3 Ways To Self-Coach

Do you remember being scared on your first sleepover playdate when you were a kid?

How about when you got your first bad mark on a report card in high school, or when you went through your first messy breakup? 

As most of us would, I still cringe when I think about those experiences from my own past, but I'm also really proud of myself for overcoming the obstacles that they were. And obstacles, of course, are inevitable.

Enter: resilience.

Resilience is a practice that requires tapping into the inner wisdom gained from past experiences in order to make sound decisions. It is, in effect, the antidote to any obstacle. 

We've all practiced resilience, at least to some degree (getting back on the proverbial horse after a bad breakup is a common example), and in so doing have practiced these three ways of self-coaching. 

1. Set goals

Setting goals is crucial for getting yourself out of a situation you don't want to be in, and just as importantly, getting yourself into situations you do want to be in.

Having a clear idea of your objective keeps you focused as the path toward achievement unfolds. 

Remind yourself of this goal daily (or more frequently if need-be!) by telling your friends about it, writing it down somewhere you will see it often, or recording a voice memo that you can replay to yourself. 

2. Create a step-by-step plan to reach those goals

Anyone can set infinite amounts of goals, but unless you have a strategy for achieving them, odds are they will go unfulfilled. 

Mapping out a plan for getting from where you are now to where you want to be is imperative, and easier than it may sound.

What is one small step you can take in the direction of your goal? What is the small step that comes after that?

Allowing room for adjustments, continue to ask yourself, "what is the next small step I can take?" until your goal is achieved. 

3. Set up a system for accountability

Accountability is non-negotiable when setting out to achieve any goal, and can look myriad different ways. 

Setting up a rewards system for yourself when you reach any small milestone can provide great motivation, and setting timers for specific tasks that get you closer to your goals can keep you focused. 

Without accountability, most goals get pushed perpetually and indefinitely to the back-burner, or they get forgotten completely. 

Having a system in place to mark accomplishments, track progress, and course-correct when needed is a sure-fire way to stick to your step-by-step plan to achieving any goal you set, big or small.