One of the most powerful questions I know is, “What do you/I want?” The question asks people to think about where they want to go, rather than what has them stuck.

The problem, though, is when inviting the person to look forward, they might still have a self-limiting story playing in their mind. In other words, they might be telling themselves why they can’t move forward. With the self-limiting story playing, their forward look may not be as expansive.

The solution is first to confront the self-limiting story. If I’m coaching someone, I may ask, “How’s that working for you?” Or, “Do you hear the story you’re telling yourself?” For me, I might tell myself, “Stop it.”

When trying to help someone move forward, don’t forget to stop the story that has them stuck. Then, watch where they go.

You’ve got this.