Breakthrough tasks to try

Get unstuck

‘The feeling of being stuck is usually because one of your inner voices is too loud and not letting any of the others speak, or every one is speaking at once!’ says Tania Carriere, coach and founder of Advivum Journeys, which runs real and virtual retreats. ‘This exercise allows you to create calm and intention by engaging each one individually.

‘First, make a list of all the “yous” you want involved in your decision. In my case, there is fun-loving me, responsible me, weary me and optimistic me. Sometimes, there are even a few borrowed mes that sound like my mum, my wise aunt or boss.

‘Write each “you” on a piece of paper and place them on different chairs. Next, articulate your question – the matter on which you want their opinion – such as, “How should I be balancing my time differently?”

‘Your challenge is to spend 15 minutes in each chair, giving yourself advice from only the perspective of the persona on that particular chair. Journal around the answer or say it out loud. By the end, you will have sat in all the chairs, opened your perspective and heard from the whole advisory board of you. Inevitably, you will find momentum too, as you will clearly hear the advice you had to offer yourself all along.’

“By the end, you will have sat in all the chairs, opened your perspective and heard from the whole advisory board of you”