by Alison Davis, IAC-CC
Living the Masteries is a regular column where we invite coaches to share their experiences of Living the Masteries in their everyday lives. As we become aware of the Masteries and really understand and use them, we realise just how powerful they are and how, used effectively, they can truly make a lasting difference to the world.
This month IAC Board of Governors member Alberto Calderón will continue our look into Mastery Two: Perceiving, affirming and expanding the client’s potential.
As I work with Mastery Two I ask myself “How might my life be different if…I perceived, affirmed and expanded my own potential… if I did that for others…and if they did it for me?”
I find myself facing a variety of new ways to improve my life and to help others to achieve the best of themselves. This turns out to be an extraordinarily beneficial and powerful experience for me, because I live in a culture where people are valued and acknowledged for their political, economical, social and/or professional achievements.
Since my childhood I have felt that I have huge potential inside me. When I have had the support of others, I have been able to be outstanding in my academic and sporting activities as well as in relationships with my family. I was invited to participate in the football selection at school, I won trophies for chess and participated in and lead youth groups. I have other memories too, of getting bad marks, of letting a lot of goals past as goalkeeper, of my parents being asked to go to school because of my bad conduct, and also being fired from a job.
When I think about these life experiences, I see that many of my actions were strongly influenced by the opinions and support of others. When I was supported, I got to be my best. When that didn’t happen, I was sometimes a disaster. I remember asking myself the question: “Who or what is living my life?” because very often, I wanted to be able to act differently.
When I study this Mastery and experiment with it, I realize that the potential that I have is inside me. That my strengths and talents are there to be used by me to improve my life and to turn myself into a human being who is useful to the society in which I live. I can choose how to behave, what to think, how to educate myself, how to deepen and cultivate my values, how to make good use of my talents, and how to evolve my consciousness. Now I know that I can move, write, dance, play, create and teach courses, speak at a conference, do business or travel, help other people, and create a better world. I know that the wisdom and the potential I need are in me and that my life has infinite possibilities.
We are all here to give and to receive. Each one of us can participate as co-creator in our own life, in organizations, in society, and in that of humanity, as we are already part of these.
I invite you to think about the question I asked myself: “Who or what is living your life?” I hope that the answers you find will help you to open up to your own potential.
Questions for self reflection:
Am I already in touch with my full potential?
What am I losing or wasting by not connecting with my potential?
Can I begin to create a clear personal vision of what could be possible?
Alberto J. Calderón, MCS, PCC, OC, MBA, doctorate (Social Anthropology) is the President of MORE Global, CCS-Comunidad de Coaching Sistémico and the IAC Chapter of Mexico. Alberto is a coach, consultant, teacher, trainer, researcher and life learner, seeking to improve personal evolution, the productivity of organizations and quality of life. www.morecoach.com
This is your column; it can only continue if you share your experiences of Living the Masteries. Please send us your stories—you will inspire others by your sharing, and by talking about the Masteries, we create an echo chamber where their power takes on new meaning in the world.
Please send your contributions to Alison Davis at Alison@foundationsforliving.com, so she can share them for you in the Living the Masteries column in the VOICE each month.
Alison Davis, IAC-CC, is a certifying examiner at the IAC, coach, mentor coach and founder of the IAC–licensed virtual coaching school Foundations for Living. Discover more at www.foundationsforliving.com.
