I’m interested in the truest part of me… talking to the truest part of them and I have faith… that when that part of them, that true self… awakens even in a glimmer… that they’ll have a profound understanding of where their thinking has been, where their life has been…”
Chip Chipman
In last week’s article, I shared an annotated transcript of a 20-minute coaching session I did with coach Liz Scott around how to transition from hourly rates to a “package” model. Then something amazing happened. Liz came back to me with her commentary about what was going on during the session, and it’s wonderful. In all the years I’ve been coaching people, I’ve never had this experience, so I wanted to share it with you. I’ve reproduced the first page of Liz’s commentary below. I spent most of the first half of the session getting connected with Liz, calibrating her and dealing with some of her more “tactical” questions. Here’s a juicy excerpt from the second half of our conversation, where we dive a lot deeper…
| Time on Video | Overview of coaching content | Liz’s responses |
| 1020-1150 | Jamie starts talking about Martians, can you imagine Martians beaming things at you? | I’m thinking, ‘What’s he talking about Martians for?” This confuses me temporarily – it feels like a set-up, “What’s he doing? Am I about to fall into a trap?” |
| 1150-1250 | Jamie uses Martians to point out the distinction between knowing and not knowing | At this point I see something clearly. I see the truth that I don’t know. It doesn’t feel like the panicky ‘don’t know’ when you’re in a class and you’re the only one that doesn’t understand the teacher. It’s a ‘not knowing’ that is completely honest and OK. I feel huge relief. I don’t have to pretend any more. I don’t know and it’s ok. There’s a space that opens up. ‘I don’t know’ feels authentic, real and truthful. |
| 1350-1610 | The conversation becomes more reflective. JS shares more about being tricked by perception | I’m not entirely sure what JS is saying. I’m in a wonderful space. I’m not trying to understand his words. The silence is rich for me. It’s not a silence full of busy thinking it’s a nourishing silence. Any tension has dissolved. |
| 1610-1640 | JS and Liz stay in the world of ‘not knowing’ | I feel a deeper truth. Not knowing feels good, there is nothing wrong/bad/stupid here. Not knowing is perfect |
| 1640-1950 | JS talks about the ‘softening’ and the feeling of connection. He talks of insights and Syd Banks | As I look inside me I realise that a space is opening up. More things are dissolving than I brought to the conversation. I have no idea what they are but I can feel them evaporate. I feel a deep sense of knowing that this is the service I want to provide for my clients. Once again the words that JS utters don’t register with my intellect, I just ‘feel’ something inside. The image that comes to mind is the first light of dawn. Those first warming rays of sun are warming me inside. There is a profound feeling of truth and awe. I feel touched to the core and moved, tears start to well up. It feels very beautiful. |
| 1950-end | JS and Liz are moving to the end of the conversation | I am in an extraordinary, warm space of quiet/silence. I know something has shifted and dissolved I have no desire to try and work out what it is. It just is. I look forward to going up onto the moors to walk the dog and chill. |
While it can be useful to get the “tactical” questions out of the way, my goal when I’m working with a client is to guide them into that deeper, more profound space. To “show them another world”, a place where they’re in touch with their “true self”, and available for realization and insight to find them. This is what I did with Liz, and is what you can learn to do for yourself on the Certified Clarity Coach Training Programme https://www.jamiesmart.com/clarity-coach-training-sh/ It’s at the heart of all the work I do with my clients.
If you want to download my original full, annotated 10-page transcript, you can get it for free at www.JamieSmart.com/transcript (you can watch the video here www.JamieSmart.com/transcript too).
Wishing you a wonderful one.
To your increasing clarity,
Big love
Jamie