When it comes to success in our (or our client’s) health and wellness pursuits, the secret is often relatively simple. As a certified wellness coach, it’s all about Alice and the Mall Map.
Wait… what?!?
That’s right – Alice and the Mall Map. Whether we’re talking about individuals looking to improve their nutrition, sports performance, hip to waist ratio or any other number of personal (or even organizational) wellbeing aspects, clarity with Alice and the Mall Map is almost always the best place to start. Allow me to explain…
In the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland, you’ll likely remember the critical moment when Alice is standing at a crossroads, unsure of which way to go. She seeks guidance from the Cheshire Cat, asking (paraphrased) “Cheshire – which way should I go?” Cheshire responds “That depends on where you’d like to end up?” to which Alice answers “Well I’m not really sure.” This response leads us to the moment of wisdom and application as Cheshire responds “Then I guess it doesn’t really matter which way you go.”
Regardless of what you, your client or your organization is looking to achieve in terms of health and wellness pursuits, the journey MUST begin by determining where you’d like to end up. The time frame may vary (3 months? 1 year? 3 years?). Until you have a clear answer to that question, then “it really doesn’t matter which way you go.”
Once the “Alice Question” is fully addressed, it’s time to move onto the mall – or at least the mall map…
When visiting a mall (to actually find something rather than simply wandering), the first stop is the mall map and it’s big arrow saying “YOU ARE HERE.” That marker is the baseline. It provides our starting point from which we can then lay out the most effective plan to reach our destination. This is the critical step #2 in the wellness journey. Once you know where you’re headed (Alice), the next step is to determine your current location.
Once those two items are answered clearly, the rest is just details. In wellness or life, once you have the answers to Alice and the Mall Map, the rest is just putting one foot in front of the other. That doesn’t make it easy, but it most definitely does make it clear.
As a certified wellness coach, there’s a good chance this straight-forward strategy can help your clients move one step closer to making tomorrow #BetterThanYesterday.
