THE YEAR I HAD WAS NOT THE YEAR I PLANNED.

But that’s okay. In a way, the year I had was better than the year I planned.

In the early months of 2020, as the world quickly descended into a coronavirus induced chaos, I knew I had to find an opportunity in the moment. An opportunity that would: (a) serve one of my highest values, and (b) act as my anchor to what would be a turbulent year ahead.

MY BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOAL (BHAG).

I quickly decided the opportunity (goal) that I needed to pursue in 2020 was to complete my Master of Science in Coaching Psychology from the world class Coaching Psychology Unit at The University of Sydney.

Firstly, it served one of my highest values of Wisdom. Secondly, I knew it would be the perfect anchor to help me wear the storm of 2020; no matter how dark it got. You see, complexity and change have been an ever present constant throughout my life; right alongside learning. In that moment when stability was being called upon, I turned to what had worked for me in the past under similar circumstances - learning - to form the foundation upon which to navigate and move forward from.

That and it was high time I got my act together and finished the degree! In the three years between 2017 and 2019, I had slowly and painfully completed half of the degree. Those years were wrought with demanding work schedules, meaning I was doing subjects out of order and deferring almost as many semesters as I was studying. The “Big Hairy” part of the Goal was to take just one year, 2020, to complete the other half of the degree.

The “Audacious” part of the Goal was to hold myself accountable to still meet the three original sub-goals I had set for myself in private once I got accepted into the program: (1) to continue pushing the boundaries of my understanding by allowing my brain to be continuously broken and remodelled so that it can grow to hold bigger perspectives, (2) to achieve a minimum distinction grade in every subject, and (3) to learn from world class academics and learn with a quality cohort focused on achieving mastery in the craft of coaching without the fear of judgment.

I DID IT.

Today, the final results of my last semester of study in the degree were released; marking the official completion of my studies.

I am proud to say that not only did I achieve my BHAG set for 2020, I also achieved the three original sub-goals set for the whole degree.

MAINTAINING MY PERFORMANCE DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CHAOS.

As I sit here and reflect on the journey towards achieving my BHAG and the three original sub-goals this year, it is clear to me what the defining factors were that allowed me to maintain my performance during the coronavirus chaos.

Process over Outcome. Mastery over Performance.

As counterintuitive as it sounds, I set aside any attachment to the outcome (e.g. completing the degree) and my performance (e.g. achieving a minimum distinction grade in every subject) the moment I defined them at the beginning of the year. Instead, I focused on the mastery or learning aspect of the equation (e.g. continuously breaking my brain) and the process I would take to do that (e.g. choose complex and novel ways to complete the required assessment tasks). This meant I no longer fixated on, or stressed about, the end. It allowed me to see more emergent pathways, make better decisions, and take calculated risks I otherwise wouldn’t have. The right outcomes and performance came as a result of my choice in mastery and the enjoyment of the process.

Forming Solid Routines around Physical and Mental Health.

My concentration levels sky rocketed and my stress levels plummeted when I went back to the basics of forming solid physical and mental health routines. From a physical health perspective: engaging in good quality sleep, regular exercise, and satisfying levels of hydration were a winning combination. From a mental health perspective: sleep meditations and invoking the relaxation response on a daily basis were the key for me.

Tapping into my Intrinsic Motivation.

Motivation that came from within was critical. With so much anxiety in the world arising from the coronavirus chaos, previously activated motivational and support systems faltered as everyone shifted into survival mode. And rightfully so, there was a lot of surviving going on this year. I could not rely on external forces to keep me on track, nor should I have expected it. That’s why it was so important for my BHAG to serve one of my highest values and for the anchor to be a proven entity, paving the way for hope.

Understanding what was Within My Control.

There were many things that happened this year that were outside of my control. But there were a lot more things that happened this year that were totally within my control; which enabled the choices (decisions) I made regarding my BHAG and the three original sub-goals, as well as the ways in which I achieved them. The keys to understanding what was within my control at any moment in time were: (a) staying in the present moment and not thinking too far ahead, (b) remaining open to experimentation and learning new information as it emerged, (c) constantly reassessing the resources I had access to and how they could help the current situation, and (d) knowing who’s choice or decision it really was in each moment to understand whether I had something within my control or not.

ALL WAS NOT LOST IN 2020.

Whether you had BHAGs that you pursued, or you were simply aiming to survive the year, I dare say there was a lot that you would have learnt from the year that no one had planned.

As we step into the holiday season, I encourage you to take a moment or few to reflect on the year that was; to extract the valuable lessons that will set you up well for the year that will be. If you’d like to work with a partner in reflective practice, I can help. Take a look at what Coaching & Mentoring can do for you and reach out to discuss how I can best support you &/or your team.