The Unexpected Answer
It was such a truthful, honest answer, so simple, clear and obvious, that it left me absolutely dumbstruck.
It made me realise how often we receive a classic default answer that we barely even hear it; it glides in one ear and casually out of the other. It’s like the sight of the freckle on your face that you’ve seen so often you don’t see anymore.
But not this one, this one bounded in like a bolt of lightening, rattled around my head like a pinball machine and left every electrified nerve buzzing with shock and curiosity. Genius!
It made me
realise just how often we start a discussion knowing exactly where
it is destined, we ask for advice knowing exactly what advice we’ll
be give, we start the conversation, but have already written the
script. Perhaps we know the person in front of us so well that we
can accurately predict what they are going to tell us, perhaps we
know because it isn’t the first time we’ve heard it, perhaps it is
for that exact reason that we approach them and not someone else.
Then just occasionally, when you least expect it, and most need it,
you get the Unexpected Answer. It’s a fresh blast of crisp cool air
on a hot stuffy day.
This dear friend of mine, didn’t come up with a million whys and
where-fors, nor did he plot the potential outcomes or list the
probable solutions, he didn’t even mention the causes or inevitable
consequences, he just smiled, laughed knowingly, looked at me
caringly and said "You will always be stuck in this same old rut,
as you well know, it’s in your make up! Believe me I have known you
for 20 years and you have never been different!".
So that’s it? That’s the extent of the coaching and counselling I
am going to get? Funnily enough, it’s the best coaching I’ve had in
years. Why waste my energies trying to change my armour, swap my
artillery and learn new tactics, when I may as well just accept the
chain mail I was born with, hold my weapons proudly and plough on
into battle!
dw