Dare you... Move Forward?

The LRT was packed when I boarded, and with no other choice, I stood shoulder to shoulder with strangers, trying to stay balanced as the train lurched forward. Eventually, a seat freed up. I slid into it, feeling like I'd just won a mini lottery. “Lucky me,” I thought with a small smile.

But not long after, I felt it — a sharp, icy breeze aimed directly at me. Brrr... it was like sitting under a freezer vent. I shivered and glanced at the passenger next to me. We exchanged a look, that unspoken, mutual agreement that yes, we were both slowly turning into popsicles. “Feels like we’re frozen meat!” I joked. She laughed and nodded. And yet… we stayed put.

A few stops later, I noticed an entire row of empty seats just five steps away. I turned to her and whispered, “Should we move? Do you think it’s warmer there?” We pondered the possibility. What if it was just as cold? What if someone else rushed over first? What if moving wasn’t worth it?

And so, we stayed. Uncomfortable. Cold. Waiting for someone to make the first move. It took ten long minutes before I finally gave in. I stood, walked a few steps, and sat down in that empty seat. Instantly warm. Instantly relieved. I waved her over. She came.

Later, I found myself wondering why did I wait so long to do something so simple?

It wasn’t laziness. It was something deeper. Inertia. I already had a seat, didn’t I? It was cold, sure, but it was better than standing. Letting go of that small victory, of that hard-won seat, felt irrational, even though it no longer served me.

It reminded me of how we often hold on to things in life. Jobs, routines, relationships, beliefs, not because they’re great, but because they were once good. And that “once good” feeling keeps us rooted, even when we’re mildly or deeply dissatisfied.

We tell ourselves, “It could be worse.” So we stay stuck. Slightly cold. Slightly unhappy. But stuck nonetheless.

If it’s hard for even for the small stuff, what would it take for us to make a major life transition? Coaching is one of the great ways to get “unstuck.” International Coaching Federation, ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

The process of coaching significantly accelerates the achievement of clarity.

It helps you make better choices, and it doesn’t stop there. The process of coaching is profoundly useful to anchor self-accountability, solidify a plan, and mobilize actions toward the desired result.

As a coach, I have seen how the coaching process has accelerated the positive impact on many. Everyone needs a coach. It maximizes your potential from good to great!

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IN SUPPORT OF LEADERS Reach out to me if you would like to brainstorm pro-active ways to support your leaders in these challenging times. Happy to help! ******************

I am #CoachWendyWong, passionate about helping talents optimize potential by building leadership skills creatively through coaching and training in Asia. Here's more about what I do: https://www.petadiri.com/

#coachingworks #leadershipdevelopment #Petadiri#creativeleadership