Life Coach Essex - Susan Savery

Thinking outside of the box – Sometimes we get stuck in a rut with our thinking patterns. In order to help us to apply a different, more positive attitude to our tasks it can be an advantage to remind ourselves of our various qualities and capabilities.

This exercise is to help you tap into your different resourceful selves; altering your approach to the task in hand.

Making a list of your positive qualities. Compile a list of the things that you do well, and the behaviours that help you to succeed. When creating your list, you could think about a time when you were really resourceful, when things worked well, and you achieved positive results. Think about your frame of mind at the time. Who were you being? How were you behaving? For example:

Were you being:
Organised
Optimistic
Adventurous
Curious
Giving
Thoughtful
Creative

Were you:
Taking risks
Nurturing
Paying attention to detail
Acting as if

Once you have compiled a list of your various resourceful selves, you can ‘try them on’ in relation to your problem. Ask yourself: What options could I have from each self? How will I feel when I am doing or feeling each self in relation to my problem? If I ‘act as if’ within each self, what will I be doing?

An excellent way to increase the benefits of this exercise is to write each resource on a piece of paper. Spread them around you on the floor and then take turns to step into each one, taking on the characteristics of each different quality as you go.

Think about using the qualities of that particular resourceful state in relation to your problem. Ask yourself the above questions and focus on your reactions when you apply that particular outlook. Ask open questions in relation to the issue and respond from within your particular resourceful self.

When you have some options and your frame of mind is positive towards your issue, move on to your next resourceful state and apply the same process.

Once you have completed the exercise, stepping into each of your resourceful selves, you will have a list of various options having drawn on all of your most resourceful qualities.

You can then look at which options are most interesting and useful to you, putting together a way forward based on your most positive outcomes, having ‘thought outside of the box’.

If you would like to improve or change aspects of your personal and (or) working life, find out more or discuss your needs then get in touch and take advantage of a free no obligation trial session
where we can have a chat, and you can experience my style of coaching to see if it is right for you.

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Tel: 01708 227978 / 07708 374675

Email: susan@susansavery.co.uk