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Foundation Four Discussion (WI/SP 2018)
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When you think about coaching and/or guiding others, who comes to mind? What is the population that most excites you, and why? How do you imagine working with them?
The answers to this Foundations module’s question has presented itself for me in an organic way.
It wasn’t too long ago, about 7 years, that I found myself sitting on a hill, alone, in 100-degree temps, with no food nor water for an extended period of 4 days. Prior to this quest, I had set intention around finding my true path or original instructions. So, I sat without expectation, but with hope for a revelation. The lessons that came were multiple (many I am still unpacking to this day), and intense.In retrospect, that experience was one of the toughest of my life yet one of the most rewarding. It’s substance created change in me at its soul level that would effect the trajectory of my life. The vision granted unto me was one of service, and transformation. My “original instructions” are to assist others in finding their own souls purpose through working with the natural world.
Stepping into that vision with authenticity and commitment created a domino effect in my life where opportunities to assist others began to present themselves. The first was at a local restaurant, my wife and I had been discussing a recent quest I had undertaken and a gentleman from the table behind me gentle tapped my should saying…”excuse me, but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation…I WANT to experience what you were just talking about, can you tell me more?”.
That gentleman ended up assembling a group of (8) family and friends for a 2-day quest. That experience began the unfolding of my vision.
The demographic of my clients has chosen me as much as I have chosen them. They tend to be men and women, ages 30 – 40, who are waking from the false “bill of goods” that was sold to them in their 20’s and have found life and the pursuit of “stuff” and career to be empty and soulless. They often contact me with a deep desire for change in both themselves and the community they live within.
How would you like to collaborate with nature to support their awareness and success?
My experience with EBI to date, has been edifying. I have added a significant amount of “arrows” to my quiver of skills in working with my clients. I’ve integrated deep listening and awareness into my pre-quest curriculum and sensory meditations into their solo time alone. My experience so far has been that the addition of these techniques and skills has deepened the experience for both client and myself.
I am excited to add to further add to my skill set with upcoming intensives.
Also, search the web and share with us a few examples of individuals or organizations who work with similar populations. Add to your post, a comparative critique of these organizations based on what you know about Nature-Connected Coaching.
As I read the prompt above, the organizations that came immediately to mind is the School Of Lost Borders (schooloflostborders.org) and Animus Valley Institute (animas.org).
School of Lost Borders is the oldest (modern) wilderness quest school in the US, founded in 1976 by Steven and Meredith Little. They pioneered the pan-cultural vision quest format that many guides use today. Their approach is Earth based, where-in they support and facilitate the questers experience while allowing the land to do the teaching. Further training and opportunities are offered around keeping council, the medicine wheel and entering elderhood.
Animus Valley Institute, founded by Bill Plotkin PhD in 1981 after a solo winter ascent of an Adirondack peak, which became his “call to adventure”, leading him to abandon academia in search of his true calling, leading others into the wilderness to recover their soul’s. Animus’ focus as a organization is heavily intellectualized with a focus on experiencing wilderness as a reflection of soul/self. Shamanic techniques are blended with Joseph Campbells theories of the “Heroes Journey” and poured into Carl Jung’s dream work creating a concoction of soul discovery.
Having research both organizations, I see the NCC Coach as navigating between these two approaches, taking the middle path. By allowing the 50/50 principle to manifest and with deep listening and awareness a NCC offers a unique melding of the two perspectives. -Z
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Zach,
Thanks for sharing your insights on ideal clients and your vision with nature connected coaching. Your story about sharing your vision quest experience and it being heard by a person nearby which sparked their curiosity to learn more is a great example of how our vision can manifest when we least expect it.
As I’ve been chatting and listening to the stories of your other cohort members I have seen a trend of similar experiences where potential clients and like minded individuals are attracted to your story and experiences without you expecting it. It shows that just taking action on our path and sharing the stories of our experience can present potential connections in our community without us expecting it. And I think the moral of the story is that even if we are not sure what our next step is or where our vision is taking us, just putting ourselves out there in the world can present opportunities that we would never expect.
Look forward to chatting with you more about this and other topics next week when we meet for the F2F! Safe travels!
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My summary of this weeks prompt is thus….
After reading everyone’s post, I too am in awe of the depth of learning and work this group is experiencing. Many have expressed confusion and/or uncertainty about ideal clients. But having read everyone’s posts, I saw a great deal of clarity and focus. I saw inspired, driven people moving in the direction of their vision. Really great to be a part of this cohort! Thank you, -Z
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I have just re-read all of your inspiring posts and feel truly blessed to be a part of this cohort and EBI community. It is clear to me that each and every one of us has a different way we will impact and touch the world through restoring a connection to nature, each of which is powerful and beautiful. Mandy and the arts, Brian and children, David and adolescents, and so on. Each post felt so right person by person, and I feel really inspired by you all!
I returned home from my retreat in Costa Rica this Sunday, and it was a truly incredible experience. The evening before it began, I drew a card from my oracle deck… and you’ll never believe what it read! “Threshold.” This week blew my mind and heart open like any threshold experience would! And it felt beautiful to connect with students while integrating Nature connection into my teaching. If fit beautifully and felt right.
As my vision continues to refine, I feel more and more truth in how Yoga and Nature are one. They are not separate, but deeply ingrained within and through one another.
In conclusion:
Retreats feel like a very big part of what I wish to continue to give to the world. And I am dedicating more time in the next months to refine my private practice vision and begin working with clients. The timing of this question, like many of you have expressed, feels right for where I am in my vision work.Thanks again for your inspiring stories and visions – my heart feels full!
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Initial post:
Hey crew! chiming in late here but better late than never 🙂
Kick-off Question: When you think about coaching and/or guiding others, who comes to mind?
two big main groups keep forming. one feels more focused while the other one feels like it’s connected more deeply to the larger collective vision.
the “vision” group is basically – that I want to work with anyone and everyone who feels a sense of calling toward building a better more loving and more sustainable world. to the people who want to live soul-directed lives of purpose, much like EBI. It kinda feel like that’s the big umbrella, maybe for all of us, or at least, for all of the possible ME’s I could have become based on whatever path I chose to walk.The more specific group that I seem to be better able to start orienting a business model or marketing material around is women who want to live powerful lives of purpose and healing relationship – who have suffered #metoo trauma in the past and who are ready to not let that stop them.
What is the population that most excites you, and why?
At this very moment I feel a little disconnected from this. it feels like it’ll always be this idealistic fantasy and never actually become concrete and simple enough to be DONE. Why is this part so elusive, changing, seeming so certain one day and so hopeless the next? Why do other people and businesses seem to be able to answer this question so easily?Also, search the web and share with us a few examples of individuals or organizations who work with similar populations.
http://www.thetraumarecoverycoach.com/
https://www.traumapro.net/evgcert/ctpHow do you imagine working with them? Take time to consider all that you’ve learned during these Foundation Modules and express how you might work with your ideal client. What would be the common categories of goals that you foresee them working towards? How would you like to collaborate with nature to support their awareness and success?
I imagine creating an online program that teaches them about relational trauma in their body and mind to normalize it, then work on embodiment and mindfulness tools as well as trigger-plans for if they are alone and for their close loved ones to know what to do to support them in the moment. lastly, I will of course bring the coaching aspect into it and frame all these steps as pieces to learn and practice as they move toward their personal/professional goals. The program will include weekend or week long wilderness trips.Add to your post, a comparative critique of these organizations based on what you know about Nature-Connected Coaching.
I think I can make a similar but better product than the first website. -
Summary post
I think the biggest thing I’m discovering is just how easily distractions can fill all my mental, physical, or time space and make it harder to stay connected to this vision. Since moving back to Boulder I’ve been working a full time job that just barely pays, so I feel like I only have a few hours a week to work on this, as opposed to quite a lot of time I had before when I lived in PA. I’m feeling the loss of that pause I’ve been in for two years, like an eddy in the river. and I’ve just pulled my kayak back into the rapids. still trying to stay connected but honestly struggling right now. this job only goes through mid August, so I suppose I just need to stay connected to the next right steps for how my security, jobs, and business can show up beyond that. I’m really looking forward to the nourishment I get when we meet. Only 2 weeks away!