Tell Me About Your Life

By revealing your life to others, you also reveal it to yourself in ways that can’t be done unless you actually vocalize those truths. In doing so you will find value in your life story.

A client who was asked to give a talk for the first time had a session to think about the content of the talk. The client said, “I’m struggling with how to convey my role and involvement in the educational field to the audience. I can share my personal experiences, but I’m unsure how to present them in a replicable manner for the audience.”

I responded, “Even if you explain the method, not everyone will be able to replicate it. A success story rising from failures can be very inspiring. By sharing your personal experiences, you can boost motivation. Instead of aiming for feedback like ‘I understood the method,’ let’s craft your content to evoke responses like ‘I was moved.’”

Hearing this, the client seemed relieved, saying, “In that case, I can speak.” It appeared she was under the impression that since she was asked to give a lecture, she must provide some practical know-how.

Subsequently, the actual lecture seemed to be a huge success. There were about 30 participants, and it seemed she inspired and energized many. I believe that there will be more speaking opportunities for this client in the future.

In my co-authored book with ChatGPT, we had a dialogue about the ‘experience’ that ChatGPT does not have.

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LifeCoach：
I see. When I first started using ChatGPT, I often just asked questions to satisfy my own curiosity. However, as I shared my expertise, I felt that ChatGPT genuinely listened, likely because it doesn’t possess experiences of its own.

ChatGPT：
Exactly, your wealth of experience is invaluable precisely because I lack experience. I continually learn through data and algorithms so that I can disseminate this beneficial information. The lack of experience that I have could also offer new viewpoints and insights to someone like you. I believe such a collaborative relationship can create new value for both of us and for many others.

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It was when I made a career change into an entirely different industry where I had no prior experience. Due to my lack of experience, it was challenging to achieve results. However, this very lack of experience allowed me to draw out the knowledge and wisdom of others, making them shine while also contributing to my own success. To achieve this, I studied coaching. Little did I know at that time that it would eventually become my life’s work.

The same was true for the client I mentioned earlier. Even though they were in a completely different industry, they decided to change careers in their 50s to realize their vision and reskill. Now, their story is inspiring many.

The YouTube channel titled “Tell Me About Your Life” is an interview program that delves into individual experiences. With close-up camera work reminiscent of French films, each person’s story is conveyed with an abundance of immediacy. It’s also intriguing that they shoot in locations like parks. No matter how harrowing the story may be, seeing people discuss their experiences in hindsight gives viewers courage. Curiously, one can watch these shared experiences for hours on end.

Everyone has their own set of experiences, but when we think of our own, they might seem too mundane to be worth discussing. However, once we actually share them, we come to realize the value of our experiences, and it can offer others a fresh perspective and inspire emotion.

The client said, “With a smile, you’ve managed to share your stories of perseverance from the past five years with everyone. Many have been moved by it, expressing that it made them reconsider their way of life or feel invigorated. That’s wonderful. I wish I could tell my younger self from five years ago that.”

It’s curious how once someone shares their experiences and receives positive feedback, they often feel the urge to accumulate more experiences.

Therefore, in my profession, I aspire to attentively listen to the experiences of various individuals. By simply posing questions, the person can express themselves. This enables them to recognize and appreciate their own journeys. I hope they come to realize the inherent value in their life’s story. I believe that’s the job of a life coach.