I believe that it’s in our DNA to create and experience new things; that we are all exploding with potential. I believe we all have the tools inside ourselves to be who we want to be, whether it is a linguist, innovator, artist, entrepreneur… In fact, the only limit is our thoughts about who we think we are: I’m just not good at languages. I don’t have the language gene. I could never do that. She can do it because…. but I can’t.
Why do we do this? I have some ideas:
1) First of all, we’ve forgotten our “why”, our ultimate reason for doing something. We get lost in the crazy hustle and bustle of our daily lives, the constant “noise” 24/7. We no longer know what we really want, what this new adventure can bring us.
2) We cleverly create our own obstacles by focusing on previous events that we label failures and mistakes, whether involving ourselves or others, which leads to low self-esteem, lack of confidence and procrastination. We end up feeling safer staying within our comfort zone instead of venturing out into new territory: I got bad marks in school in languages. I did a terrible presentation in English last time. It’s just not my thing. I’ll start next year when ……
3) We wear blinkers, filtering out anything that doesn’t fit with our established beliefs, limiting our perspectives about what we can do.
4) We blame external situations or people: lack of time, money, family…
5) We take everything too seriously (making mistakes, worrying about what others will think…) and we forget to have fun.
How do we get past these obstacles?
• We become aware of our limiting thoughts and worries. We take a step back and observe them. We start asking ourselves the right questions.
• We choose to take back control, there is no one to blame. We’re in charge of our lives. We decide.
• We stay present, in the moment, not focusing on the past or future. Just now. This is the only moment in which we can take action.
Don’t worry, I can help you do this. My coaching aims to help you open up your eyes to your potential, gain confidence and find your flow in language and life. How about you start with reflecting on your answers to these questions:
• WHY are you learning a language? What is your ultimate objective? On a scale from 1 to 10, how motivated are you to reach this? How can you feel even more motivated?
• WHO are you when you speak a different language? Who would you like to be or who do you choose to be? What is your vision of yourself as an international communicator?
• WHAT can you do to close the gap between who you think you are now and who you choose to become? What is a first step you could take? And the next?
• HOW can you integrate your new language into your daily life? How can you enjoy the journey and have fun?
And let’s not forget, in today’s society, we have the exciting ability to be able to connect with people all over the world through our communication, whether it’s in person during a business trip or vacation abroad or simply by writing a blog in a coffee shop. Imagine the endless opportunities, imagine the experiences, imagine the exhilaration. So what are you waiting for?
Photo courtesy of R. Findon, Unsplash