One of our first questions for others is "What do you do?" We use it as a way of understanding, judging and finding common ground.
It's perhaps easier than asking
"Who are you?"
What we do only tells a small part of who we are, how we do what we do tells a bit more.
I've been working as an Executive Coach since 2018 and have developed a pr
One of our first questions for others is "What do you do?" We use it as a way of understanding, judging and finding common ground.
It's perhaps easier than asking
"Who are you?"
What we do only tells a small part of who we are, how we do what we do tells a bit more.
I've been working as an Executive Coach since 2018 and have developed a practise that works with who people are. The focus of my work is 'What' is going on and less on 'Why' - that's more a therapist's domain.
Like you I'm a meaning making animal and I love a story so of course 'Why?' fascinates me too however 'Why?' can often be loaded with judgement.
Coaching and facilitation focus on what is going on, really building a well detailed picture rather than just a shadowy form. That really fascinates me. When we build a picture of what is going on that is made up of 3 dimensions, engages all the senses and really tells a story we can liberate huge amounts of energy that are otherwise locked away or drained away by confusion, a sense of unfinished business or running after 'why' without the 'what'.
Discernment, working out the 'what' of life has been a focus since childhood. I was fascinated by the idea of vocation; calling and was drawn to the mission of the Catholic Church. I studied and continued discernment in Rome for 7 years. Happy years full of friendship, culture and learning. There I specialised in Virtue Ethics, the conver
Discernment, working out the 'what' of life has been a focus since childhood. I was fascinated by the idea of vocation; calling and was drawn to the mission of the Catholic Church. I studied and continued discernment in Rome for 7 years. Happy years full of friendship, culture and learning. There I specialised in Virtue Ethics, the conversation around human flourishing after degrees in Philosophy and Thelogy.
I was ordained a priest in 2001 and worked in a number of parishes and hospitals learning the ropes and continuing to discern. In 2006 I was sent to Gorton in Manchester; a wonderful, vibrant, economically deprived, spiritually thriving area.
There the 'what' was how best to engage people in life giving ways. What followed was the adenture of founding SAFE Gorton a collection of relationship based productions that included a music club and recording studio, a cafe, a community garden, therapy services, mentoring, concerts, mediation and negotiation between those involved in gangs and those from recognised authorities such as politicans and police.
It was ten years of high octane, fast paced living that included highs and lows, successes and failures, tragedies and joys.
After those ten years in Gorton discernment lead me to a year of rest and reflection and in that time I discerned that the next steps would be away from ministry. Since then, through grace and good fortune I've been guided and supported into the life I live today. That life involves working with others as they discern the 'what' of life.
In 2018 I met my now (Finnish) wife and that has lead me to a life lived in England and Finland and a whole new range of abundance.
Ultimately the answer to what I do is "I try to be more myself every day in service of others."