Over the past few weeks, we’ve been exploring what it looks like to actualize—or in other words, to see your vision or dream become a reality. We know that doing this has multiple components. First, there’s the process of tapping into your deepest Knowing to hear, listen to, and follow your inner wisdom to find your intention. Next, there’s making the commitment to your intention and setting goals. Then, you build structures and systems to keep yourself on track. But even when you check off action items and follow your plan, how do you really know whether you’re making progress?
What does getting results mean?
One of the tools I use in coaching is the concept of the “master walk.” There are several stages, and it is a valuable Solution-Focused concept not only to assess progress but also to help determine where you may need additional support as the process unfolds. Here’s what a simplified master walk looks like:
- From Inspired Vision to Formulation: In the master walk, this foundational step encompasses intention and commitment. It’s where you make sure that your vision is worthwhile, enjoyable, exciting, authentic, and productive. Now is when you take your vision and transform it into a structure, setting up your general plan and making sure your vision transforms into initial actions.
- High Concentration: This is the steep part of the learning curve to make your vision a reality, and it’s the step where goal-setting is crucial. This is the education phase—learning skills, acquiring information, challenging your comfort zone, reaching beyond what you’ve done before. You may be getting a degree, taking lessons, or joining a networking group for the first time. You’re putting in a lot of time and energy but not seeing a lot of results. This phase can be the most challenging for many.
- Low Concentration: You’re still working hard, but the new skills you’ve learned are becoming second nature, and the information you’ve acquired becomes integrated. You have the opportunity to refine and expand on what you know. It’s the difference between writing a speech, memorizing it (high concentration), having it in your mind, and delivering it with nuance. The most productive learning happens in this phase.
- Stable Growth: In this phase, you get to explore the flexibility and further refinement. Suppose you’ve started your own business, for example. In that case, this is the phase where you’re established and successful, meeting basic income and operational goals, and now you have a chance to look at more subtle aspects and refinement of what you’re doing — such as how to be more efficient or a better employer.
- Mastery: This is the end goal of all actualization processes. It is the point at which you can begin to mentor others in that process or think beyond what your vision immediately represents. This phase is where you take on an intern or think about how your business can take action to benefit your community. It’s when you can share resources with someone who is still in the High Concentration phase of the master walk.
As a coach, I support and guide you through these stages. They look simple on paper, but living them can be far from easy. You will need to identify and reinforce the personal qualities allowing you to follow through. You need the courage to take risks and the flexibility to adapt, a sense of resilience to enable you to pick yourself up and keep going when you are really challenged, and grit to keep moving steadily forward until you have what you truly want.
An essential part of what I do with clients is shorten the learning curve toward the art and craft of living an empowered life at full potential. I help you to learn to stay positive and steady. We address blocks that get in the way so you don’t stay stuck when a challenge arises. I help you to honor your boundaries and to love and respect yourself. We work on self-compassion when you make mistakes, and I help you learn how to correct errors and follow through with integrity. We’ll figure out how to get you back on track faster and with improved skills when you fall off. I support you in saying “no” even when it’s hard and reducing risks, which builds confidence and grit. I share my own experiences so that you have a reassuring example that the process works. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we tap into your inspiration repeatedly so that you don’t lose your commitment to what you are doing and why—I help you have hope for what’s possible and trust yourself at deeper and deeper levels.
No matter where you are in the process of mastery—whether you’re just starting to explore your inspiration or you’re ready to help others—I can provide support, encouragement, and accountability. If you’d like to explore the steps of your master walk, schedule a Discovery Session.
Warmly,
