What is Life Coaching and How did it Begin?

Mentors, teachers, advisors, and other professional helpers have been coaching people for decades, but they did not call themselves coaches. It was not until the early 1980s that the field began to formally organize itself. Today, coaching is a highly recognized and respected occupation. The primary aim of life coaching is to help clients determine and achieve personal goals.

What is the Benefit in Life Coaching?

At different times in life, everyone needs a sounding board. Life coaching, in the form of an outsider’s objective perspective, can be the best source for advice, support, and feedback. Life coaches use various methods and strategies to help clients with the process of setting and reaching goals. They may apply values assessment, behavior modification, behavior modeling, and mentoring—whatever it takes to help a client move from being stuck to being empowered

Why do People Become Stuck in the First Place?

One of the factors that contributes to becoming stuck and overwhelmed is fear of the unknown. You may ask yourself:

• What will come next if I move forward in life?
• What will happen if I take a risk?
• If I set goals, how will I manage achieving those goals?
• What if I fail?

While success is never guaranteed, looking at life as a seamless stream of opportunities instead of problems is the standpoint from which coaching begins.

Many people fear the unknown to a point of paralysis. They hold fearful thought patterns that cause immobilization and they fear moving forward. Life coaching can assist them in seeing their life situation from a different perspective. It may not be an easy task for them to break free from their fixed mindset or to make a 180-degree turn to see life from a very different angle. However, even one degree in a new direction is enough to open a new path to discovery. [Read more...]