“You take people as far as they will go, not as far as you would like them to go.”

  Jeannette Rankin

As a Mental Toughness Coach, this is something I have to constantly put into the forefront of my brain housing group.  The only reason I push clients so hard is that I can see how great they really are, if they would just buy into believing in themselves.  I try hard not to be disappointed when a client is on the verge of crushing it “like a BOSS”, only to watch them shrink back at the moment of truth.  I don’t judge them, I’ve been tempted so many times to do the same thing myself.

It reminds me of when my kids were toddlers.  At the beginning of the summer, they were afraid to get into the pool.  They would barely get off the steps or let go of the wall.  Don’t even think about asking them to jump in.  I would stand in the water, arms wide open, assuring them, “Daddy will catch you.”  After a few weeks, they would at least stand by the edge and contemplate jumping, but even with coaxing and coaching, it was no.  Finally, towards the end of the season, after seeing lots of other kids jumping in (without anyone there to catch them), they would timidly come to the brink of that enormously intimidating 6 inch cliff and with sheer terror in their eyes, thrust themselves into oblivion (um, Daddy’s arms and the cool waters of the Nestea Plunge).  Once they surfaced, caught their breath, cleared their eyes, they would scream with delight.  Fun was had! Life was thrilling and so much more exciting than from the brink of the cliff, looking at it.  Jumping was where it was at, baby! And they haven’t stop jumping in yet. They dive now, on Day One of the summer, and keep at it until they’re dizzy.

I’d love to think it was me, my coaching, and my outstretched arms, which got them to go.    Objective reality tells me they did it on their own.  They did it when they were ready for it.  Yes, plenty of times I wanted to scream in frustration at them for not jumping, but that would only delay them from coming to the decision for themselves.

If you shrink away from the edge, I ain’t mad at you, but I’d be lying if I said, I wasn’t disappointed. You can do it. You really are great, and in case you’re wondering, come on in, the water’s fine!

Boo Yah!!