A friend asked me recently if I ever use psychedelics with my executive coaching, and I’m fascinated by this question.
Basically psychedelics are used to create an altered state of consciousness. On the Wikipedia page they intro with:
“Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary mental states (known as psychedelic experiences or “trips”) and an apparent expansion of consciousness”. – Wikipedia
Have you tried it?
What I find so fascinating about this question is that this is what I consider the core of my job as a coach to be: create an expanded and altered state of consciousness that allows my client to access more wisdom, courage, and certainty. To be their best selves, so that they can do all the things they want to do (and stop all the things they want to stop).
Through coaching conversations they learn how to shift gears, try different perspectives, expand their thinking in the moment. They can do it any time, any place, any where.
Even in the chaos of an emergency.
Even in the boredom of a meeting that’s leaving you thinking “oh my god, are we actually getting anything done?
“I have no time for endless meetings
where the statutes, rules, procedures & internal regulations are discussed,
knowing that nothing will be done”. – Mario de Andrade
And yet, we can all benefit from taking a step back and going deep. Taking the time to create a big shift. One that will transform us, and open up possibilities we only dreamed of.
It can happen through the coaching process, I’ve seen it.
A country GM plagued by doubts transforming into a confident leader who knows their worth.
A CEO who has become crystal clear in the strategy and found a new way to approach excellence for their company while also having time for a fulfilling life outside of the company they created.
And yet, we can all do with that deep dive.
Some of us do it through music. breaking free on day to day thinking by dancing to Insomnia by Faithless or losing yourself in a beautiful aria at the opera.
Some do it through sport. Running to clear your head and de-stress. Lifting weights. Cycling 50km through the Dutch countryside.
Some of it do through creativity: arts, crafts, renovating, working with their hands.
And it seems, some us do it with psychedelics.
How do you expand your mind?
This post is part of my special Coaching Tips Series. This series was inspired by my clients and the core themes in their challenges. When we can apply these tips, we bring a lot of ease into our lives and step into our leadership. Want to talk it through with me? Call me and let’s make a Game Plan together.