I wonder if you, like me, find it curious that we are quick to berate ourselves when we make a mistake, and yet we often seem reluctant to applaud ourselves when we succeed. It’s almost as if we’re not allowed catch ourselves doing something right. Yet, if we applied this type of behaviour to other relationships, I feel sure that the quality those relationships would be adversely affected, with the other party either eventually speaking up (pointing out the error of our ways), or finding excuses not be around us. So, who stands up for us when we do this to ourselves?
Following a breakthrough session with my coach, I realised what I was doing, and I was asked to start gathering testimonials from people that I was working with. Being a typical British guy, asking someone to say anything nice about me was a struggle at first, however, I worked on overcoming this when the value of the exercise dawned on me.
- This was great feedback – what worked, and equally importantly, what didn’t
- It was a gag for my inner critic!
Therefore, I share the following with you, not to dazzle you with my brilliance, but to invite you to obtain feedback and recognise your own.
Hi Andrew,
I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how positive I’ve been feeling following my coaching sessions with
you. As you know, I was a bit sceptical about the idea of coaching, but I feel that I have already made a lot of progress, especially with regards to focusing on some personal challenges, which has given me a much more optimistic outlook. I really appreciate the way that you’ve enabled me to make my own decisions, rather than just telling me what to do! It’s been a thoroughly worthwhile experience, which I would recommend to anyone.Thank you. Regards Katherine
And…
Andrew and I completed our NLP Master Practitioner training together in 2008. My experience from working and talking with him during the 5 months we were together is that Andy is the real thing! NLP seemed not just theoretical to him, but something that he grasped intuitively and in sublime detail. His sensory acuity is sharp and in the muscle. This ability to be present and engage with me was given wings by his ability to listen and his genuine commitment to the exercise – which is rather sensible language for saying ‘I felt he was completely there for me’.
When I wanted an NLP coach to work with me on a particular aspect of my present life, a year after the course, I chose Andy. During the session, I experienced a deep rapport and an effortless fluidity as he guided me through the session. The net result is that Andy enabled me to integrate parts of myself that had been at war with each other for as long as I can remember. Since being coached by him, I can trace a line from where I am today back to the session we did together.
This is not just the opinion of a friend, but of a client who, incidentally, makes his living as a professional NLP Coach.
To sum up, I believe Andy to be sharp, compassionate, committed, generous, tenacious and versed in what he is doing. No hesitation in recommending him whatsoever .
Paul Miller, Business Consultant, Executive Coach and professional writer.
As a parting thought, I invite you to read the famous paragraph from “A Return to Love”. by Marianne Williamson which speak about this topic, and ask you, “Actually, who are you not to be?”
