Reframing Threat as Adventure

Hey you,

Every now and then, something happens in a coaching session that quietly floors me. Not because it’s flashy or dramatic—but because it shows the real work is still happening, long after the session ends.

A few weeks ago, I was catching up with someone I’ve been coaching on and off for years. We were talking about a tough situation they were facing—something most people would describe as a threat, or at the very least, a serious curveball.

But instead of reacting with panic or self-protection, they brought something else into the conversation: their core values.

Not in a surface-level “remind me what I care about” kind of way, but as a lens to reframe the situation entirely. One of the values we’d explored together years ago—“adventure”—suddenly gave the whole scenario a new texture. What had initially looked like a disruption started to look like a challenge worth leaning into.

And this wasn’t an isolated technique. This was the slow magic of self-awareness doing its thing in the background.

The Core Values exercise is something I return to with many of my clients. For some, it helps clarify what kind of work to take on. For others, it helps steer day-to-day decisions. And occasionally, it does something bigger: it helps rewire the way we meet the unknown.

(If you’re curious, I made a short video explaining the exercise if you want to try it yourself.)

I’m often reminding people in sessions that “it’s not good, it’s not bad, it’s interesting.” That mantra, borrowed and evolved over the years, helps us zoom out—especially when things feel overwhelming or ambiguous. Sometimes, what feels risky is actually just... unfamiliar.

And this is where I think coaching really shines. It doesn’t give you answers. It helps you build the mental muscle to ask better questions. To pause. To reframe. To spot opportunity hiding inside discomfort.

So if you're sitting with something right now that feels knotty or uncertain, you might ask:
👉 What value of mine could be trying to show up here?
👉 Is this a threat—or an invitation I haven’t recognised yet?

Of course if you’d like a guide for that kind of reflection—well, you know where to find me.

Stay in touch

P.S. I’ve got a few coaching slots opening up this season. If you're ready to explore your next chapter (or untangle your current one), just drop me a note. I’d love to hear from you.