Coaching turns to be less about answers than questions. The most intensely impactful moments in my life have characteristically been at the points when a powerful (or perhaps sly, unanticipated, out of the blue) question has literally stopped me in my tracks. These are moments that provoke a gap or a break in the unseen patterns of my thinking and being – and have opened me to looking at something(s) in a new way – sparking a new awareness, self-reflection, examination and possibly, a new discovery or learning. This cannot be formulaic. Rather, I have discovered that powerful, provocative questions arise in the space of mutually open, active listening. Our work together, our journey together, therefore will be as provocative and meaningful as the extent to which we can cultivate the kind of mutual trust and encourages us both to inhabit a space of not knowing and curiosity.

We can’t predict how our conversations will go. That is both the work and the joy of it. We may be entering the territory of big dreams, deep longing, and unyielding challenges. And realms of day to day patterns and uncertainties. As we explore possibilities of life changes we know we will need to get beneath the surface. What does that life look like? What am I tolerating? Who am I becoming? What am I resisting? What could I do and be? What is possible? Unreasonable? Unthinkable?  These are the kinds of questions that may arise in unconventional conversations. But who knows? We’ll have to listen together to find out.