El derecho is a fierce and violent wind event. It is sudden, unexpected and appears out of nowhere.
When el derecho happens it is frightening because it is powerful enough to snap a 100-foot tall Ponderosa Pine in half, splintering the tree and sending it crashing to the ground. I have heard this happen. It is deafening. It is terrifying.
El derecho is gone as suddenly as it appears, leaving utter perplexity in its wake. Afterwards, the day becomes peaceful again even as the unabashed destruction remains.
El derecho.
Our clients experience emotional el derecho events. All may seem to be in order. Life is peaceful and serene. Then BAM! A force of nature blows through and life turns to chaos.
El derecho.
Case study: I have been coaching with a client for several months. She was always present on our calls and practiced the exercises we discussed in between sessions like an “A” student of personal growth. She was nearing the point where we were talking about meeting bimonthly because she felt empowered and skilled enough to live life on her own terms, centered in her intentions and able to find her footing when she needed to.
On our scheduled call one day she said she had been feeling so great that she considered asking to reschedule that day’s call. The day before, she realized she had nothing pressing and was wondering what we would talk about.
But that morning “out of nowhere” she experienced a devastating betrayal that shattered her sense of stability and sent her into a spiral of discontent. She told me she was angry, frustrated, crying uncontrollably, confused and ready to give up any belief that her life could ever be different. Her personal growth skills had failed her.
She came on the call in that splintered state of hopelessness, self-doubt and fear.
El derecho.
First things first. I encouraged her to feel her pain and express her frustration until she felt complete. Yes, I admit, I encouraged her to tell the story of what happened because I believe that within that story was the pathway back to her center. Boy, was she mad.
Once she cleared her pain and could make sense of what had happened I asked her what she was committed to and off we went. This simple act of my listening deeply and her feeling heard returned her to her stability and her truth. Her voice became clear, strong and calm and she could think clearly again.
The world as she knew it had changed in an instant. Her desire to center in trust, truth and love had not. She was able to get clear so she could move forward using her well-grounded personal power skills in a way she valued. She emerged from this storm empowered and proactive and committed to her values and the goodness of life.
After allowing herself to feel what she felt and think what she thought, she was prepared to respond to the situation rather than react from a place of fear. She easily moved forward from her gentleness and wisdom. She even was able to laugh at the absurdity of the situation that confronted her.
El derecho happens to all of us. Finding the courage to stand up after we get blown over, splintered and even shattered is a gift coaching can bring to our clients.
Our session concluded with a simple strategy to proceed, and in fact, my client felt confident enough in her coaching tools and skills to schedule her next coaching session two months hence.
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.
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