I am a processor. In other words, I process information and life situations to imagine possible conclusions, reasons, reactions, purposes, “what if” scenarios, thoughts, feelings, and more.
I like to believe it is simply part of my curious nature to want to know more about the human nature of people and what makes us tick. This is why I like being a life coach.
Being a life coach is about helping others think through the aspects of their life and work. Our brains hold a lot of information, which tends to get tangled up in conflicting thoughts, values, questions, and concerns until it all looks like a bundle of Christmas lights you’d rather toss out than have to try and untangle.
We can’t always toss out the questions and concerns of our lives. Sometimes we need another person to help us make sense of things. When faced with critical choices in life, how do you know where to begin to reach a satisfying conclusion?
Friends and family mean well in their effort to “coach” you. However, they have a stake in your lives. They are stakeholders in the choices you make. Because of this, they influence you in how they respond to the questions you are processing and that find their way out of your mouth. “Should I take that job in Alaska?” “Is he the right guy for me?” “Do I have what it will take to make that (career/family/home/etc.), change?
Most often, when these kinds of questions pop up in life, we don’t want anyone to give us an answer. We are simply processing the subject and may be interested in some dialogue, some opinions, or some feedback. Rarely though, do people find themselves glad for the opinioned, correct answer from well-meaning friends, family, or neighbors.
As a coach, my job is to get curious about your life. My questions are meant to serve you. In other words, they help you find an answer that leads to more understanding of your situation. “When you think about taking a job transfer to Alaska, what is most exciting about that? What is most frightening about it?” You get to hear your own best answers, while I listen between the words to pick up on emotions and perceptions expressed in your answers. I use my intuition to discern what else needs to be discovered about this (by you) for you to have complete confidence in any decisions you will make.
This is an example of how the process of coaching gets at how humans process their lives. By the way, I have worked with top executives across the country. I’d like the world at large to know that in our core, we are all alike. Everyone has a tangled web of thoughts of one kind or another that we must process to understand and move forward.
In the process of living your life, the next time you yearn for a listening companion to help you think through the great ideas of your mind, call me. I’ll be honored to help untangle the lights.
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