So, if you guys haven’t already read the blog or heard the podcast about my colleague who is/was depressed, I suggest you do that, first.
Now, just recently I had my colleague make some significant changes in her life. I had her write down the list of everything she likes to do, passions, what are her strengths, and other things. I’ve struck gold with it.
Over the next week, she seemed a lot happier. She paid $500 bucks for dance lessons, and this was awesome because she’s always dancing at work. She committed to fitness by making videos on Instagram, showing herself doing squats and other exercises.
Shortly following that, she sent me her list in regards to the positive things about her and this is what she wrote.
- What are my natural gifts? Making people laugh.
- What are my skills? Organizing and acting.
- What do I enjoy? Dancing, singing, taking photos.
- When do I feel most alive? When I’m with friends.
- What am I passionate about? (still undecided)
- What brings the greatest joy in my life? Good work, taking care of my mom, good family (all conditionals though — nothing in the present)
- When do I feel best about myself? Helping others.
Strengths
Listening
Challenges
Commitment
Now, her natural gifts, skills and enjoyment interlink with each other, but there are still some areas that she’s not exactly sure about and that we need to tap into. Also, living in a country like Thailand, most people aren’t good at giving positive reinforcement and feedback with peers. In the spot where it says “what have people always said I’m really good at,” there wasn’t anything. This isn’t an issue, but culturally speaking, this isn’t good.
Nonetheless, she did message me and tell me that she feels much better and she claims that it’s fromt he medication at the psychiatrist. However, that’s actually the problem. With Fish Oil, Vitamin D tablets and 20 minutes of exercise a day, she can wick away those “depressive thoughts.”
That’s the next big step in my coaching with her.
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