What better mentor and coach is there than an older version of you?
One of my favorite Coaching-techniques is to have you imagine you are speaking to an older-you.
You get up, open the door for the pretend-visitor, imagine him or her entering, offer coffee or tea, and let them take a seat.
Before asking questions, it’s important you just “hang out” and enjoy the presence of this higher you. If you don’t like what you’re sensing and seeing, show this version of you to the door and call on a better timeline.
As you enjoy the presence of the person, without need, request or petition (as you would enjoy the presence of a friend or your child or partner) you get a sense of what his or her life is like.
As the coach, I usually go out of sight, perhaps behind a wall. From there, I ask priming questions such as “What is he/she wearing?” – “Is Elon Musk still alive in his time?” – “What’s his opinion of you?”. The questions serve to get into it, to “channel” the higher version of you.
Some students are quiet during this time, others start talking and telling me what they are being told or questions they are asking.
If the answers or advice are vague, such as “He told me all is well”, then you’re not really immersed. Take more time, get a clearer image. A good session has more specifics or even actionable steps.
I did the exercise with a student yesterday. We sat with 10, 20 and 30 year-older versions of himself and compared them. We also had a 10 year old younger version over.
Right after the exercise he excused himself and went to get rid of his office desk and computer because he realized he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life sitting at a desk. He will now do his business in person, on the phone. If he ever uses a computer it will be a laptop and it will be on a sofa or elsewhere, never again at a desk. He ordered a drum set that will now occupy the space that was his office. There were other immediate changes, too numerous to mention.
It’s a great exercise, try it out some time. You have an inner coach, free of charge.
