My Story
I remember it as clearly as if it happened ten minutes ago. I my head popped up to breathe and the earth stood still. I was overwhelmed by of moment of complete stillness, like in a freeze frame, not noticing or being aware of anyone. And then suddenly the realisation hit me. I was in front, in the lead.... And for a split second I froze, the thought - shit what do I do now? - echoing through my head.
That moment of hesitation, confronted with achieving my biggest goal as a 15 year old, was just enough for me to lose the race, and for all purposes was the end of a dream.
I was at school, trying for provincial colours in swimming. For months after that the image replayed in my mind. I could have done it, having had all the talent, training, stamina and will power. But when push came to shove, there was a barrier I couldn’t cross. I was convinced that this wasn’t something I was able to tackle alone. But I had a great coach, supporting parents, what was missing?
With the clarity of hindsight, I now realise that my coach was really an excellent trainer. My parents loved me, and as result supported me. And that was not what I needed, to connect with and set free that inner energy, that would then make me transcend barriers and lead me to triumph. They all had their own agenda in my performance and pushed me in the best way they could. Clouded by that, they were unable to face the issue from my point of view. Help me to confront it, deal with it, without judgement or emotion, to triumph.
Today I think back and have to smile. Every time one of my clients face a similar inner hurdle, I am myself reminded of how different it could have been, and what an important lesson this has been for me.
Regardless of whether it is swimming in a gala, preparing to go on stage and express your soul, or heading up a business with a team of professionals in today’s merciless corporate environment. We all face these moments that everyone, ourselves included, expects us to handle with utmost ease. And somehow - big surprise - we don’t, can’t and invent tons of simple truths and excuses why we can’t. But deep down we know that we actually can. But still can’t.
This is what a coach does. Helps you get in touch with that part of you, that can. Helps you own it, step into it and occupy it from within. And be the person you always knew you could be.
For me, I had done everything I could to ‘do’ swimming. But that is not enough. One has to ‘be’ a champion swimmer before one can actually become one.