To live at this time is an inestimable privilege,
and a sacred obligation devolves upon you
to make right use of your opportunities.
Grenville Kleiser
With your very existence comes purpose. There will always be that one thing that you yearn for. You begin to feel that it is the only thing that is missing from your life. Sadly, many people stay at this level of existing, barely thriving and never really get around to living the lives they want. The problem is often that they cannot find their purpose.
You may even begin to believe that finding your unique purpose in life is an impossible mission. If that’s where you find yourself today, you need to think twice about settling. There are ways to find what you are looking for if you learn to look in the right places. It is not always easy to finding your purpose. Sometimes you need an outside voice, like a mentor or coach to help you.
Defining Roles
In this kind of coaching , you will be able to sort out your life and seek out your purpose. Of course, it won’t be your coach who will find it, but you. You are the only person capable of doing it, but sometimes you need someone to help guide you through the process to get a clearer picture or lend a different perspective to things.
No Arrows To Lead You
Sometimes you may feel that you are lost and wandering down so many rabbit holes or rabbit trails, depending on where you grew up. You find that you are doing daily tasks and activities just out of routine. There’s a big intersection ahead of you and you don’t know which direction to take or pursue. In situations like these, your coach can help by being your guide or co-pilot. She can talk out the different routes that you can take, the pros and cons of each path and your means of going through that path.
When Everything Gets Stuck
In those rare moments that you feel you are stuck with your life, or when all pieces seem to be in place for a feeling of success, yet there is no feeling of contentment or fulfillment you need help. When you have reached the end of your road and begin to think that there are no more steps to be taken, your coach will be the one to show you that little extra step you need in finding what you are looking for, and feeling satisfaction.
Being Who You Really Are
Purpose is not dictated by the things that you do. But, sadly, a lot of people lose themselves on the way to getting what they think they want. Factors such as family, peer pressure, social, academic and even media influences us and can make it difficult for you to connect with the joy of living.
Here, with your coach, you get to honestly appraise your life and see what factors may be overshadowing the purpose in you. In the process you get to know yourself even better. You see yourself in a new light by learning to clearly articulate your beliefs, joys, sadness and what matters most to you. It can be a scary process in the beginning. But by the end, it should prove to be an enlightening experience, like no other. You will be able to see what matters most.
You give yourself an opportunity to set your real goals and aspirations. In a gradual process led by your coach, you can achieve them in much less time than trying to do it on your own. Your inner dreams and real desires in life can be revealed, leading you to that long sought-after sense of contentment. A new lay out of your life will take shape, and this would bring you back the joy in living. That excitement that you feel you have lost will be rekindled once again. And, you can get back on that road to living like the way you have always felt you were supposed to!
These are some of the high points of being coached. If you’re feeling stuck, consider treating your life to the coaching experience.
Thoughts?
photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drewleavy/4638947724/sizes/z/in/photostream/
Martina – if you’re “stuck,” as you say – what is the difference between a “Coach” and a therapist and why would a coach be preferable? Is the answer simply that you’re thinking “stuck” strictly in career terms? I suppose that is the answer.
Why then are people so reluctant to seek help? Yipes, I get so much from others. And, I believer – and I’ve taught this to my boys – that asking questions and/or seeking help is NOT a sign of weakness, but actually one of strength!
Good questions Bruce. I think the difference in getting a therapist and a coach is why you “think” you are stuck, and what you want to focus on. I envision coaches help us with specific life issues. Getting a better job, starting your own business, writing a book, learning to present better. Relationships with a therapist tend to be more protracted and prolonged, and deal with life- depression, anxiety, making peace with your family. Yes, there can be some overlap depending on the coach and the client.
Excellent that you have spent time teaching your boys that asking questions is never a sign of weakness, but requires an inner strength and security that not everyone possesses.
Thanks.
But where do you start in finding the coach?
Thanks for the question, “DoD”. I guess I will have to do a follow-up post.
I’ve had three coaches and find that it is important to get the right coach. Some have their own focus or specialty. The best ones for me were supportive and encouraging and somehow got me to come up with my own answers rather than telling me what I “should” do. I look forward to your follow-up post.
Thanks Susan. Yes, as with any other advisors in our lives, it is important to seek out someone who is focused on your challenges, and who can support you in ways that nurture your development or maturation.
I completely agree with you. The coach’s job is not to tell you exactly what to do next, although that may be needed at times. Their job, much like the psychologist or psychiatrist, is to help you unveil the next step and facilitate a plan of your design and manageability to get there.
Thanks Susan