THE POWER OF MINDPLAY Establishing compelling goals for your sex life is not always straightforward. Often clients are unable to articulate quite how they want to be as a sexual person and they have a limited vision of the sex life that they desire. Clients often aim too low! I encourage them to aim for what truly inspires them and excites them sexually. Couples may base their goals on their idea of what their partner wants and so part of my work is to enable both to wish for what they want as individuals. I have found that I need to establish separate goals with couples before we work all together as otherwise we end up with an uninspiring blend of toned down sexual authenticity rather than something that actually allows them to get excited about sex again. Using a picture, animal or word to represent the sexual person you want to become can help kick start our coaching work together. A simple exercise is this: 1. Choose a word that represents the aspect of yourself in your sexual journey that you wish to play with and develop at this point. This word is key. It is going to sum up what you aspire to, what aspect of yourself you wish to develop and it is going to motivate you when things get difficult. Some of the words my clients have chosen are: pioneer, butterfly, explorer, fern, beast, adventurer, king, princess, lionheart, lily, blossom. The word needs only to have meaning and significance for you. 2. Describe what this word represents; how does being this way express your sexuality? Write a paragraph detailing the kind of sexuality, sexual energy, desires and fantasies that this person embodies. How would being this way make you feel? What would you able to do differently. What fears would it take away? 3.How do you currently express this aspect of your sexuality? It may not be in your sex life or it may be only in fleeting moments or only when you are by yourself. Think carefully about how you live in the world and what aspects to choose to express in differing contexts. 4.How do you stop yourself living this part of your sexuality? Are you aware of negative self-talk, critical inner dialogue that berates you, judges you and limits you? What do you say to yourself? 5. What 3 things could you do to begin incorporating this important and powerful part of your sexuality into your life? No coaching exercise is complete without a 'name 3 things' ending! This part is to get you thinking about the direction you wish to pursue to reconnect with yours sexuality. A useful subquestion here is 'when, if ever did you last live out this aspect of your sexuality?'
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