Progress is a spiral

Metaphors are valuable tools in coaching. As coaches, we use them to articulate an emotion or a concept that can otherwise be difficult to describe. When I was 20 years old, a metaphor was shared with me that has stayed with me—in fact, all these years later, I continue to use it on a regular basis when coaching.

For those who have attended a course with me as the facilitator, you may have heard my story: I struggled with an eating disorder for more than a decade and used coaching at various points in my journey to support myself. And, yet, it wasn’t until I met two women from an organisation called Beyond Hunger,** who shared an incredible metaphorical image with me, that my lens on ‘recovery’ changed. 

**Beyond Hunger is a California-based organisation that supports individuals struggling with eating disorders. They take a coaching approach to recovery and were instrumental in my growth.

During the many years I worked towards recovering from an eating disorder, it consistently felt like ‘one step forward and five steps back’. That was until I saw the image below and learned more about the spiral/mountain metaphor.

When we think about any change we want to make in our life, we often create a goal. I want to be more positive... I want to run more frequently... I want to watch less Netflix... The challenge is that when we think about growth and change linearly, it can feel like taking one step forward and three steps back, especially when we're trying to change a habit, and, in my case, one that was tied to my identity.

I learned, though, that my path to health and happiness could be compared to traversing the edge of a mountain. As I walked along the edge, there would be times when I’d feel as though I was walking up the mountain and times when I’d feel like I was walking down. And, yet, a mountain, is not like a ladder; it's more like a spiral. Regardless of the moments when I was walking at a decline, I was always climbing the mountain...and always heading towards the top.

This image changed both my perspective of myself and my growth.

Before understanding that ‘progress is a spiral’, my Gremlin would come out in full force each time I’d fall back into my old ways. But when I realised that each and every time I felt as though I was going ‘down’ the mountain, I was still making headway towards the top, I felt more hopeful and more committed to change.

I continue to envision the spiral/mountain image today, with all of my goals and journeys. On days where I've felt discouraged, drawing on it has kept me motivated.

Consider: If progress is a spiral, how can you see your setbacks and declines as part of your journey towards the apex of your mountain?

Coaching transformed my life and has had a tremendous effect on my overall wellbeing. It has helped me choose how I see myself, my opportunities and the way forward. Join us for Coaching Day Autumn 2022, Finding the Way In: Supporting School Wellbeing with Coaching. Together, we will explore how to support the wellbeing of students, colleagues and the wider school community with coaching skills.