Are ocean depths all that wonderful?

The warm Indian Ocean embraced me as I slipped into its waters, my friend's snorkel snug around my head. Below me, a kaleidoscope of life unfolded, a living tapestry of color and movement. I giant sea turtle glided just below me, in a world I never would have imagined if I had kept my face above water. Schools of fish darted like liquid rainbows, weaving through coral gardens that pulsed with life. Nearby, a ray fluttered like a celestial dancer, its wings rippling effortlessly. And a dark (harmless) shark sped past with lightning speed. Awe anchored me in this underwater world - wild, and deeply alive.

The ocean is a natural metaphor for depth. At the surface, there’s beauty—the beach, the palm trees, the horizon line. Love it!

But as we move deeper, we discover the profound and unexpected. The ancient grace of a sea turtle draws forth enduring truths. The reef shark’s presence reminds me of fears or challenges that, when faced, reveal their calm power. Rays gliding effortlessly evoke moments of transformation, clarity, and freedom.

At Awaken, we tend to love the deep spaces in our coaching. I've been collecting masterful coaching traits over the years from some of my great teachers like Sheri Boone, Robert Dilts, Leon VanderPol, and Carly Anderson. At Awaken, we look for these elements when we reflect on our coaching sessions. 

Here are my top ten:

1. Connection: coach more from the heart than the head
   
   
2. Presence: create a brave space for the client to show up as a whole person - with nothing to prove
   
   
3. Partnering: invite the client to choose the direction and content of the session from start to
   finish
   
   
4. Spaciousness: slooooow it all down (think ancient sea turtle) and get in sync with the client’s natural rhythm
   
   
5. Depth: tune in to the deeper sense of self
   
   
6. Invite insight into Light and Shadow: increase the capacity to be with great pain and great joy
   
   
7. Simplicity: nurture silence as an active state
   
   
8. Awareness of everything: check in with the client at all levels: environment, behaviors, feelings,
   thoughts, beliefs, identity, and purpose
   
   
9. Trust: foster the natural unfolding of what wants to happen, cultivating faith in mystery
   
   
10. Vulnerability: commit to exploration and “not-knowing”
    
    
11. Expanded Learning: attune to the emergence of insight and becoming