The Zone of Knowing

I've had a few new clients coming into our initial session feeling depleted.

They had lists, goals, and timelines of how they wanted 2024 to roll out but are now finding themselves feeling stuck, overwhelmed, scratching their head while second-guessing decisions, and wondering how it's already mid-April.

Most coaches, including myself, are all about helping you shake off that paralysis and confidently make decisions.

Because, let's get real here, second-guessing yourself is shitty and can put you in a hamster wheel of ruminating on the three W's of worry: warnings, what ifs, and worst-case scenarios. 

The thing is, coaches aren't here to hand clients the perfect answer on a silver platter. That's not how coaching works. And if a coach ever starts telling you what you "should" or "need to do," I would see that as a red flag. Coaching isn't about imposing someone else's ideas on you.

So, what's a winning recipe for getting past stuckness and out of overwhelm? I've got two tried-and-true action steps up my sleeve to help you start moving forward again. Let's dive in!

Somewhere in my life or on the interwebs, I discovered a simple equation to the Zone of Knowing.

After testing it out and realizing how well it works, it's now my go-to whenever I'm stuck and unsure about my next move (or even just feeling uninspired or unmotivated.)

How does this work? Basically, it's a two-step dance.

Step 1: Apply the Zone of Knowing by moving with zero agenda.

'Thinking' strengths (ya know, like analytical, learner, ideator, etc.) are exceptionally valuable until they aren't.

What I mean is that if you are thinking yourself in circles, needing to learn EVERYTHING before you put yourself out there (I see you), or always thinking up great ideas but not sure how to act on them, it's time to change the environment by moving and taking a break from the thought process.

"You can't see anything new until you change where you stand," is a quote by Allie Moss. It's the same with your thoughts. You can't think/feel/see anything new until you change where you stand (move).

Get outside for a hike, have a dance party, ride your bike - whatever the movement is, make it last (an hour or more is ideal), and have fun!

About a year and a half ago, I felt completely stuck in a decision around my coaching.

I was about to throw in the towel. I had been tossing ideas around for days on coaching ideas/niching down and beating myself up because I hadn't figured it all out.

I decided to turn off the chatter in my head and went for a hike while I listened to podcasts from Allergra Stein with zero agenda except to listen - to the podcast, to nature, to my breath. By the end of the hike, I not only knew my answers, but the answers surprised me!

Sometimes, we get stuck in how we think we need to do something (comparison syndrome, right/wrong way mentality, social expectations, etc.) that we lose sight of how we naturally do things best. It wasn't until I stepped out of my mental framework, away from the noise of expectations and "shoulds", that I truly grasped this truth.

Step 2: Align new thoughts or ideas that may have arisen (while moving) with your values.

Values are like the Kharma in your life, keeping you in check. They tell us why we do what we do and help us correct our course when we get off track.

Think of your ideas or goals as this beautiful scene at the end of a road. Values are the rumble strip on the side of the road, guiding you on your path and reminding you of what is most important. If you ignore the rumble, you hit guard rails or flip your car into a ditch, creating setbacks. (Not to be confused with resistance - those are just birthing pains of a new project. But that's for another newsletter!)

Ask yourself: Do any of these new ideas that came to me while moving align with my values?

Will they help me get to my bigger vision, or are they acting as distractions to keep me idling on the road?

So, let's break it down:

Step 1: Shake things up. Change your environment, move your body, and give your mind a break from the constant chatter.

Step 2: Put whatever fresh ideas that come up into action, but only if they truly resonate with your values (aka guidebook keeping you on the road.)

Not sure what your values are? Don't sweat it. We'll figure it out together.

Values are at the heart of the YouMap® process, guiding our journey together. Let's uncover what truly matters to you and ensure your path reflects that.

You can check out YouMap® and other coaching options here.