WHAT IS COACHING?
A life coach works one-on-one with a client to support personal growth, behavior modification and goal-setting. Based on the premise that most people can achieve their goals if properly guided, a life coach will act as a mentor, assisting the client in the process of taking the life-improving actions necessary to take control of the future. A life coach does not focus on reviewing past events or analyzing previous failures. Through a series of attainable steps, a life coach helps clients overcome fears and achieve balance in both their personal and professional life.
These new professionals deal with relatively healthy people who want to improve their lives in specific ways, such as changing careers, finding a healthy relationship, taking their business to a new level, losing weight or deepening their self-understanding, for example. They deal with stress management as well as time management, goal setting and other key areas of change to help their clients lead more balanced lives that better reflect clients' personal values and priorities. It differs from therapy in that the focus is more on the present and future than the past, more on goals and behaviors than emotions and emotional patterns, and there is a more equal balance of power between the coach and client than between the typical therapist and client.
"Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?" It's one of those questions many job-seekers dread during an interview, but it can be daunting to answer on a personal level as well. Amid all your responsibilities, activities and projects, it's sometimes hard to see the big picture and easy to become overwhelmed or feel like you're lacking direction.
That's where a life coach can come in.
"If you are frustrated with an aspect of your life, not sure how to stop making the same choices you keep making or just want to have more happiness, peace of mind and passion -- life coaching can do that for you,"
What's a professional sports team without an experienced leader behind the bench? Better yet, imagine an amateur hockey team without the same guidance. No matter what the level of play is, if you want to succeed you need a coach.
Should living life be any different?
A life coach is not a psychiatrist. He or she is someone who will help improve your personal and/or professional life by offering support and encouragement while suggesting new ways to achieve your goals. A life coach is more of a partnership than anything else. It is a support system with one goal in mind: improving your quality of life.
The idea of a life coach is nothing new. Walk into any dojo, whether it is for karate or meditation, and the concept of sensei and unsui are immediately instilled in the student's mind. Very much like the ancient teachings, in life, there are always those who have walked the path before you and those who will walk the path after you. This is the principal ideology behind life coaching.
