Photo by Alma Snortum-Phelps on Unsplash
We attend workshops or training sessions that are engaging, inspiring and full of insight. We may even read an amazing book that promises to change our lives. The ideas spark something inside us and we leave feeling energised and motivated.
And then, a month later, six months later, it can feel like nothing has really changed.
We often remember how powerful the session or book felt at the time, yet the new ideas rarely take root. It is not about the quality of the workshop or book it is about how we bring the insights into our daily practice. Without intentional reflection, space and follow-through, even the most engaging sessions can fade.
This is where reflective practice and integrative coaching can make a difference. By revisiting what mattered to us, we can ask:
- What would it take for these ideas to live in our daily work?
- What small shifts in how we think or act could help them take hold?
- How can we make space for change without feeling overwhelmed?
One practical tool we can use is the Do-Over Reflection. At the end of the day, take five minutes to reflect on a moment when you did not do what you had promised yourself or others. What stopped you from following through? What was going on for you in that moment? When a similar situation arises again, what could you do differently to honour your intention? Write one short “do-over” for tomorrow.
We can think of this as retrospective return on investment. When an idea has not yet taken off, we do not have to move on. We can pause, explore and embed it in a way that allows it to grow, finally turning insight into meaningful lasting change.
Candida Javaid Coaching & Mentoring 