THE SHIFT-IT GRAPHIC COACHING PROCESS®
The SHIFT IT! Graphic Coaching Process has gradually developed into an integrated process over 10 years of experimentation. Bit by bit I noticed and pieced together a pattern that seems to work best.
I continue to create ‘new moves’ and tools as I go … however below is the process as it currently stands: 7 stages with 17 templates overall.
The seven modules for the process are:
Here’s a more in-depth description of each module:
Module One:
The first stage of the SHIFT-IT Process is called ‘Satisfaction Interrupted’. People come to reflection and coaching work when their general satisfaction has been interrupted in some way. It may be that you have reached one set of goals, and are wondering what is next. Or, you may have hit a positive or negative milestone and are re-grouping as a result (sold business, left job, graduation, divorce, kids leaving the nest, significant birthday, retirement, industry recession, etc). Or you may be frustrated by having not yet reached the potential you inherently feel you have, and are ready to break through. Whatever the reasons, the first stage of this process is mapping out what ‘is up’ for you. Identifying the crossroads you are standing on.
S-I Map #S1: AT THE CROSSROADS
Typical questions:
What brings you to this process? What is on your mind? What issues are you currently pondering? Everyone is unique, what is up for you at this particular time in your life? If X marks the spot, where are you currently standing?
BENEFITS:
Clarity. Organization. Appreciation. Relief. Helps you begin to identify the issues that bring you to SHIFT-IT work and the outcomes and results you’d like to get from doing the process. Pulls all of your disparate thinking into one place --- helps you to see and appreciate your current crossroads and what is currently interrupting your satisfaction. Relief at articulating thoughts that have up until now just been swirling around unorganized and unexpressed.
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
Module Two:
The second stage of the SHIFT-IT Process is to ‘Harvest Your History’. You are in the midst of your own unique ‘evolutionary’ process. Nothing happens in a vacuum … there is always a larger context that can help you make greater sense of your current situation. In this second part of the process, your history-to-date is recorded. Tracking where you have been to better understand your now and your desired future.
S-I Maps #H2-H5: LIFE MAPS
Typical questions:
What is the journey of your life? What is the story you see and tell of your life?
What was your ‘arrival scene’ like? What environment were you born into? What was it like? Who was there? What were they like?
How about your early childhood? Early adulthood? Adulthood?
What is the overall life story you have created for yourself? What version or interpretation do you tell? Other ways you have told or interpreted what has occurred? That you could? How does this story serve you? Not serve you? What are the ramifications of telling it the way that you do?
Benefits:
Increases understanding of the overall flow and big picture pattern of your life-to-date.
Increases self-awareness, self-understanding and self-acceptance.
Helps you see repetitive patterns, habits and significant turning points and events.
Boosts determination and motivation to continue on current trajectory or to course correct / make changes.
Wonderful tool for sharing with trusted loved ones and close advisors. An exercise to repeat … see how your record changes as your awareness and perspective about your life changes over time.
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
S-I Map #H6: CATCH & RELEASE
Typical questions:
As you look at the big picture of your life, what stands out for you? Reoccurring patterns? Themes? Ahhas that you have? Insights or conclusions? What do you appreciate about your life-to-date? What are grateful for? What do you want to bring forward with you? What do you want to let go of? Leave behind? Put to rest? Release?
BENEFITS:
Harvests the powerful work of your Life Maps. Organizes your realizations into one central place. Distills the ‘ahhas’ that you had during your history mapping session. Identifies what you are grateful for and what you appreciate. Sorts out what you want to let go of, release and close. Begins to shift your focus from your past to your present and desired future.
Module Three:
The third stage of the SHIFT-IT Process is to ‘Investigate Your Now’. This is an opportunity to focus on you and your current situation. To find out what is going on for you right now. How satisfied and dissatisfied you are in the different areas of your life. What you have going for you and what you are ‘working on’. A visual look at your current ‘edge’.
S-I Map #i1: FOCUS ON YOU
Typical questions:
On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you with the state of these things in your life: Health? Fun & recreation? Environment? Family & friends? Finances? Career? Relationship? Personal development? Overall, what do you see? Imbalances? What is working? What needs attention? Which areas of life do you most want to focus your SHIFT-IT process on?
BENEFITS:
Gives you a visual representation of your ‘now’. Helps you articulate what you are satisfied with and what you are dissatisfied with. Highlights the areas of focus for your S-I process. Helps you see how bumpy or smooth your current road is. Helps you appreciate what is working and what you do have going for you. Begins to bring out the areas you want to change and how you really, really want those areas to be.
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
S-I Map #i2: S.E.L.F. INVENTORY
Typical questions:
Let’s take a look at you. What are your strengths? Skills? Assets? What do you have going for you? What are your learning areas? What can you own as weaknesses or problem areas? What do you have supporting you? Where do you draw support? What is calling to you about your future? What inklings or nudges are you receiving? What do you really, really want to be, do and have?
BENEFITS:
Honesty. Appreciation. Security. Desire. Helps you own what you have going for you and what you have to work with. Increases comfort, security, self-esteem. Maturely acknowledges weakness and developing areas. Opens honest rapport with self. Gently pulls and collects preliminary visioning information that increases desire and allure for a more aligned and satisfying future. Builds confidence that you do know what you want.
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
Module Four:
The fourth stage of the SHIFT-IT Process is to ‘Focus on Your Future’. After looking at where you have been (history) and where you currently are (now), we next turn to looking at where you really, really want to be. This stage is all about identifying and claiming what you really, really want. Building a clear, specific, well-written Personal Vision for you. I tool that becomes your guiding North Star --- a comparison tool that you can use to assist you in making decisions and determining your actions … does this fit in with what I am working towards? Does this make movement towards my vision?
S-I Map #F1: ESSENTIAL EXTRACTS
Typical questions:
A collection and/or collage tool to start organizing the essential qualities of what you like and want. What are you most attracted to? What calls you? What grabs your eye? Makes you feel good? Resonates with you? Pops out at you? What do you want? Envy? Desire? Love? What are you most drawn to? What do you enjoy most? What brings you joy and enjoyment? Warm and fuzzies. Turns your crank?
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
BENEFITS:
Fun, creative, intuitive way to discover the essence of what you really want. Bypasses the rational, skeptical mind. Taps into your subconscious wisdom. Effective. Gives you a unique takeaway that you can post or frame for ongoing motivation and encouragement. Begins to extract out the underlying qualities of your Personal Vision.
S-I Map #F2: FUTURE SELF VISIONING
Typical questions:
Guided imagery exercise:
Who better to consult about your future than your Future Self! In this exercise you are guided to meet the self that lives in your ‘best case scenario’ future. Given that he or she has created a successful and enjoyable life, what advice does your FS have for you? Guidance? Cautions? Congratulations? Encouragements? Suggestions? Gifts?
BENEFITS:
Aligns you with a powerful inner ally. Creates a link to an internal resource that you can continue to consult and seek guidance from. Gets you powerful information about what you want and advice about what to be and do to create it. Opens the door to recognition of other internal allies and resources. Fun. Creative --- highly effective and efficient way to gather more important information for you Personal Vision.
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
S-I Map #F3: MAGNETISM
Typical questions:
Gathers all your valuable visioning information into one, central place. Helps you decide on a timeframe for your Personal Vision. Defining the essential, component parts of your desired future. Created in present tense language –a holistic, balanced, visual Personal Vision Statement, that keeps your energy focused and aligned --- pulling and magnetizing what you want to you.
BENEFITS:
Creates a container to pull your vision components into a powerful, magnetic whole. Galvanizes your energy. Creates concise, clear, focused statements about what you really want. Identifies the underlying essence of the forms you seek (providing an even quicker short-cut to getting what you really want). Highlights the areas that you can easily hold and allow and those that you can’t. Shows where your inner work lies in order to fully be able to ‘hold’ or allow your vision.
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
Module Five:
The fifth step of the SHIFT-IT Process is ‘Trouble at the Border’. During the visioning work, we held doubt, critical and negative thinking at bay. In this stage of the process, we summon it back. Oftentimes, in the creation of a vision, there are one or several components of the vision that are difficult to ‘hold’ or ‘allow’. These are the areas where doubt and critical thoughts reign. After completing your vision, we determine which components you can fully allow, and which components you have more difficulty in holding. Then we have a number of exercises to choose from, to help shift your ability to hold those areas of your vision that you are having problems with. Doing the inner shift work that will help you allow and create the outer manifestation you desire.
S-I Map #T1: FLIP IT, FLIP IT GOOD
Got some resistance to your Vision overall, or specific parts of it? Not able to fully believe (allow) it? It is normal to have at least one or two areas of your Vision that are particularly hard to ‘allow’ --- normally due to problematic beliefs, attitudes or stances. This tool will help you identify and ‘flip’ your ‘negative’ reactions to your Vision. Helping you shift your energy so you can more fully allow.
Typical questions:
When you consider your Vision overall, what negative thoughts and reactions instantly come up? When you consider the different aspects of your Vision, which one (or ones) don’t feel as good or as possible as they others? What are you telling yourself about them? What is your real thinking about them? Can you find a slightly better reaction? Can you flip this thinking, at least just a little bit, to a slightly better feeling place? What does your Future Self or Higher Self say about what you want? What ‘flip’ can it offer to your negative (doubting, skeptical, scared) thoughts?
BENEFITS:
Uncovers natural resistance, doubts, skepticism and fear. Shines the light of day on your real thoughts and feelings. Helps you see irrational, outdated and problematic attitudes and beliefs. Assists you in finding a more functional, better feeling, authentic replacement. Shifts your energy at a deep, less conscious level. Removes deep roadblocks, objections and tangled thinking. Aligns energy in support of Vision.
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
S-I Map #T2: INNER ALIGNMENT
Sometimes, when we create a goal, we both want it and resist it. This exercise it is a way to bring into view the ‘different sides’ of you that are competing for dominance on your issue. A way to see how and why your energy is not aligned towards your goal… and some clues about how to address the imbalance so you can get what you want. Sub-personality, voice dialogue and psycho-drama work.
Typical questions:
One side of you is in support of your goal –what does it say? The other side is against it – what does it say? What is this resisting character like? What is its name? What are its skills? How has it been serving you? Share your Vision with it. How can it be enlisted to work with you in the direction of your Vision, instead of against it? What can be negotiated to create a new role or position for it? Thank it. Honour it. Make a pact and new agreement with it.
BENEFITS:
Identifies conflicts in your goals. Helps you see how your resistance has been trying to serve you (albeit misguidedly). Shifts and aligns your energy so its flowing towards what you want – removes logjams and unclogs internal barriers and objections. Helps you understand more deeply the reasons you have, at one level, been resisting your goals. Gets your internal energy aligned with your external goals.
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
S-I Map #T3: ARCHEOLOGY
Our beliefs, at a very deep level, create our reality … and, where do our beliefs typically come from? --- our families! What area of life are you having a hard time manifesting what you really want? Chances are that your family and cultural background has some specific thoughts, beliefs and programming about this subject area. Use this template to undercover what your programming is, in order to more fully see it and shift it!
Typical questions:
Who were you born to? What was the context of your parents’ lives? Your grandparents? Great grandparents and beyond? What culture, heritage, and overall background do you come from? In the subject area you are focusing on (money, relationships, work, food, weight, etc), what were the main messages that you received from these people (directly or indirectly)? What beliefs have trickled down through the ages to rest in you?
BENEFITS:
Helps you see and appreciate the larger context of your life. Boosts understanding about the context you arrived into and how that momentum impacts your individual life. Uncovers some of the direct and indirect messages (patterning, programming) that have been passed down to you. Increases awareness and compassion for those who have come before you and the larger context they were in. And, builds more self-compassion too.
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
Module Six:
The sixth stage of the S-I process is ‘Ink It, Don’t Just Think It’. This is the move that pulls all thinking-to-date together into one picture. It links your visionary thinking to your current reality and begins to bridge the gap between the two. Moving from the thinking realm to the doing realm - preliminary steps to creating a realistic, timely, doable Action Plan.
S-I Map #iN1: BIG PICTURE PLAN
Typical questions:
Transfer your Personal Vision. Transfer the most powerful encouragements and guidance from your Future Self. Build a complete list of the internal and external supports that you have at your disposal. Given your Vision, what are the three main shift areas you need to focus on between now and then? Big Action Steps you need to take? What obstacles or barriers can you naturally anticipate along the way? That you will have to navigate both internally and externally?
BENEFITS:
Links your vision to your current reality. Creates a one-page plan that you can return to again and again for a quick big picture summary of what you are doing. Realistically depicts the internal and external challenges you may encounter and internal and external supports you can draw on. Propels you from thinking mode into action mode.
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
Module Seven:
The seventh and final stage of the process is ‘Take Action’. This is where you break your “Big Shift Areas” from your Big Picture Plan into an immediate, doable timetable. Taking each area of action, you brainstorm the specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and timely steps that you can begin to take now. Actions that slowly but surely move you towards your Personal Vision. Actions that you naturally want to take and that feel enjoyable or at least easy to do – not heavy feeling shoulds, have tos, and musts. Creates an overall Action Plan that keeps you organized, on track and accountable.
S-I Map #TA1: TAKE ACTION
Typical questions:
Given this Shift Area, what are the logical beginning steps? What do you want to do? What is an easy and enjoyable step? Break it down. Who do you need to talk to? Where do you need to go? What information do you need to seek out? Other things you need to attend to? By when? Due dates?
BENEFITS:
Creates a detailed, specific plan for you to begin implementing ASAP. Pulls all of your immediate tasks into one, central place. Creates responsibility and accountability. Keeps you on track and organized. Provides a base for ongoing coaching and mastermind support.
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
S-I Map #TA2: DECLARATION OF INTENT
Closure. A chance to commit and declare your intentions. Release. Step into. Stake a claim to. As you leave behind this process and step into your future.
Typical questions:
As you stand at this threshold, what are you committing to? What are you leaving behind? What do you claim for yourself? What are you stepping into? What commitments do you make to yourself? To your future? What do you need to remember? What are you now? Who are you becoming? Comments on your shifts and process-to-date.
BENEFITS:
Brings your process to an appropriate close. Assists you in expressing important closing thoughts. Helps you stake your claim and declare your intentions for your future. Provides a space for commitment and recognition of the baton or torch that has been passed to you. Galvanizes your commitment and resolve.
Examples: (Click To View Larger)
POST PROCESS SUPPORT: ONGOING TELE-COACHING:
- Get the Most Out of Your SHIFT-IT Process
- Keep Your Momentum Strong and Steady
- Received Skilled Support for the Ups and Downs of Implementing Your Personalized Plan
An effective way to keep the momentum of your SHIFT-IT Process going is to participate in private, specialized ongoing tele-coaching support.
Using your SHIFT-IT as a base, we work over the phone together. Helping you clarify your experience. Work your Vision and Action Plan into highly tuned instruments. Help you implement your steps and deal with the ups and downs of your unique manifestation process.
Continually using strategic planning and Law of Attraction principles, we work as a team (the two of us: you and I) to keep your energy clear and on track. Supporting you as you manifest what you want in as timely a manner as possible.
