Ding Ding! Seconds out!

Are you ready for the fight? Who are your supporters? Who’s in your corner when you have a fight on your hands?

With the boxing metaphor, your ‘seconds’ are those in your corner who have your interests, success, and welfare in mind. They are there to help you prepare for a future fight, they are there during a fight and are there after the fight.

 

Do you have people in your corner for life’s battles?

 

Who are the people who provide the encouragement to you? The ‘you can do this’ response when you most need it? You may be:

  • about to embark on a new relationship
  • party to a relationship that has run its course
  • about to start a new venture or change jobs

What about that ‘idea’ you have? Is anyone saying, “Yeah, go for it!”? Who are your naysayers? Who do you need to consider if you really need to be asking the question of, or listening to, when they never fail to deliver the ‘can’t do that‘ response? It’s often a worthwhile exercise identifying your supporters, and the role they might play in your ‘corner’.

Try This

Grab a sheet of plain paper – draw 3-4 circles:

  • Starting with a small circle, in the centre. This represents “you”.
  • The second circle out is reserved for those you trust with your innermost thoughts and most intimate concerns. Write their names in here.
  • The third circle is for those you may turn to for things other than mentioned for the second circle.
  • Further circles, furthest away from the centre, are for professional supporters, colleagues etc. You decide.

The most important people will be closest to you, at the centre of the page! When you are feeling ‘less than’, or anxious – it’s worth reminding yourself if you are really all alone!

 

About the author

Bob Brotchie is a counsellor, mindset consultant and creator of "Conscious Living by Design"™. He writes for Anglia Counselling, is featured on various other websites and introduces us to many guest writers all covering topics related to mental health and wellbeing.

Bob provides bespoke counselling services to individuals and couples in the privacy and comfort of a truly welcoming environment at his Anglia Counselling company office, located near Newmarket in Suffolk, England. Bob also provides professional online counselling, for local, national, and international clients. The therapeutic models offered are bespoke to the client’s needs, especially those in receipt of 'childhood emotional neglect' (CEN), whilst integrating a mindful approach to psychotherapy and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) principles. For clients experiencing trauma and/or phobia, Bob offers EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).

2 Comments

  1. Jason Duff

    I love the use of metaphors and this is a great one. They are the way by which so much is communicated. Every story is a metaphor and we create every story. I like this post and what it stands for and life can feel like you have gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson, I know I have. But life is not about what happens but what you do about it?

    Are you going to enter the canvass ring of life? Are you going to sit in the corner nervously looking at your adversary of life, or are you going to come out fighting? Yes there will be a few knocks, yes you’re going to get hurt, you’ve got to duck and dive, keep on your toes and you will get knocked down. Sometimes again and again.

    Staying down is easy the challenge is to keep getting back up no matter what.

    I think this is a great metaphor and exercise Bob. I was once in a place when I thought I had no one around me to back me up. But I was very wrong, I was alone because I chose to be alone. We have more support than we know.

    Great post Bob.

    • Thank you so much for the wonderful input and feedback Jason. It is true that we too have been in ‘that’ ring… and will be back for more rounds undoubtedly; each new round, I feel certain will be easier thanks to the support we can find.

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