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For some people, their issue may not be causing them particular pain or distress. It may be more the case that they feel there's a big gap between where they are in life and where they want to be. Life coaching can help people to make choices and take appropriate action so that they find lasting fulfilment in their lives.
I have to admit that I fell into life coaching in a totally unplanned way. This happened when a friend of one of my clients asked me to help him "sort out" his life. It transpired that the man (I will call him John ) was stuck in a job he said he got into "by accident" and then found himself on the treadmill. John was feeling trapped and unfulfilled in his life and he was panicking that if he could not find a way to promote change, he would end his working life (at least) always wondering what might have been.
Life coaching helped John to see that where he was then was the result of past choices and decisions he had made and his future life would be the consequence of his present choices. He was able to see that he had not explored all of the possibilities when making his past choices. Rather, he had chosen the least scary. Through our work together, John decided that, rather than retaining the status quo, he would make choices which would give him a more desirable life than the one he was rooted in. Interestingly, he found that by beginning to communicate more effectively with himself, he developed the ability to communicate more effectively with others too.
There were implications for John's family in his decision making and he was worried that they would not support him.To make choices that were right for him, would lead to a radical down-shift in the family's lifestyle.The outcome was that John left his job and he and his wife sold their expensive home and bought another one in an area where property is cheaper .This enabled John and his wife to buy a small business which they run together.This makes them both happier - John,because it is what he always wanted to do and his wife, because she gets to spend more time with him.Their two teenage children were initially quite shocked because they were comfortable with the lifestyle they had become accustomed to and did not want to change anything. However, John believed they were resilient and, as young adults,would soon learn to stand on their own two feet. He also knew that his children loved him and would want him to be happy. Apparently, they were always complaining that John did not have time for them so he knew they would enjoy seeing more of him. He also assured them that, although he would have less money, he would still help his son through university and his daughter through art college - although he would expect them both to try and get little jobs to help themselves.
Since I undertook this original piece of work, I have undergone training on life-coaching (although it really is only another kind of counselling)and it has become a regular feature of my work.
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