The Life Coach Benefits

One of my clients just retired after almost 5 decades of working for someone else. Her goals setting and why we started our coaching relationship was to retire and start a life coaching practice. She has done both. She is also finding the results of years of hiding her light and working in an academic environment where she only has a Masters degree and everyone else had a Ph.D. It was the perfect place and situation for her to hide.

But her spirit is calling her to rid herself of that limitation so now she has a minister who she’s been in training under who is unconsciously trying to do the same thing. She called her, met with her and made it know that she expects her to be pretty much totally available at the church and the minister’s beck and call because “now you have the time now that you are retired”.

My client realized when she woke up the next morning what had occurred and what she needed and for the FIRST TIME IN THE 17 MONTHS WE’VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER, ASKED TO HAVE HER APPT. EARLIER IN THE WEEK IF I COULD DO IT. That is such great news because it was her asking to have her needs fulfilled and not making do – as she is wont to do.

We spoke and asked her questions like: “What do you want to/really love to do at the church at this time?” pretty much over and over until she came up with her list and will get back to the minister with “what I am willing to do for you and the church” rather than “what you automatically expect me to do and I’ll make fine with me.”

Somewhere the words that probably my mother gave me seemed to want to come out to her. “We gave you your backbone today.”

I got a great little email after our call saying: “Thanks for the call – it helped tremendously.
This line was in a local advice column today:
“…people who don’t assert themselves are essentially agreeing to live life on the terms of those around them who do.”

And that about sums it up for me, as I see it. While I know this, sometimes I slip into what is easiest, and it is more comfortable to avoid confrontation, but then I don’t really get to live the life I want to live. And to use the other analogy from the piece I read you earlier, I am the one letting the fuel leak out (of my enthusiasm).”

I love coaching!