Life Coaching: Do You Need It?

 

 

Have you seen sponsored advertisements on Facebook about life gurus, mentors, and influencers who are selling their services to be your life coach? It might seem like a simple concept, but it may be vague to some. A life coach is a person who aims to help people meet their set goals whether it is their personal or business lives through guidance much similar to a sports coach although the methods utilized by life coaches will vary greatly.

The concept of a life coach might not be a popular choice for them in the past. Naturally, people turn to family, friends, mentors, and teachers for help and guidance. Life coaching is similar, but it is just a professional extension of that kind of support. Life coaching is also a form of counseling which involves a series of individual sessions which are done through the telephone, email or face to face to help people solve their problems and achieve their ambitions. The coach draws influence from different disciplines such as sociology, psychology and various counseling and therapies.

The primary goal of life coaching is to help individuals break their negative belief patterns, disruptive behaviors and specific goal setting in reaching for what they want from life. Most coaches are trained as a generalist, but many also specialize in particular areas like finances, creativity, personal growth, work-life balance, stress, careers, business and many others.

Nowadays, people are more receptive to the idea of getting a coach which a sign that it is in fact useful. Anybody can hire a coach to better themselves, but there are telltale signs that having a coach is the right option for you.

“The biggest difference between coaching and therapy, in my view, is that the theory that guides my work as a therapist can explain how coaching does or does not work, while theories that guide coaches can’t do the same about therapy. This difference, while true, seems inconsequential to me. What matters is that people get help in their efforts to grow, master their problems and become more effective in their lives,” says clinical psychologist Michael Bader.

You don’t have a clear vision, or your view is overwhelming.

 

 

People might want a lot of things in life that it can get complicated and chaotic in process. Others have a general view of how they want their lives but don’t have a clue on the specifics in attaining those goals. “You can see the problem without feeling overwhelmed with anxiety or sadness even though the problem is still there. In that way, therapy can help you re-contextualize the problem you’re dealing with in order to make a strategy to help you move forward,” according to Dr. David Spiegel, one of the nation’s most respected experts in the clinical uses of hypnosis. His statement refers to coaching.

Your patterns are not in conjunction with your goals.

You now have the vision, and the ways to achieve those goals are already in place. Another hurdle to conquer is self-sabotage or commit adverse decision associated with your bad habits. It shows lack of sincere commitment to making your dreams into a reality. A good coach will help you clear these roadblocks and reach levels of personal responsibility and growth you have never accessed before.

You’re easily irritable.

Are you impulsive and gets angry quickly about small things? Are you usually in the state of reaction? Do you sometimes wonder why you fight so hard? These personal issues are best explored together with a coach to resolve deep-seated conflicts within yourself or your past.

 

You are currently undergoing a massive transition.

 

 

You are planning to make a massive career shift or facing a life transition, and you wouldn’t want to continually burden your family and friends for advice, recommendations, and suggestions on various options. A life coach helps you deal with the stress, anxiety, and uncertainty of transition.

 

You are craving for a purpose.

You have gained success in your chosen field but still feel unfilled. Maybe, a life coach is the one to help sort things out. Certified life and executive coach Stefanie Ziev explains about coaching – “This really works for people who are seeking more meaning in their lives, personally and professionally. It clarifies your purpose… particularly when you’re feeling depleted in life.”