Am I Doing the Right Thing?

As a Certified Professional Coach –Personal Coach, PC for short- I get up each morning and grab hold of a sense of reality, my own reality. I take stack of my surroundings, but more importantly, of my impression of my surroundings, for this will inform my decision making.

In my job as a PC I’m called upon to be objective, analytical, quizzical, pragmatic, and supportive and to exercise emotional empathy.

I want to expand a little on this last aspect. In my understanding, to exercise empathy is a two-prong endeavor: On the one hand I’m required to identify with and understand another person’s feelings and difficulties. On the other hand, however, I’m allowed to transfer my own feelings and emotions to another object of my attention, be that another person or a thing.

This begs the questions: In my professional approach should I even consider this separation? Would you trust me with your inner most private feelings, should I not? Would I be as effective as you require of me if I do consider this separation? In other words, would you trust a coach, in any field, who has demonstrated an inability to relate to you and your situation, regardless of his/her technical skills and knowledge? Would you trust that coach if s/he is demonstrably human, vulnerable, flawed?

These are important questions to me as I aspire to be the shore you rest upon as you navigate the strong tides in the ocean that is your life. Phrased differently, the objective of empathy is not empathy for empathy, but empathy as a means to an end, that end being You, your understanding of self, your life, your goals, your wants, your needs, your circumstance.

As a PC I see myself as an instrument, an aid to you in your quest to be the protagonist in your own life, and yes, a bridge, a helping hand between you and the dreams you have for yourself, your wants, your goals. I don’t have the answers, those are yours to find; however, I have the questions that will help lead you to find those answers.

In this archetype you should demand of me that I constantly ask myself: Am I doing the right thing? For in so doing, I am reminded of you, your need, your wants, your goals, and your dreams. I am reminded that I am to be the receptacle of your vulnerability and to transfer my humanity to you as you do the same for me.

Am I doing the right thing? I sure hope so. I leave it to you to find, give me the answer, however.

As you continue the commanding move of your life in the direction of your own ideals, goals and dreams, I ask that you be my palpable evidence that I am indeed doing the right thing. As you bring yourself to me, I’ll meet you at you, as you meet me at me too. But, enough about me, now, let’s talk about you!