What is life coaching? When is a good time to work with a life coach?
As summer comes to a close, school schedules and seasons shift our lives slowly toward the nourishing times of fall and winter. Every year, when this happens, more folks are motivated to work with a coach and reach out to see if I am a fitting match for them.
This moment is such a beautiful one!! I am always sincerely honored to be considered and proud of them for taking a step toward what they are seeking in their lives. It’s truly magical!
One recent conversation with a potential client inspired me to write this with the intention that it clarifies and guides you all in your pursuit of growth and your fullest, most deliberate life…
What is life coaching?
Great question! Though coaching is growing as a field and industry, it's still very young and I get a ton of questions about this when I talk about my work.
Life coaching, as defined by the International Coaching Federation…
“thought-provoking and creative process that inspires a person to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
It is also a process, most importantly, between equals. The coach walks alongside the coachee from a place of curiosity, compassion, and deep trust.
One quote that exemplified this equal, trusting stance of the coach is:
“Everything they need, they have. Everything they have, they need.”
To me, this means that the person being coached is not broken and in need of fixing, but fully capable and resourceful. They may come to the end of their current resources, and that is important, too! They need that moment of coming to the edge so they can learn new ways to see, feel, explore, and grow. All of their experiences are important, needed, and fit to be woven into their progressing story.
Coaching can include talking, meditation, goal setting, envisioning, healing, reflecting, and so much in between. It can be enlivening, challenging, or inspiring; like being human!
When is a good time to work with a life coach?
Another powerful question! There is no one that will answer that question for you, and here are some things to consider given how life coaching approaches working with people...
Coaching is about growth, first and foremost. It is about getting clear on yourself, your life, or some aspect of those and exploring how you want to more fully express your highest potential.
This is different from therapy, which is much more directly focused on healing, is more past and, in some ways, problem-focused.
It is a good time to work with a life coach when the investment of time, money, and energy is acceptable or challenging without being overwhelming (we are less likely to access our highest potential from a place of fear/overwhelm).
One last and very important consideration…
It’s a good time to work with a life coach when you have found one that is qualified, credentialed, and resonates with the kind of work you are hoping to do in your life. There are many coaches out there, and, unfortunately, fewer who are highly skilled.
Explore their background, their training, their approach. If you can, book a consult with them to learn more about the above.
There is no perfect time to work with a coach, and it can feel tempting to put off growth and the development of our highest potential. When that urge comes up, pay attention. It may not fit perfectly into your life and you may have to give it some effort and energy to make the space that was held by comforts before. But this too is a part of your commitment to your own growth.
If you are interested in coaching, I offer consults and am happy to explore with you if it’s your time to dive in and if we are your fitting team.
Love,
Blake