Occasionally we all need a delicate push to keep optimistic and motivated. There is nothing at all wrong with feeling low in strength and uninterested in our objectives occasionally but, when this turns into a default frame of mind, it is time to do something.
Coaching questions
In this article we’re discussing 10 highly effective coaching questions utilised by coaches to motivate their clients to feel more optimistic, more inspired and enthusiastic about their goals again. So, look for a favourite notebook and pen, put the kettle on and write down your answers to these:
1. When do you feel most happy in your everyday routine?
It’s very easy to believe happiness only comes during major life events or special occasions but, in fact, it’s peppered throughout our days in smaller amounts. It takes an eager eye to recognise it but, when you do, you can actually savour the occasion and truly appreciate it.
Think about your current regular schedule and when you feel most joyful. Is it during your early morning cup of coffee? At lunch time when you get out for a stroll in nature? Or perhaps it’s in the evening when you warm up with a loved one. Whenever it is, think about how you can savour this moment more or bring in more moments like this into your day.
2. What were your three most positive moments in the recent week/month/year?
Our brains have a negativity prejudice, meaning they keep on to undesirable experiences more easily than positive ones. This means we have to be really deliberate about recalling the happier times in life.
Take some time to think about three positive things which occurred in the last week, month and year. Highlighting on this provides a new perception and can move you into a more upbeat mindset.
3. Why is it significant for you to achieve your goal?
When you have a goal you’re dealing with right now, get back to fundamentals and ask yourself why it’s significant to you. What will change if you complete it? What won’t change if you don’t? Reiterating the importance can provide you with a restored vitality around the objective and motivate you to carry on.
4. How will reaching your goal help others close to you?
If you’re still battling, review your goal in another way. We frequently think about the ways our goals will alter our lives but have you ever thought about how they will change other people’s lives? For example, if your goal is to meditate more to help manage stress, think about how those around you will benefit from you being less stressed. Sometimes taking the focus away from ourselves in this way, can help us feel more committed to our goals.
5. How do you feel you could best motivate yourself?
Motivation is an inside job. Consider how you are motivated and what you could do to motivate yourself right now. What has helped you get motivated in the past? I use a whole range of hypnotherapy visualisations to help increase motivation. For many writing things down works. Telling other can bring accountability. What works for you?
6. What are some steps you can take towards your goal? What will you do first?
Taking action is what makes a goal a reality. Hopefully, by now you’re feeling more positive and more committed to your goal, so now is the time to think about how you’ll achieve it. What small steps will help you get there? What is one thing you can do today to bring you closer to achieving your goal? Remember, small steps lead to big changes.
7. What potential barriers are there to you achieving your goal and what will you do if these barriers come up?
It’s important to be realistic when it comes to goals. As much as we would love to believe everything in your life will line up perfectly and you’ll have no problem at all achieving your goals, sometimes… life happens. A bump in the road might come up, something unexpected might derail you. While you can’t prepare for all eventualities, taking some time to think about potential barriers and, crucially, how you’ll handle them if they do appear can help.
8. Who can you ask to help you along the way?
Remember, it is OK to ask for help. In fact, having the right support system around you can be crucial to your happiness – we were never meant to do this alone. Think about who you have in your life that could support you and consider whether or not you would benefit from hiring a professional, such as a coach.
9. How can you best support yourself right now?
As well as considering your external support, it’s helpful to think about how you can support yourself. Take a holistic approach here and think about how you’re looking after yourself physically, mentally and spiritually. Self-care, while you work on your goal, is essential for avoiding burnout.
10. What past experiences can you draw on to help?
Reflecting on past experiences and successes is an easy technique that can help you build confidence. Think about the times in your life where you’ve been challenged and how you came through the other side. Remind yourself of your resilience and move forward knowing you have the strength to pick yourself back up should you need to.