As we move about in our lives from one obstacle to another, we often tell the same lie to our friends, family, and even ourselves: I’m fine. It may be an avoidance to get into a bigger conversation or maybe we don’t want to talk about personal matters with the person in front of us, but chances are we’re simply avoiding the truth: we’re not fine. We’re worried, we’re stressed, we’re confused, maybe we’re downright scared. Here’s something to consider: It’s okay to not be okay and it’s okay to ask for help.
Help doesn’t have to mean medication or hours of therapy. Sometimes help is simply having someone to listen, someone to ask the right questions. Maybe help means a little outside guidance to get you to answer your own questions, solve your own problems, and find your own direction. This is life coaching.
You might be surprised who’s used a life coach. Some very successful personalities have benefitted from having a coach, such as Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Metallica, Eric Schmidt (CEO of Google), and Serena Williams to name a few. It’s not a sign a weakness to get a coach, rather it’s a sign of empowerment.
Here’s some of the things a coach can do for you according to Tony Robbins:
1. If you’re feeling lost…
Maybe you just graduated or just achieved that long-awaited certification. Now what? Coaching can help you determine that next step to achieving your goals or even help you determine what those goals are. People often get stuck here. Once a goal is accomplished, they don’t know what’s next. Coaching helps people get through the ‘now what?’ stage.
2. If you’re letting fear hold you back…
You may not even realize that you’re afraid or what exactly is causing you fear and hesitation. A coach can help you identify that and get past those inhibitions so you can move forward towards your dreams. Fear makes us freeze; coaching moves us past that fear so we can move on.
3. If you think you’re not good enough…
Similar to fear is low self-esteem or lack of self-confidence. Those often get built up inside us after years of being criticized either by ourselves or by others. Coaches remind us that we’re not limited to those experiences from the past. When the world or our own subconscious says we can’t, coaching says we can!
4. If you have self-destructive habits…
Self-destructive habits can been eating poorly, using drugs or alcohol, or participating in other risky behavior. While these issues can have a range of severity, a coach can help us to make better personal decisions and create healthier habits to promote growth rather than destruction. A coach can also recognize when the issue might need more intervention and other professional help is needed.
5. If you want to be more decisive…
Sometimes we simply can’t decide on a direction because we’re in the middle of it all and we need a fresh perspective. A coach can see the bigger picture and help us navigate the choices we may not have known we had. This helps our decision making and gets the ball rolling again towards success.
6. If you can’t seem to focus…
Dreams and goals are great, but there’s lots of little steps along the way to get there. A coach can help us stay focused on seeing the small steps so we can reach that mountaintop we so desire. It’s like trying to climb without a rope or harness, but our coach will remind us about the details so we have achievable mini goals that will build up to our dreams.
7. If you need better time management…
We all get tired have moments of ‘tomorrow is another day.’ That’s okay sometimes, but a coach will help us stay on our path towards success so we can keep moving forward. Procrastination is so easy when you’re starting to burn out, but coaches are there to motivate and push so we never give up on our goals.
8. If you’re facing a major transition…
Transitions can be scary, especially when they’re not our choice. Having a coach to guide us through can be the solid ground we need to hang on through it all. A coach can see past the emotion and help us find the facts and options we may have missed during our daunting transition and anxiety.
If any of those rang true for you, you could certainly benefit from a coach. Coaching isn’t about making decisions for you, but helping you navigate your own decisions so you can achieve your own goals in your own way and be successful. So, who can really benefit the most from life coaching? Everyone can! Life coaching is for everyone!
You may still be deciding on your goals, or feeling lost, or feeling less than confident about yourself, but a life coach can help guide you, asking the right questions, helping you find your own answers and solve your own problems. Coaching is about self-empowerment and motivation, goal setting and achievements, making you not just the client but the success story. Don’t discount the benefits before you’ve tried it. You never know what you can achieve!
8 signs you need a life coach