Shovelling and Discovering

Here in Calgary we have all been shovelling an unusual amount of snow. I don't mean meters of it but it seems almost every day for a while there was enough to go out and find the sidewalk and driveway again.

I don't mind shovelling actually, even when it is really cold like the past few weeks. I am very particular so I like it to be done very soon after the snow has stopped (given that is in the daytime) or regularly during a long snow spell. I remember being the mom with the stroller and trying to get some fresh air during those long, snowy winters and feeling so frustrated at the people that made pushing a stroller very difficult because they did not shovel their walks.

Now as coach, I use a lot of metaphors. Even the ones that seem simple and corny have great value. Our language is so limited relative to our range of emotion and experience and metaphors really seem to bridge that gap. This time, I am using the metaphor of shovelling snow.

I think my life, mind, spirit and body are like my driveway and sidewalk. They need to be cleared of junk all year round. Sometime the layer of junk is thick and sometimes it is thin, just like the recent snow falls.

When the layer is thin, I even miss seeing it at first. Those are times when I need support, like my coach, to even see it before I slip on it and hurt myself. Or perhaps before others slip on it and get hurt just from trying to get close to me. Those layers can be tricky and I need to go slow and where 'grippy' shoes to clear that off.

When the layer is thick, I might need to take a few tries at it to get the job done. I need to be compassionate with myself and allow for some rest in order to avoid burn out while getting the job done. I might even need to ask for help if there seems too much to go it alone. This kind of job requires the right posture so I don't hurt myself in all the metaphorical lifting.

Then, there is the weather. There are times of year that clearing off my junk layers seems all too cold and I would rather stay inside where it is warm and comfortable. These times call for some extra layers of protection and calling me forth to go where it feels uncomfortable to get the job done. I might need support to get out in the cold every day, even when staying inside seems like a much better option.

This week I have been taking my extrovert insight (see my last post), and going outside with it. I am acknowledging the way I was made and asking to have dinner with friends and making it clear I will be continuing when Jeff is away again next month. I am keeping my space clear around that topic and being with people and experiencing freedom often, even when it seems the more difficult choice, because I know I feel better that way. I am so glad to have shovelled through that mess and got to the clear driveway, my insight, to enjoy my rewards. The most impactful has been around food. I have felt challenged with emotionally eating for years and although I have done extensive work around this, having the Extrovert Exponent has been truly freeing. It's like my body found peace. I am not hungry as often and am eating well without the anxiety of the process. Really profound for me.

If this season were a metaphor for your life, what would it be? Really lean in to your imagination and get creative. What action is it calling you to? Make comment and let me know. In the meantime, keep shovelling and discovering! Get the support and tools you need for the job and get going. You will reap rewards that last a lifetime, and you are worth it!

Merry Christmas,
Aly Pain, CPCC, ACC
InnerPiece Life & Relationship Coaching
aly@alypain.com www.alypain.com p. 403-246-2399 f. 403-263-8790