Client: Can you give me ways to be calm and focused when I’m at work?
Coach: Why do you want to be calm and focused?
Client: Because I want to do well for myself and my company. I want to succeed.
Coach: Could that possibly be getting in your way?
Client: Sure, but that’s the position I’m in.
Coach: What if you gave up thinking about success? Would that help?
Client: I don’t think so. I want you to refine my thinking for more success.
Coach: But that’s just more thinking.
Client: Sure, but I want you to make me think with laser focus.
Coach: You will, if you simply think less.
Client: How do you get from thinking less to laser focus?
Coach: What happens when you’re not thinking?
Client: Nothing I suppose. There’s nothing there.
Coach: Okay, how would you describe that nothing?
(Pause)
Client: It’s quiet, silent.
Coach: Is it calm?
Client: Okay, I get where you’re going with this, but that silence goes away the moment I start thinking.
Coach: What’s taking away the silence?
Client: Others are – my boss, my spouse, my kids, my colleagues, my thoughts.
Coach: But where’s the silence amidst all of it?
Client: Hm, I guess it comes in and out, in between thoughts.
Coach: What if you gave more attention to the silence over the thoughts?
Client: Okay, but I don’t want the thoughts that take away the silence and the calm.
Coach: Is not wanting more thinking?
Client: Yes, I suppose.
Coach: What does silence have to say?
(Pause)
Coach: In between the overwhelm and overthinking is the silence you’re experiencing now. Simply give your attention to that.
Client: That sounds too simple.
Coach: In a way it is, like being calm is simple.
Client: Yeah, but how do I do that when I have deadlines, and a demanding boss?
Coach: What does silence have to say?
(Pause)
Client: Okay, I’m seeing some possibilities.
Coach: And are you calm and focused?
Client: Yes, very. I feel pretty still.
(Pause)
Client: Okay, now what?
Coach: I don’t know, you tell me.
Client: What’s next?
Coach: What does silence have to say?
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