Coaching as Benevolence

Coaching as Benevolence

di L'Shawn Howard and Eryn Elder
Miglioramento personale
Stagione 9
Why is it so Hard to Ask for What We Need?
Eryn and L' Shawn discuss the question "Why is it so hard to ask for what you need?" They explore how unclear needs, shifting wants, and the myth of mind reading in relationships make it difficult to ask. Eryn shares an example from an art fair where she didn’t take a needed break due to ego and delegation concerns. L' Shawn reflects on trust issues, delegation challenges, and insights from a Family Constellations exercise that revealed a colleague's perceptions of her as micromanaging and distrustful. They both link the struggle to upbringing and cultural norms that discouraged children from voicing needs, leading to a lack of agency and language as adults. They suggest that coaching, mindfulness, and observing models of clear communication could help develop the skill to ask for needs.
S9 · E3
16 set 2026
43:48
Flourishing with Discomfort, Trust, and Self Awareness
This episode continues the conversation about flourishing, with L' Shawn and Eryn discussing what it means to flourish and how it shows up in their lives. L' Shawn shares how she experiences flourishing through learning and leadership development with Coloradans for the Common Good, particularly in preparing for an upcoming trip to New Orleans and engaging with diverse organizers. Eryn reflects on how flourishing involves being present and noticing unnoticed growth, sharing personal examples including managing minor health concerns without immediately worrying and working through business development decisions with a friend. They explore the distinction between pain and suffering, with L' Shawn noting that pain is inevitable but suffering arises when people cut themselves off from well-being and fixate on pain.
S9 · E2
9 set 2026
44:21
Taking the Time with Hope, Faith, and Intention
L' Shawn and Eryn discuss the concepts of hope, faith, and intention, drawing from L' Shawn’s reading of Melvin L. Rogers’ book, "The Darkened Light of Faith, Race, Democracy, and Freedom in African American Political Thought." L' Shawn explores hope as an active commitment to a desired outcome, linking it to historical struggles for justice and the role of faith in sustaining hope. Eryn connects these ideas to coaching, emphasizing the importance of intention, motivation, and the process of becoming in both individual and societal contexts. They reflect on how coaches can hold space for clients’ growth and the interplay between hope, faith, and intentional action in personal development and grief work. The conversation concludes with coaching nuggets of wisdom focused on understanding and applying hope, faith, and intention in daily life.
S9 · E1
2 set 2026
40:37
Stagione 8
Flourishing with Intention: Enhance Your Life on Your Terms
In this episode, Eryn and L' Shawn wrap up the final section of their guided journal, "Flourish," with L' Shawn and Eryn discussing the themes of hope, intentionality, and personal growth. They reflect on how journaling can support living a meaningful and purposeful life, and share personal experiences with journaling practices. Eryn describes a new daily journaling method she found helpful, while L' Shawn connects the concept of flourishing to imagery like a vibrant garden. They explore what flourishing means beyond achievement, emphasizing openness, alignment with values, and staying connected to oneself and others.
S8 · E22
26 ago 2026
37:19
Try Something a Bit Differently: Here's How
Eryn and L' Shawn discuss the last prompt in the Act section of their guided journal, which encourages trying something a little different and stepping outside of one's comfort zone. Eryn and L' Shawn share personal experiences related to the prompt, such as Eryn's recent hike where she shifted her mindset to be more present and L' Shawn's opportunity to attend a leadership event that felt outside her comfort zone. They explore the concept of courage as quiet, playful, and sacred, and how it relates to love and taking action. Eryn reflects on experimenting with small changes in daily routines and deeper adjustments in her mental health practices. L' Shawn emphasizes the importance of starting small and observing new experiences with a sense of curiosity.
S8 · E21
19 ago 2026
31:02
Take Action on Gratitude and Appreciation
L' Shawn and Eryn discuss prompt six about gratitude and appreciation from their guided journal "Coaching Nuggets of Wisdom to Inspire. Explore. Act. Flourish: A guided journal to live your best life", focusing on how to embody these concepts intentionally and heartfeltly. They explore the distinction between gratitude (more intentional and shared) and appreciation (more passive and natural), with examples including kindness, service work, nature, and art. L' Shawn shares how she could embody gratitude by balancing problem-solving focus with appreciation questions throughout her day, while Eryn suggests asking "what am I learning?" as a way to incorporate gratitude into her weekly routine.
S8 · E20
12 ago 2026
43:12
Noticing What is Going Well & How That Helps You Take Action
Eryn and L' Shawn discuss prompt five from their guided journal "Coaching Nuggets of Wisdom: to inspire, explore, act, flourish." They explore the concept of noticing things going well and what flows with ease in life, with Eryn sharing how she struggles to articulate what's flowing with ease versus what's simply going well. L' Shawn provides insights about ease and flow coming from Positive Intelligence and the importance of balancing focusing on what's working with addressing what needs improvement. The conversation includes a real-time example when Eryn's seven-year-old unexpectedly joins the recording, demonstrating how Eryn handles the disruption as an example of ease and flow. They discuss the importance of starting small with noticing positive moments, particularly in the morning, and how this practice can help people see more evidence of progress and well-being.
S8 · E19
5 ago 2026
31:58
Anchored in Values: Taking Action in Alignment
L' Shawn and Eryn focus on exploring personal values in their discussion of their guided journal prompt from the "ACT" section. The conversation centers on understanding how values serve as a "North Star" for navigation in both personal and professional life, with L' Shawn emphasizing the importance of aligning decisions with both organizational values and personal integrity. Both participants explore how values change throughout different life stages, with L' Shawn sharing how people-pleasing was no longer a priority in her 40s after developing greater self-worth, while Eryn discusses shifts from achievement-oriented values to greater emphasis on creativity and compassion. The discussion highlights the practical application of values in workplace conflicts and relationships, with both acknowledging the ongoing challenge of balancing personal values with organizational expectations.
S8 · E18
29 lug 2026
38:58
Play as a Portal to Wellbeing
L' Shawn and Eryn explore prompt three about feelings of play from their guided journal, where Eryn shares her recent experience taking tap dancing lessons and how her daughter enjoys watching her play. L' Shawn reflects on how her parents didn't model playfulness, making it challenging for her to incorporate play into adulthood, and discusses how her husband's playful interactions with their children inspire her to be more playful. They explore how parents modeling play affects children and the importance of finding ways to incorporate play into busy adult lives, with Eryn noting she prefers physical play over board games and L' Shawn emphasizing the need to customize play activities to suit individual preferences.
S8 · E17
22 lug 2026
35:35
A Simple, Quick Mindful Exercise May Lead to Taking Your Best Action Yet
L' Shawn and Eryn work through the second prompt in the third section of their guided journal prompt about finding time for micro-moments of breathing and reflection, discussing how even brief moments of stillness can help people reconnect with their bodies and gain clarity before taking action. The conversation covers the importance of making these practices routine, the value of noticing without judgment during these moments, and various strategies for reorienting throughout the day including engaging the senses, using word puzzles, or taking physical breaks.
S8 · E16
15 lug 2026
34:16
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