There’s a song floating on the airwaves called “Way Less Sad” by AJR and I like when I hear it because:

1. It has a happy, bouncy melody.
2. The lyrics are vulnerable and authentic yet hearing them through a happy, bouncy melody makes them easier to process and accept (btw, processing and acceptance is crucial to sustainable change).
3. It helps communicate the importance of recognizing the “AND” available to us in life.
4. It describes how small, incremental steps can make all the difference in the world.

Maybe I like it because it reminds me of a coaching session…

1. A session begins with self-acknowledgement, or your reflection of what is working in life…the win’s you’re experiencing…the celebrations (aka the “happy, bouncy” moments).
2. The science behind starting with self-acknowledgement and what is working is that it engages the parasympathetic nervous system (or the rest & digest piece of the nervous system) so that you are more open, receptive and can process the upcoming information more effectively.
3. Next you share what’s going on in life and/or work. A lot of times we explore where you can experience the “AND.” For example, “My experience at work really sucks right now because of my new boss AND I am learning a lot about how I function during change.”
4. Then we go into inspired action or solution-mode where incremental steps toward your end goal are brainstormed and solidified so you can take them into the world and put them into practice.

I mention incremental steps because just as the song mentions…you may not be happy AND you can find ways to be less sad.

At Thrive, we talk a lot about taking steps – both forward and backward – and the importance of honoring each of those steps as meaningful pieces of your journey.

For example, a client navigating depression may not feel like they can go from the bottom step of the staircase of feeling depressed to the top step where they feel like a rockstar. AND they can take the first step to getting out of bed while celebrating the win versus inflicting self-criticism of “not doing enough.” That first step on that day is enough and honoring that step is important to keep you moving toward your desired experience of life.

So what’s your happy, bouncy melody?