I’ve been coached (officially*) by three different people and each time it’s made a massive impact.
The first time I had two small children and I felt lost - I’d forgotten who I was, and what I liked to do. My coach helped me remember where I found joy - and showed me how to notice the amazing new things that being a mum brought to my life.
The second time was during lockdown, when I spent my days in back-to-back video calls. I knew something wasn’t right, and working with a coach helped me realise how important exercise and fresh air are to me, and that the type of work I was doing wasn’t good for me long-term.
And the third time was while I was setting up Yoco Studio. My coach gave me the tools I needed to build my confidence and take off pressure to be perfect. Without that, starting my own venture would have been so much more daunting and may never have happened.
And yet, when I started my coaching training I couldn’t understand how the process worked. It was baffling! How could talking make such a difference? Over time (and with lots of reading and practice!) I’ve noticed why and how coaching can be so powerful. Here are my top 3 reasons:
1. Thinking aloud … and being listened to
Ever felt something needs to change, but found it hard to put your finger on what? Or perhaps it seems obvious what’s wrong, but once you’ve talked it through with someone you realise it’s something completely different?
That’s because talking can help us think through issues more clearly, and spot patterns or common themes that could lead us to the answer.
One of the first things trainee coaches learn is how to listen. True listening is powerful. A coach will notice what you are (and aren’t) saying, and ask questions to help you explore ideas more deeply.
2. Living our values
Understanding what matters to us can be an eye-opener. It can explain why we feel uncomfortable in certain situations. Why a job on paper is perfect, but in reality leaves us feeling dissatisfied. Or why a relationship is tricky to navigate.
And then it can help us decide what to do about it. Whether we need a wholesale change, or whether small adjustments would make a difference.
In the chaos of life, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s important to us - and what we value can change over time. A coach will help you identify your values and decide how to start to live them.
3. Setting our own goals and direction
There have been many times I’ve decided to make a change without thinking about what I actually want to achieve. I’ve known something wasn’t quite right and decided that anything would be better than the situation I’m currently in. But making change for change’s sake can cause more problems down the line.
Setting goals helps us to focus on where we want to be, so we can work out the best way to get there. And setting our own goals means we’re much more likely to see the actions through - being told what to do or how to do it isn’t quite so powerful.
A coach will give you the tools to do this and support (and challenge!) you as you work towards them.
We all deserve to live a great life, but what great looks like changes over time and sometimes we find ourselves stuck living in a way that isn’t right for us anymore. I support women to live a happier life: through prioritising their wellbeing, doing more of what they love, and focusing on what really matters to them.
I offer yoga and coaching together, and separately. What would be a good fit for you?
*I’ve said officially here because there have been plenty of other times I’ve been in coaching conversations, or I’ve been coached through a yoga practice or a run. This post covers the three instances that really stand out to me.
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