One Plan B Produces Another

Here is a hope coaching exercise I’ve been developing.  

It is based on a combination of several “closed door/open door” exercises in positive psychology interventions and my own take on Snyder’s model for the psychology of hope.  It’s called “One Plan B Produces Another.”

1.            Think about a time when an important opportunity, possibility, relationship or dream           stopped being available to you.  Briefly describe that experience.

2.            How did that experience impact your identity (your sense of your own worth, abilities, gifts, and value)?  What did you do to deal with those impacts on your identity?

3.            How did that experience lead you to seek help for yourself?  How did that help “help”?  How did that experience lead you to offer help to others in new ways?

4.            How did that experience challenge your optimistic, positive views of yourself, life and the world?  What did you do to remain positive and to become even more positive?

5.            What new pathways and alternatives did you develop when the old path was closed off?  How did you develop those new possibilities?  How did you choose the one that was right for you?

6.            How did that experience cause you to reflect on the ends, meaning and purpose for your life?  What questions did it raise?  What new depth and significance did this challenge bring to your life?  How is your life better now?

After you have reflected on that past experience and re-told that story to yourself and at least one other person, then apply the same questions and techniques to a current challenge that is facing you, a current path that has closed off.

Then I’d love to hear if this exercise has helped you to be more hopeful today.

One Plan B produces another!