The Self-Coaching Model: Actions

This is the FOURTH post in a five-post series about The Self-Coaching Model.

The Self-Coaching Model has five components as listed below. In this post we discuss the ACTION line.

Action

Feelings DRIVE us to action. Actions are the way we show up in life.

Circumstance: My daughter repeated Level 9.

Thought: She's behind.

Feeling: Worried.

Action: Watch all of workout. Lecture daughter. Complain to spouse. Ruminate about other ways my child is behind. Scour Instagram accounts and compare athletes she competed with at TOPs training.

Circumstance: My athlete broke her ankle.

Thought: If she would have listened to what I told her, this wouldn't have happened.

Feeling: Frustrated.

Action: Yell at athlete. Complain to co-workers. Lecture team. Notice other ways the athlete ignores you.

Circumstance: My coach said, "your legs are bent".

Thought: I am bad at beam.

Feeling: Overwhelmed.

Action: Skip turns. Avoid eye contact with coach. Collect evidence for other ways I am bad at beam.

Circumstance: An 8.4 flashed on the scoreboard.

Thought: What a horrible score.

Feeling: Defeated.

Action: Cry. Pout. Notice all of the other horrible things in my life.

Feelings don't always produce non-serving actions. In fact, there are many emotions that drive actions in line with who we want to be and what results we want to create. Let's switch up a few of these models with different feeling-action connections to consider what else is possible.

Circumstance: My daughter repeated Level 9.

Thought: There is so much to learn in repeating a level.

Feeling: Hopeful.

Action: Notice and express interest in what my child is learning. Look for and discover additional ways to support my child with her goals. Stay calm when my daughter expresses frustration.

Circumstance: My athlete broke her ankle.

Thought: We'll get through this.

Feeling: Capable.

Action: Address the injury. Have compassion with myself and the feelings that surface for me and my athlete. Seek help from outside resources.

Circumstance: My coach said, "your legs are bent".

Thought: I wonder what else I can try to get my legs straight?

Feeling: Curiosity.

Action: Ask questions. Watch other athletes. Execute different technique. Take more turns. Perform leg tightening exercises at home.

Circumstance: An 8.4 flashed on the scoreboard.

Thought: I learned a lot today that will help me score higher next time.

Feeling: Committed.

Action: Review the thoughts, feelings and actions that resulted in the 8.4 performance. Consider areas yet to improve upon. Express excitement to get back in the gym and work.

In future posts we'll learn how to slow down the feeling-action connection so that we can be intentional with the fuel that is driving our actions. This is often easier said than done. I'm here to help!

It's not surprising that we talk a lot about ACTIONS in the world of sports. The model helps us understand that the thoughts and feelings preceding our actions are just as important to evaluate.

Keep going to increase your knowledge and discover the next component in The Self-Coaching Model,

The Self-Coaching Model: Result.