Appreciative Inquiry is a school of thought centered around the practice of focusing on what is right in a person’s life rather than wrong. It’s a strengths based system that is the engine of my coaching practice.

One of the five core tenets of Appreciative Inquiry is something called the Poetic Principle. The Poetic Principle affirms that we are constantly writing and re-writing the stories of our lives. To change our reality, we need to remodel the foundation of our thoughts.

The Poetic Principle tells us that what we choose to focus on not only expands, but the focus itself can change the very course of our life.

I’m in complete agreement. I find the Poetic Principle of Appreciative Inquiry almost mystical in nature, it’s so magical. (I even love saying it!)

The Hidden Stories.

The truth is, our biggest blocks lie within the stories we tell ourselves; stories that in many cases are pure fiction.

“I’m too old to start over.”

“All the good ones are taken.”

“My ship sailed years ago and I wasn’t on it.”

Write a new story.

Believe me when I say 99% of this collective negative story-telling, the practice of finding a reason to quit before we even leave the starting gate, is just mindset. My thoughts on developing a new strategy are:

1.)    Take notice of when you’re using self-limiting linguistics.

Keep track of how often you hold yourself back with your words. Your mind and body believe what you tell them!

2.)    Choose a mind-shifting mantra.

Make a declaration to yourself: “I will no longer accept my own stories of lack or failure.” Vow to make a change. If you’re not willing to bet on yourself, why should anyone else?

3.)    Visualize where you want to take your life.

Let it be big! No qualifiers, no “But that’ll never work because…” No holding yourself back. Nothing is impossible.

4.)    Start re-writing your reality.

Let the Poetic Principle take the wheel. When the internal voices creep in to say, “You can’t do this!”, tell them, “Thanks for your concern, but I intend to try my hardest.”  Those original thoughts of self-doubt are born of discomfort and fear. Be kind to them, but don’t indulge them.

5.)    Decide on one or two steps forward.

Make them clearly definable and reachable within one week’s time. Reprogramming your old ways takes commitment, love, and strength, but you created the stories, and you can also re-write them.

A Growth Mindset.

Your life will bloom when you fully accept that nothing can truly hold you back, but you. And you have full control of you. It may take some work to un-learn the destructive stories, but you can, and you will if you’re fully committed.

You just have to decide you’re finished with the same old stories.

Much Love,

Kristy

P.S. ~ If you need some help establishing new ways of thinking or being, according to the Poetic Principle and much more, hop over here to explore how I might be able to assist you.