Learn: Why You Might Want a Life Coach

Honestly? I hate titles. Not the titles of books, but the ones we give each other, the ones we give ourselves, and the ones we long to have written under our names. Mostly, I feel this way because none of us can fully be summed up in one or two words. Also, the position a title gives us plays into a social hierarchy that seems to decide who matters and who doesn’t.

However, titles do help people understand our professions and how we can help them. In other words, they are necessary. I share all of this because this week, I officially add a title to my name that to me originally sounded a little privileged and perhaps, self-indulgent:

Life Coach

As someone who grew up in New England, where we’re raised to “pick yourself up by your own bootstraps,” the idea of having a life coach felt a little weak. Almost like,

“Can’t you do life on your own?”

Until I realized that the role of Life Coach is an ancient one. Though its name is relatively new, society thrives most when our younger leaders, artisans, and laborers have people to come alongside and guide them. Over the years these people have been known as mentors, rabbis, teachers, and masters of their craft. And their “clients,” have been known as students, apprentices, and disciples.

In other words, it is practically in our DNA to be and/or need guides in life. Only, the landscape of our society has changed. Though recent events have made the disparity between classes that much greater, technology has leveled the playing field when it comes to opportunity. Industries that used to be dominated by a few, can now be infiltrated by a savvy twenty-something with a laptop.

The world looks very different then it did for our parents. The options of who and what we can become are endless. Yet so many of us still find ourselves stuck in what is expected of us, the career we thought we’d love when we were sixteen, or simply, fear. Others of us keep hitting up against obstacles, we can’t seem to overcome. We need something to change—better yet, we need a guide.

We need a life coach. We need someone who will:

Help us look at our life with new eyes.

Remind us of what we’re good at and what we’ve accomplished.

Enable us to see how our talents and experiences can point us to what we really want to do.

Or,

Help us name what we want to change about our lives (our health, hobbies, dreams, etc.).

Create steps to make those things happen.

Strategically implement those steps into our everyday schedules.

Give us accountability to ensure change occurs.

And, gain traction in life in ways we can’t achieve on our own.

Though so many of us were raised to think life is a solitary sport, it isn’t. We don’t have to do it on our own. Better yet, we can go so much further with a trustworthy guide who is out for our best.

Ironically, though at first the title of Life Coach didn’t sit right with me, at some point I looked around and realized that is exactly what I had been doing for years as a mentor and youth pastor. Now, I am offering my unique skills, paired with materials I have created from my experiences of helping countless people determine their life’s direction, and make lasting change.

If you are in a season in your life where you could use some direction or help in creating sustainable change, check out my coaching modules. Better yet, sign up for a free session with me, to find out if Life Coaching is your next best step.