Life Coaches: Agents for Change

Unfortunately, a great deal of misconception exists in the public space about what life coaches do.

Some think that a life coach is just a modern day term for counsellor and that life coaches help their clients bring to the surface, come to terms with and handle, the major problems that life throws at them.

Others assume that a life coach is a form of life consultant; someone who takes a brief from the client about what it is they want to achieve and then goes away and formulates a comprehensive step-by-step plan of action that the client simply has to follow to reach his or her goal.

Still others believe that a life coach is a type of mentor; someone who uses their extensive life experience to dispense wisdom and advice to their clients on how to chart the best course through life.

And there are those who feel that a life coach is a personal problem solver, with a range of tools and techniques that can help clients overcome the most intractable of problems that may be preventing them from living a full life.

In actual fact, none of the descriptions above are accurate when it comes to describing what life coaches do.

Life coaches are not counsellors, consultants, advisers, mentors or problem solvers.

So, once again, you may ask, “What do they do?”

Carl and Lindi take up the discussion

I’d like you to meet Carl, the curious life coaching prospect, and Lindi, the Life Coach, who will take up the discussion from here:

Lindi: “Well, Carl, we inspire, motivate, embolden and empower our clients to make the personal changes necessary to bring about the outcomes that they want to achieve.”

Carl: “That all sounds very fancy, Lindi, but get real here for a moment and explain to me how, exactly?”

Lindi: “Okay, well have you ever stopped to think where any personal change or any activity, for that matter, actually starts?”

Carl: “In the mind I suppose.”

Lindi: “Exactly, Carl. Any change in your life starts with a thought. Thoughts are the genesis of creation. The way you think about things affects the type of actions that result, and the actions you take (or don’t take) determine the reality you will create. As life coaches we have tools and techniques that can help you think empowering thoughts that will manifest in powerful, targeted actions that will produce the results you truly desire.”

Carl: “So it sounds like some kind of mind bending magic or hokey pokey?”

Lindi (laughing): “No, not all. You see, we don’t do anything to you or your mind. We simply show you how to connect with the amazing inner power that you have to achieve anything you want from life.”

Carl: “But what if I have no clue about what it is I want to achieve in the first place.”

Lindi: “You might be surprised to hear, Carl, that this a common affliction in today’s world. People are so caught up in trying to cope with everything life throws at them, that they leave no time or energy to connect with their inner beings.”

Carl: “Tell me about it. Life is a roller coaster! Every twist and turn is unexpected and often really scary. Sometimes, I just wish I could jump off but even that would be too dangerous!”

Lindi: “Well imagine that you had full control over your roller coaster. You could slow it down, speed it up, even change the direction and stop wherever you wanted to savour the view!”

Carl: “Ha, if only life was something I could control!”

Lindi: “It is, Carl. You just need to change your entire approach to one that I like to call ‘conscious living’.”

Carl: “This is getting weird. Are you telling me I am not conscious.”

Lindi: “Of course not, I’m just telling you that you haven’t taken full conscious control over your life yet. Like most people nowadays, you are reacting to what life throws at you rather than proactively creating life the way that you want it. Instead of thriving you are just coping.”

Carl: “That’s for sure. So what’s the secret behind this so called ‘conscious living’?”

Lindi: “It’s really very simple, yet it’s also very challenging if you are new to it. You see, you need to commit to taking full responsibility for your life and how things turn out for you.”

Carl: “That’s ridiculous! There’s not a lot about this crazy life that I can control. All I can do is go with the flow and hope that things improve.”

Lindi: “Well Carl, think back to what I said about your thought process and how that affects what you do and where you end up. Can you see that, like so many others, you’ve been led into thinking that instead of having control over your own life, it is life that ultimately controls you.”

Carl: “Sorry Lindi but I’m not sure I’m convinced.”

Lindi: “Let me put it this way. Disempowering thoughts lead to disempowering beliefs about life. Those lead to negative expectations, which result in self defeating actions and behaviours. That guarantees a poor outcome which, in turn, simply reinforces the disempowering beliefs that you hold.”

Carl: “Mmm … I see. It’s kind of like a vicious cycle.”

Lindi: “Exactly, Carl. It’s that vicious cycle that has people throwing their hands up in the air and justifying their sub optimal lives by laying blame on their individual situations and the world at large.”

Carl: “So, I suppose life coaching is a miracle cure then?”

Lindi: “It certainly offers a cure but it’s no miracle. It takes commitment and hard work on the part of the client to break out of the vicious cycle as you described it. Most people can’t do that alone as they don’t know where to start. And, even if they did, they would find it difficult to sustain the change. They need the tools, techniques and support system offered by a professional life coach.”

Carl: “So what role do life coaches play in helping to bring about the needed change?”

Lindi: “We are simply facilitators or agents of change. We help our clients come to the necessary realisations, then we help them to set their intentions. Once that is done we show them how to create an action plan and we open their eyes to the many resources they invariably have at their disposal.”

Carl: “I suppose all of this takes some time?”

Lindi: “Personal transformation does take time but not nearly as much as you may think. As a New Insights trained coach I use a tried and trusted system that can bring about truly amazing results in just six or seven months.”

Carl: “Are the changes permanent?”

Lindi: “Yes. Clients who buy into the approach and do the hard work will grow in self awareness and develop belief and value systems that will support them in following their purposes and living their passions.”

Carl: “That sounds great but surely all of life’s challenges don’t just magically evaporate.”

Lindi: “No, of course, life’s challenges remain. What changes is that clients come to view them differently – as opportunities for growth and development, rather than depressing problems or infuriating obstacles blocking their way.”

Carl: “The ‘change of mindset’ you were alluding to earlier?”

Lindi: “Yes. A change of mindset underpinned by a wonderful toolset for living a more joyful and fulfilling life.”

Carl: “Okay, well thanks Lindi, I think you’ve finally convinced sceptical old me that this is something worth investing in.”

Lindi: “I’m delighted you feel that way Carl. Welcome to an exciting new chapter in your life. Rest assured that this agent of change is right at your side and raring to accompany you on your journey!”