Of course, there are many ways to connect. We connect the dots. We may connect to the Internet to start our day. We connect to electricity when we plug in the lamp. We connect to friends on face book, e-mail, and with handwritten notes sent through the regular mail. (I just dated myself.)
We connect to nature by holding an insect without fear or with a walk outside. We connect to the seasons through the weather and bird watching.
We connect to the Creator with our prayers.
Since the birth of my first grandbaby I think of connection as bonding. I passionately love him body, mind, spirit and soul. I connect with him through my senses. I smell him, taste him, see him, touch him, and hear him. He cries to be sure, and he chirps and squeaks.
The other two senses I use to bond with him are intuition and humor. A sense of humor carries us a long way into the fatigue inherent in infancy. Intuition guides our curiosity.
I connect to myself as his grandmother, which is altogether a new identity for me. Connection is a whole experience.
When we allow someone or something into our awareness, by nature they allow us into theirs, we connect and a relationship is formed.
In the dictionary relationship is defined “as the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected”. It seems to me that connection begets relationship.
Through relationship we connect to experiences, values, visions, dreams, goals, fears and desires.
When we connect via relationship we merge with another. We share vulnerability, spaciousness, and expansion.
In the coaching realm we connect, via the coaching relationship, with our clients and connect with ourselves as their coach. Relationships go both ways after all. Our purpose is to support another’s growth and self-understanding, self-awareness and, in my practice, self-love.
Because we, as coaches, are willing to connect with our clients we are guided by all of the IAC Coaching Masteries© and IAC Mastery #2 in particular which states, and I quote our The IAC Coaching Masteries© E Book here:
Perceiving, affirming and expanding the client’s potential
- Definition
Recognizes and help the client acknowledge and appreciate his or her strengths and potential.
- Effect
The client has greater appreciation of personal capabilities and potential.
The client is more willing to take actions beyond current paradigms or strategies.
- Key Elements
Being in empathy with the client.
Recognizing a wider range of possibilities.
Encouraging and empowering the client.
Challenging limiting beliefs.
Recognizing strengths of client and awareness of where strengths support personal and organizational goals (where appropriate).
And so you see that connection is multifaceted and goes from connecting-the-dots all the way to relationship between people. The relationship is defined by the circumstance and is guided by our purpose and passion. What or who are you willing to connect with today?
Martha Pasternack, MMC; My passion for witnessing the beauty and mystery of life, healthy healing and the promotion of Peace on Earth are integral to my daily life. I have been life coaching since 2004 as a Fearless Living Coach after working 30 years as a health care professional.
www.CircleofLifeCoach.com
