle of the
slide is critical.
And
what’s that 'angle' like?
It’s quite steep, but
it’s also not the same angle all the time; it’ll change, it’ll slow you down a
fraction, then speed you up; it’s always busy, you can never predict it; it’s
happening fast.
You’ve got this angle of this slide, and it’s steep, and you can't predict it,
and it's happening fast…
Like a roller
coaster.
Like a roller coaster. Is there anything else about that…?
I can see things
coming toward me clearly. And the busyness and the speed of it is what I want.
It’s not something I’m trapped in; it’s something I’ve chosen to go in; so in
that way it attracts my desire for busyness.
And reflecting this desire for busyness, what is that 'busyness' like?
I suppose it’s like
wanting something but not knowing if you can create it.
It’s
like wanting something but not knowing you can create it. So what is that like?
Is there a feeling in there, a picture?
I got a picture of
jumping on climbing walls and not being able to predict if there’s anywhere to
put your feet and your hands. A bit like being spider-man but not knowing, if
you throw yourself against the wall, if you’ll stick.
When
you’re spider-man and throwing yourself against the wall, is there anything
else?
It’s like not knowing
which wall to start with. It’s being unsure of knowing which wall to start
with.
And
not knowing which wall to start with; can you say more about that?
Yeah, it’s very
unsettling.
Anything
else about 'unsettling,' when you don’t know which wall to start with?
Yeah. It means you
can procrastinate a hell of a lot.
And
what is that procrastination like….?
A feeling of
sluggishness.
And
how does that feeling of 'not knowing which wall' connect with that
'invigorating fast slide'?
It’s completely
opposite. They’re the antithesis of each other, and I’m often in the middle.
And
when you’re in the middle of not knowing which wall and that invigorating fast
slide… what is that like?
That’s like being in
a hot country and a cold country at the same time. It’s very strange.
Anything else about … that kind of 'strangeness'?
It’s very difficult
to gauge where you’re at because you go from one extreme to another, from a fast
slide to a slow-down.
And
is there anything else about that 'slow-down'?
It’s like the
opposite of the slide, still in the slide, but you have to move yourself in the
slide.
So
where are you when you’re between the rock wall and the slide?
I’m not in the slide.
The slide is where I want to be. The rock wall is hard work…
And
when you’re on the rock wall, what needs to happen for you to get to the slide?
It’s like one of
those bridges in Harrison Ford movies, Raiders of the Lost Ark, one of those
bridges that connect the two.
What’s that bridge like?
It’s quite wobbly.
It’s safe but you’ve got to keep your balance.
And
is there anything else about this wobbly bridge…?
I think you need to
be steady.
Steady like what?
Steady means a good
rhythm.
A rhythm.
Yeah. A rhythm of
intention; a rhythm of A to B, a rhythm of certainty across the bridge.
And
is there anything else about this rhythm of intention…?
I think it’s just a
rhythm where you need to make a decision and move to a place that’s consistent.
And can you do that?
Yep. I’m doing that
as we’re talking. It’s a lot longer than I thought it would be. It’s taking a
lot longer, and elements get in the way of crossing the bridge so it’s not as
easy as it might seem. But it’s going to the right place.
You’re going to the right place when you’re on this bridge that’s sometimes a
little wobbly?
Yeah, it’s uphill
going to the slide.
And what happens now on this long march up to the slide?
I quite enjoy the
view, actually. This view is quite interesting.
Where is this interesting view?
It’s actually going
into space now. The bridge is in space and I’m looking into stars as I seem to
walk endlessly, going up this bridge.
And is there anything else about these stars and walking endlessly?
It’s a very different
picture, a very enjoyable picture, a very motivational, inspirational picture.
It’s not a slog, actually a really enjoyable walk. It’s a HUGE distance, a
hundred times more than I originally pictured it, and it’s an incredibly
enjoyable walk… the stars…
So can that incredibly enjoyable walk up this bridge to the stars, can that
happen now?
Um hmmm.
What
needs to happen for this walk into the stars?
It’s happening. I can
see myself walking along.
Anything else?
It's like a Stanley
Kubrick movie, out in space with music.
And with this walk up to the stars where
there’s space and music, where is the 'busyness' now?
Well, the busyness is
quite a long way off. It’s a matter of how long it will take me to get to the
busyness.
So a long, long time. Is there anything else about that?
It would be better if
the busyness were closer.
What is the bridge to the busyness like?
The bridge is quite
easy to walk on; it just seems like a long, long bridge, stretching out into the
far, far distance…
You enjoyed the bridge when it went from point A to point
B from the rock wall to the slide and when it went up to the stars, but the
bridge seems really long.
Yes, never-ending.
Never-ending. So what needs to happen for that bridge to shorten…?
I’ve just seen a
sign, “Go this way?”
Which
way is 'this way'?
To the right.
And what is on the right?
I think it’s more of
a solid platform that leads to the slide.
And
this platform… what is this platform like?
It’s very solid,
takes you from a bridge that’s quite solid, where you know you’re getting closer
to the slide.
So with this wobbly bridge and then this solid, supportive platform, what
happens to the 'busyness' now?
It starts to happen
because I'm near the slide. I can hear it, I can feel it, I can see the angle;
I'm at the starting point of the speed.
So can the busyness happen now?
Yes.
What happened right before you stepped onto the platform?
I think it’s the
rhythm on the bridge getting a little bit quicker; a number of things on the
bridge have interconnected and come together, a natural speeding up of things at
that point, speeding up, integration, coalition, absorption, all these words,
starting to gel.
Anything else about that speeding up, that integration right before you step on
the platform?
That also coincides
with the inner integration of things happening.
And what’s that like when the inner integration happens?
It’s a bit like when
the wall has footholds. You know that it’s right. Your body knows it’s right.
You’ve got an internal sense of it being right. It feels right.
Is there anything else about that internal sense of when your body knows
'it’s right'?
There’s an excitement
about it. It feels good.
And where are you when it feels good and you have that joy and excitement?
Just about to step on
that platform.
Where is the busyness?
In my feet.
Can the busyness happen now, that’s in your feet?
Um hmm
OK, I want to check in with you. How are you with
ending here?
Good.
