I invite you to take a focussed look at this photo of a damaged tree.
· What do you see?
o The damage that has spoiled the normal look of the tree?
o The part that is vibrantly alive?
· What do you feel as you remain looking at the tree?
o Sadness or a shrinking from the ugliness in the damaged part?
o Astonishment and ‘respect’ that there is so much life despite the damage?
· What would you do if this tree were in your garden with the damaged part facing the house?
o Cut it down and plant another tree?
o Keep it as a testament to life winning?
Perhaps you felt you needed to agree with the second response in each section. But the point of the exercise is to be transparent with yourself about how you react to physical, mental or emotional damaging times in life.
Coaching is not therapy. However, coaching can help you with changing your ongoing perspectives of situations in your life or in your reactions to people who have been damaged in some way.
The big lesson, of course, is that whatever life throws at us, with the support of colleagues, friends, family, therapist or coach, we can learn to live and thrive and show that courage in the face of adversity is a beautiful thing. There is no shame in scars.
