When You Haven’t Got The Answer…

Ever have the feeling of just not knowing the answer?  I know I do.  And my clients often do.  I think that’s just par for the course in this game called life.  And it can be a very frustrating situation, no doubt about it.

As a coach, my specialty is asking questions.  And what I know for sure is that sometimes it’s less about knowing the answer and more about knowing which question to ask.  So often I see it happen where I’m in a quandry, wrestling with the world around me trying to find the answer — only to realize that I’ve been focusing on the wrong question.   For example, I generally start my mornings by asking what intention I’m going to hold for the day.  It’s a question that generally serves and I can usually come up with an answer fairly quickly.  Sometimes, however, I just draw a blank.  I don’t know what intention to hold.  In those moments, I know it’s time to ask a different question, to change the focus as it were.  On those days, questions like “what do I want today’s theme song to be?” or “If I could go through today as a colour, what would it be?” will get me moving like nobody’s business.

You’ll notice these next questions aren’t exactly orthodox.  Nobody says they have to be.  The question to hold, orthodox or not, is the one that has you find an answer.  I guess the bottom-line is this:  when you haven’t got an answer, and finding the answer feels like a struggle, it’s likely time to ask a different question.  Try it.  At the very least it’ll shift your energy.  And that’s always a good thing.