Odd Duck

Coaching is advantageous as it allows me to offer you some of your blind spots that you, being within yourself, can't see. 

Last week I had a client who is working so hard at challenging her negative and judgemental thoughts. 

My client came to our call and discussed a workplace situation with her work partner. They are co-teachers in a Special Education classroom for elementary school-aged children. She said to me, "I think I'm odd. I think I'm different. That there's something wrong with me." 

Curiously I asked her why she thinks those thoughts. She said her workplace partner told her so."What does odd look like? Why do you think she is calling you odd?" I asked. "Because I like to provide structure in my class. Because I like to give the children stability and consistency. Because I like to have my classroom look orderly and I like to get to school early before class starts to set things up for the day so that I can be as fully present for the children. 

I then asked her to share a bit about her workplace partner. "She often comes into our classroom at the same time as the children, isn't prepared for our lesson plans, and often changes the activities that we have planned which can be difficult for the children to then transition into. It throws them and the day off". 

I offered my client an invitation to consider."

Is it possible that you may appear "odd" to this person because it is different than who SHE is?

"Is it possible that HER thought has everything to do with her?" 

That being said I asked, "What would it be like for you to choose not to make HER think about YOU?"

Sometimes we look like the odd duck to others because our core values or way of doing things may be different than the person sitting across from us. 

For today allow someone to be who they are, stand firmly in who you want to be, and most importantly be proud of being considered the odd duck!