Structures #1

The first class in this course was held on Wednesday, August 29, 2007. I have had a long break from classes because of our cross-country move. I am anxious to get back into the classes and try to finish up the requirements for graduation in June. I was hoping to graduate in December but with our move I was not astute enough to realize I needed to register for the Supervised Coach class. I have worked through the disappointment of failing in this goal and have shifted my perspective to a realization that I now have some time to breathe as I accomplish the remaining requirements. I also had to step back and remind myself that when I began taking classes 10 months ago I slated myself to graduate in June 2008, so I am actually ‘right on track’. Is that a rationalization for my failure or shifting my perspective? Who knows but it works for me.

We started the class today by answering the question: What is a structure? Many things were thrown out…Boundaries, rules to follow, a support system, routines, habits, rituals, tools, assistants, discipline and accountability.

Examples of structures and what they support: walking regularly to get fit; having a coach to keep accountable; keeping a calendar to accomplish goals; routine to keep sane; dates with spouse to stay connected; going to church to stay connected with God and grow. I think we all have so many structures that we may not even have thought of as structures because they are so much a part of life.

We can also have structures that DO NOT support us. One person shared that they have set up a structure that they must work in their office…they don’t like their office and they actually get less done when they are there. I’m sure I have structures that may not support me as well and will be pondering this concept over the next week.

For next week we are to identify some empowering and disempowering structures in our own life. It will interesting and challenging to evaluate my own structures in this way.