In the previous post I wrote about five compelling reasons to become a life coach. In this article I change tack and look at the subject of life coaching from the perspective of a potential client.
Life coaching is widely misunderstood to be some form of counselling or mentoring and, as such, many people have the view that it is some kind of therapy that involves problem assessment along with advice and guidance on how to deal with it.
It is human nature to put off seeing a doctor until one feels really ill, or to delay seeing a counsellor until one can no longer cope … and many misguidedly assume that life coaching is a last resort when they feel unable to resolve the problems that beset them.
Nothing could be further than the truth!
Life coaching is for almost anyone
Life coaching can benefit just about anyone. In fact it is ideally suited, not to those who are wrangling with seemingly intractable problems, but to those who simply want more from life, whether that be in the form of achievements, success, joy, happiness, meaning and/or fulfilment.
If you fall into that category (and frankly, who doesn’t) and you think either that life coaching is a waste of money, or unlikely to be of benefit to you, think again!
Here are five of the most compelling reasons why you should consider hiring a life coach.
There are many more!
REASON 1: Get to know yourself
We live in a fast paced world, characterised by never ending demands and challenges thrown at us by the external world. These can relate to our work, our family and social situation, politics, the economy, technology, pandemics, and so on.
To survive, we have become experts at reacting and adapting to these constantly changing circumstances, fighting to keep our heads above water, so to speak.
In the process, sad to say, many of us have become so externally focused that we have lost touch with who we really are at heart. We yearn for time out to rediscover ourselves but the world we live in allows for precious little indulgence of that nature.
Through life coaching we can quickly and effectively reconnect with our inner beings and begin to appreciate that it is possible to stop living reactively and start living proactively as we were intended to.
REASON 2: Get to love yourself
You cannot ever love someone that you do not know.
Most of us have become disconnected from our inner beings as we engage our superficial, reactive, coping modes to get us through the ups and downs of daily life.
With little or no perceived time to reflect on who we truly are and what our purpose is in life, we forego the opportunity to get to love ourselves for who we are.
Instead, as we bounce from problem to problem, feeding off the scraps of achievement that life occasionally dishes out, and comparing ourselves with others who are seemingly more fortuitous, we are inclined to become highly self critical.
We tend to dwell in the space called “If only”.
“If only, I were richer, more ambitious, more astute, more intelligent, better looking, more assertive, shorter, taller, bigger, smaller, darker, fairer …” the list goes on.
The reactive world leads the more empathetic among us to focus our time on counselling, appeasing, supporting, advising, assisting and, indeed, loving others.
This can happen to the point where our energy is constantly drained and we have nothing left for ourselves.
Through life coaching we can learn to identify, appreciate and harness our many inner talents and abilities, and to rediscover self-love as we begin to acknowledge the truly amazing person we are.
REASON 3: Find your purpose
At New Insights Life Coaching we believe that the ultimate aim of transformational life coaching (which takes a little time and requires a self discovery process) is to help clients find their life purpose, define it with great clarity, and then begin to live it.
When purpose is non existent or unclear, life becomes a ‘random walk’ without real meaning. Getting though life becomes an end in itself rather than the process by which we deliver the best of ourselves to the world around us.
With clarity of purpose comes fulfilment. With purpose comes meaning. With purpose comes greatness, growth and the joy of giving back.
Through life coaching, or at least transformational life coaching (not the quick-fix impostor masquerading as life coaching) you can get to experience the incredible feeling that comes with knowing you are here on earth for a clear and unique purpose.
And by delivering on your purpose, you can feel the elation of contributing to the evolution of the world and the universe.
REASON 4: Create the life you really want
Through life coaching you can get to experience great strides in self awareness, as you come to terms with the many needs, beliefs, values and rules that until now have driven your actions and behaviours without you being conscious of it.
With the power of conscious knowledge and the free will to change anything you do not like, or that does not serve you or your purpose, you can learn to develop a set of powerful master values and empowering beliefs that will help you create the life you desire.
You quickly go from being an actor in someone else’s play to being the director of your very own play, with all of the amazing benefits of satisfaction and fulfilment that comes from knowing you are in control of your destiny!
REASON 5: Make the best investment of your life
Life coaching is not a luxury.
Let me say that again, life coaching is not a luxury or indulgence, in the same way that you might consider a trip to the local spa for a massage or beauty therapy.
Life coaching should also not be viewed as a distress purchase, or, in other words, something you resort to when you are down and out or your problems have overwhelmed you.
And finally, life coaching is not for the lazy or unmotivated who are prepared to pay money to get someone else to do the work for them.
Life coaching is, ideally, for astute, mentally well, fully functioning individuals who want to get more – much more – from life and who are prepared to work hard at it.
The life coach is a professional facilitator who provides motivation, inspiration and support along with a range of powerful tools, techniques and ideas to help you unlock your personal power.
When seen in this light, the cost of life coaching is truly a drop in the bucket. It is one of the best – if not the best – investments you will ever make.
It is is an investment in yourself, your ability, your life and your future happiness.
Find a life coach perfect for you
I hope that after reading these five reasons you will feel motivated to find a life coach perfect for you, and start an amazing journey of personal transformation.
As you may have read from the previous article about becoming a life coach, not all life coaches are unfortunately equal. Quality, in-depth, training from a reputable institute, is essential in the making of a good or great life coach.
Many life coach training courses are short and/or superficial in nature, offering certificates that are hardly worth the paper they are printed on.
New Insights prides itself on the comprehensive, internationally accredited nature of our training, which involves passing an in-depth theory exam, conducting substantial practice coaching experience and agreement to act in accordance with a robust, client-centred code of ethics.
Visit our life coach directories here:
In South Africa: https://www.life-coach-directory.co.za
In the UK/Internationally: https://www.directory-of-life-coaches.co.uk
Hi Bill, Thank you for your skillful Post. “REASON 2: Get to love yourself” is certainly one of the main concern in human being which is the essence of humanity. We are made of love and light.
Thanks Frederic!