In our roles as coaches to the many people in our lives, we desire to influence, by definition then; we strive to change the way people think. Looking at things from a different perspective offers us insight into new pathways for change and adaptation as we move through life. In this way, authors of seminally classic books coach us all. One of the greats is “The Road Less Traveled,” by M. Scott Peck. Here he presented the most unambiguous definition of Love I’ve found.
When we say we “love” music, or we “love” “Games of Thrones” it’s something called “Cathexis.” When we cathect to something, there is a dynamic of attraction, investment, and commitment. People understand when saying we “love” something we are merely cathecting to it based on context. Real Love is something altogether different.
When we extend beyond the inertia best defined by laziness to accomplish something, however trivial or significant, we call this WORK. When we execute this extension in the face of fear of potential loss pain, process pain, or outcome pain, we call this COURAGE. Love then manifests itself in the form of WORK or the form of COURAGE. Specifically, “Love is the Work or Courage directed toward the nurture of our own or another’s spiritual growth.” This definition, to me, is a profound way of looking at Love.
Growth is what High-Performance Coaching is all about. I’d LOVE to have the chance to tell you more.
