I have found in striving for goals that journal
keeping helps inspire and direct my efforts.
My self communions in a journal consist of
admonishments and advice giving and many ”you shoulds” that have a motivating
impact on getting me to follow the acts necessary to fulfill personal goals.
Whether they work or not is always problematic, except for times of recent
relapse.
The impact is attenuated by my own resistance
which in turn can be caused by unconscious vindictiveness, low self confidence,
or various fears, none of which can be definitely validated.
By returning every day to these self directed
dialogues, I find that compliance brings a sense of accomplishment and
satisfaction. Non compliance inevitably brings guilt, frustration and new
resolves to “do better”.
Much as an external coach would do, these self
administered directives seem to lead me down a more virtuous path, or at least
one that I believe is preferable to simply responding to every impulse or
passing temptation that invites giving in rather than staying the course.
Working with a coach, you develop a goal and a
plan of action for reaching that goal. Weekly meetings ensure accountability.
But working with yourself alone, you can do the same thing, and use record
keeping as your accountability device.
Self coaching is a kind of self empowerment
process wherein you rely on your own resources rather than an outside expert to
initiate and carry out strategies that you know are necessary to gain positive
outcomes.
Some of the resources you need to help yourself
in your goal strivings are:
Record keeping; perspectivizing….coming up with
meanings that help motivate and inspire; role models…finding others who are
doing what you want to be able to do and finding out how they work; self
contracting…setting particular tasks and a time limit for their attainment;
recognition rituals…finding ways to reward yourself for doing what you say you
think is important or that you ‘should’ do.
These are just some of the factors that help
you move forward when the services of an outside coach are not available or are
out of reach financially.
