Let’s start with an important warning message: if you read this article carefully, there is a high chance that you will be automatically consuming the red pill, so be mindful of this fact.
As the professional coaching industry is still a relatively new field, overall public awareness of this profession is still low and many people are unaware of what coaching is and what it is not. In order to shed light on this topic, I will be tapping inspiration from my favorite movie of all time, “The Matrix.”
So what do coaching and “The Matrix” have in common?
1. Hero’s Journey into unknown
One of the key similarities between coaching and “The Matrix” is that both follow the hero’s journey template, a common narrative structure found in many stories and myths. This template involves a hero who receives a call to adventure, faces challenges and trials, and ultimately undergoes a transformation.
In “The Matrix,” Neo is called to adventure when he is awakened by Morpheus and Trinity, who offer him a choice to either continue living in the Matrix or to learn the truth about his reality. While in coaching, the call to adventure may come in the form of a life-changing event or a realization that something in your life needs to change.
The hero’s journey and a coaching session both involve traveling to an unknown destination, with the hero setting out on a journey to accomplish a goal and the person in a coaching session working to achieve a personal or professional objective. In both cases, the traveler must face challenges and overcome obstacles in order to reach their destination. In the hero’s journey, this often takes the form of physical challenges and battles with supernatural beings, while in a coaching session, the obstacles may be more internal, such as lack of self-confidence, various types of mental blocks or obscured clarity of one’s own life vision.
2. Focus on personal growth and removing limitations
At the heart of both coaching and Neo’s journey in the Matrix is the idea of personal growth and transformation. In coaching, by asking thought-provoking questions, the coach helps the client navigate the challenges they face and supports them in making the necessary changes, developing a plan for achieving their goals and living a more fulfilling life. 
One way that coaches can help clients overcome challenges and reach their goals is by addressing limiting beliefs. For example, in the famous rooftop jump scene in “The Matrix,” Neo is unable to jump from one rooftop to another and later, he learns that he just needs to believe that he can jump in order to make the jump. This is a good analogy for addressing the limiting beliefs of clients in a coaching session. Just like Neo, clients may have their own limiting beliefs that prevent them from reaching their goals or growth, and coaches can help remove these barriers by asking the right questions.
Another key technique used by coaches is to help clients reframe their perspective on a topic. In the “bending the spoon” episode from “The Matrix,” the boy challenges Neo to realize that it’s not the spoon that bends, but it is himself. This is a good analogy for the role of the coach in helping clients reframe their perspective, unlocking new possible viewpoints on the challenging situation at hand.
3. Quotes from the movie
Matrix is filled with quotes that are particularly relevant to the profession of coaching and can help to further illustrate its nature. For example:
- “The answer is out there looking for you and you will find it if you want” – This quote perfectly encapsulates the belief that every coach promotes in their clients. Trusting that the client has all the answers they need is the foundation upon which coaching is built on.
- “No one can be told what matrix is, you have to see it yourself” – Showcases the unique approach of coaching. Unlike other disciplines such as consulting, counseling, teaching or mentoring, coaching does not provide answers to the client. Instead, the coach helps the client discover their own answers by asking thought-provoking questions and guiding them through a process of self-discovery and personal growth. This approach allows clients to gain a deeper understanding of their own motivations, goals, and potential, and empowers them to make the necessary changes to achieve their desired outcomes.
- “Try not to think in terms of right or wrong” – Highlights the non-judgmental approach that professional coaches take in order to create a safe space for the client. By refraining from making judgments and instead focusing on supporting the client, coaches help create an environment where the client feels free to explore their thoughts and feelings without fear of being judged. This allows the client to feel more comfortable sharing their experiences and challenges, and ultimately leads to a more productive and rewarding coaching relationship.
- “There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path” – Points out the main difference between psychotherapy and coaching. While psychotherapy focuses on exploring and understanding the client’s thoughts and feelings that could be related to their past, coaching is a very action-based and forward looking discipline. In coaching, sessions typically end with an action plan that the client can use to take concrete steps towards achieving their goals. This emphasis on action sets coaching apart from other disciplines, and helps clients make meaningful progress towards achieving their desired outcomes.
- “Where we go now, is a choice I leave to you” – Shows that as the client, you are in the driver’s seat and have the power to shape the dynamics of the session to best meet your needs.
I could speak a lot further about similarities between matrix and coaching, but to keep my message short, I want to emphasize that coaching is not just about solving problems, but rather, it is about personal growth and transformation that can help you to unlock your full potential in life, that in turn can make your life’s journey so interesting that one day someone will decide to shoot a blockbuster movie about it.
So are you ready to take the red pill?
You can book a free explanatory session with me through this link
