You may have heard of the following Chinese Proverb:
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”
The saying roughly translates to no matter what the venture, big or small, it starts with an action. In truth, your actions gives birth to the journey ahead.
What does that Chinese proverb have to do with hiring a Life Coach? The answer is a lot. In fact, I could argue that having one could make the journey of a thousand miles much more meaningful and enjoyable. Including a Life Coach into your decision-making process can decrease stress, reduce anxiety, promote mindfulness, and the list goes on. They can create a ‘safe’ space for deeper understanding of some the issues that you could be facing. No need to go at it alone.
In this article, I will highlight some of the unique ways a Life Coach can support you in tackling life’s most difficult challenges. There’s information about coaching contracts and how they enhance the coaching experience.
Most importantly, you’ll understand why combining your efforts with that of a Life Coach is your best chance for success no matter the obstacles your are facing. But first, let’s define Life Coaching.
What is life coaching?
Life Coaching is a service, offered by individuals who can provide clarity, direction, encouragement and empowerment through partnership, with another person who is seeking more fulfillment in their life. Together, clients set goals while working on destructive habits or patterns that could derail the process towards achievement.
Related post: Important preparations you should make before hiring a Life Coach
In Canada, according to the Canadian College Of Professional Counselors & Psychotherapists, practitioners seeking membership such as with Life Coaches, are recognized as professionals who deliver mental health services to the public.
Life Coaches champion and support your growth in all aspects of your life. The work they do can be beneficial to you in a multitude of ways.
Here are some of the best reasons to hire this type of coaching professional:
- They encourage you to focus more on your own needs
- The partnership cultivates a deeper level of connection
- Helps you to uncover hidden strengths and weaknesses
- Find passion and purpose while working with a Life Coach
- Discover the next actions steps on your path towards self improvement
Some Life Coaches offer their services in the form of packages which may include certain features and/ or number of sessions. Others can offer the same but are paid by the hour. Either way, the potential client must agree to the details laid out in the coaching contract. Without this step, there is no coaching contract.
What is a coaching contract?
The terms and conditions of a coaching engagement are laid out in an agreement or coaching contract. The coaching contract can be set up on a long term or short term basis. It will all depend on the service offerings from the Life Coach, or the documented needs of the client. There is no standard coaching format or session length. Overall, the client determines the focus of each session as it relates to the client’s own goals.
Including but not limited to the following topics, clients can explore with a Life Coach:
- Emotional Blocks
- Behavioral Patterns
- Goals Setting & Achievements
- Relationships
- Life Purpose
- Career Change
- Work-Life Balance
- Other related challenges
Some Life Coaches can be industry specific such as a Business Coach or a Career Coach. The bulk of their knowledge may come from similar experiences, previous employment, or formal training. No two coaches are alike. Each one has their own style when it comes to supporting people with challenges. It’s essential that you choose the right professional based on your ability to be open to making changes for your own personal growth.
It’s important to note that some coaches are trained to work in conjunction with existing therapeutic treatments. Please contact your health provider for more details if that interests you.
In every session, there is an opportunity to dive deeper into the biography called “You”
Learning to focus on you
If you are constantly inundated with e-mails, phone calls, and social media notifications, it can be difficult to find time to just sit back and breathe. The internet of things could eventually send you to the hospital or worse. When is there time to focus on you? Answer: your coaching sessions of course! They are design with you in mind.
Note, this is the moment where your Life Coach might be stern with you and ask that you mute devices or remove any possible distractions. Yes, I know, this is a tough one. Nevertheless, it encourages a stronger rapport between both parties. The ability to open up fully at your own pace in a comfortable, confidential environment is second to none. Safety is paramount.
Life Coaches who receive training from governed, accredited organizations must adhere to strict guidelines and ethical practice. If you are unsure of these standards, please consult with your Life Coach for details.
Related post: Life coaching vs. counseling: is one ‘better’ for you
Deeper levels of connection
To forge a bond with the client, a life coach helps to create and maintain a safe space for the client to express themselves however they wish. To do this, they empower you to seek clarity on how you see the world. Additionally, how you see yourself in the world. Coaches often clarify with the client the meaning of a word or phrase within the context of its usage. Words have power no matter the meaning.
As a result, how a client chooses to communicate ultimately determines the kind of bond we can have. Some clients like using metaphors to express themselves. Others prefer story telling or analogies. There are clients who stick to the direct, unscripted approach. It should make no difference to a Life Coach so long as it is not offensive to either party.
Uncover hidden strengths and weaknesses
What’s your super human power? Can you walk on water? See through iron clad walls? Sounds like a gallant hero straight out of the comic books right? Well… As a species, we are capable of incredible feet. After all, since inhabiting the planet, we’ve traveled to outer space, walked on the moon, and, don’t forget all the other technological marvels that has revolutionized the way we live! It’s no wonder when attempting to find answers to less noteworthy dilemmas, we often feel helpless or afraid.
We’re suppose to know how to help ourselves right? Not necessarily.
Each session with a Life Coach is an opportunity to build up your confidence levels so that you can realize the potential outcome of your efforts. You’d be surprised at all the tools now available in your emotional ‘tool box’ put there by you from prior life experiences.
Finding passion within the purpose
Sometimes it’s easier to see the iceberg above the water than to imagine what’s below the surface. It can be a daunting task to go after our dreams. There are no manuals or a list of instructions to follow. It may take months or even years before being able to be in a place where the work has finally paid off and the time to reap the harvest is at hand. You could literally play the ‘no risk, no reward’ game and lose big!
The road to achieving what you desire most can be long and filled with many set backs. It’s best to have a solid idea of what you are getting into before making a choice that could prove costly down the road.
One way a Life Coach can assist you in the game of ‘chance” is to point out what you may or may not see yet somehow, you know it’s there. In other words, They help you uncover the meaning behind your own actions.
When you can rest comfortably in having the answers to the 5 Ws: who, what, when, where, and why, the risks involved in making a decision diminishes within the process.
In addition to reducing risk, you’re working together to creating a contingency plan for the “if this doesn’t work out…” scenario. Become more prepared for whatever the results are in connection to those decisions. You move forward feeling more positive in your ability to choose wisely.
Discover what’s next
What do you want for the future? Most people have some vague ideas. To others, it will come as a shock if the framework isn’t already in place. But why let it come to that? Do you want to start the next big ‘thing’ in your life already behind the 8 Ball? Having a solid grasp on your present ideas, which in turn, could potentially become worthwhile projects down the road is how a Life Coach supports you in establishing accountability for those goals.
Whatever it is that you seek, the pathway can be made clear with the use of strategic questioning, deep listening, paraphrasing, and direct communication. There is a profound sense of completion when curiosity has been explored to its fullest extent. All within the comfort of the coaching dynamic.
Conclusion
Establishing a partnership with a Life Coach is one that can last a lifetime. They see you for who you really are. Of course, that is… If you let them. Being honest with your emotions and what you want out of life is the key to this dynamic. All the ity, bity sticky stuff that prevents you from showing up in the world are where Life Coaches can do their best work.
If you are ready to make some changes that would undoubtedly set the course for a new chapter in your life, you can book a free clarity call with me. Let’s start this journey together!
Always,
Maxcine W. – Staying Connected
maxcinewatson.com
