Why would I want life coaching? What is life coaching, and what could life coaching do for me?
These are great questions. Sometimes the best way to answer questions like this is with a story…
Once upon a time, not so long ago, there was a woman in her 40s called Suzanne. She is a civil servant living in a city, works and has a few hobbies…and she is stuck in limbo.
Suzanne identifies that she is feeling bored and frustrated with her life. Her confidence is at an all time low and she has lost sight of the freedom and joy that she believes is possible.
Trapped in a cage is a metaphor that runs through her story.
She knows that there is quite a long backstory to where she finds herself, including chronic illness that has plagued her for a while and has led to a loss of her sense of identity. She feels defined by her illness rather than who she actually is.
But more than this, she sees that she has become stuck in patterns of routine behaviours that are limiting, reducing her confidence and making her world smaller. Her self-talk is full of “CAN’T”s – driven by fear of failure, the impact of her illness, what others think. She puts huge expectations on herself and her conversation is peppered with “I should…”.
What is it she actually wants for her life?
Who is she beyond the limiting beliefs of her illness?
What if that cage door is opened?
But before the door can be opened, we first have to explore what that door actually IS. What is keeping her stuck? What is the cage and what is it’s impact?
Once the door is opened and she flies free, what does that mean for her life and who she is?
These are questions that we explore together in coaching during 8 sessions over the course of 8 months.
It is a huge amount of fun, it is challenging, stretching, and at times quite demanding as she chooses to look inward. She grows in self awareness, learns to stop and reflect and ask herself questions. She works hard and takes complete ownership of the process, and I provide supportive accountability, ask powerful questions and help her join up the dots. Gradually she gains new confidence and understanding of herself and is empowered to make positive and healthy choices.
Small action steps are taken that allow good foundations of healthy habits to form, and new ventures are explored.
This is some of the external work.
T
he inner work involves unpicking some of the negative beliefs she has about herself and her life, digging them up at the root and creating new, healthy beliefs.
She moves from “Can’t” and “should” to “CAN” and “WILL/WANT TO”. Fear is reframed and she moves to greater acceptance both of what she can do and also of wise limits and good boundaries.
Coaching allows her to name and identify the door to the cage and see the possibilities and freedom on the other side. She is empowered to step through that door into greater freedom, confidence and enjoyment in life.
Her feedback on her life coaching?
Life coaching guided and helped me to wake up, and become fully alive again.”
Suzanne of course is made up, she is a composite of the kinds of issues I work through with clients.
How do you connect with this story?
Perhaps you identify with feeling stuck in limbo, not living the life that you want to – or believe you can – live?
Or maybe your confidence and sense of identity has taken a real knock because of a difficult life experience, a transition, or change in circumstances?
What is the end of this story for you?
A great coach can work with you to stay on track and overcome actions that sabotage your desires, plans and dreams.” (Forbes)
If this is what you are looking for, and you are understanding something more of what life coaching could do for you, get in touch for your FREE taster session and we can explore further.