We are all on a journey of self-improvement. Most people want to become better versions of themselves all-round, because that’s what we humans are wired to do: to chase better. In the past, bettering yourself meant higher chances of survival.
Today, it’s one of the best ways to achieve self-fulfilment and get ahead – have a great career, run a successful business, ditch unhealthy habits, improve physical (and mental) health, attain financial freedom, build quality relationships, grow spiritually, you name it.
Self-improvement brings with it better quality of life. It drives us closer to our goals and boosts our chances of realising our dreams.
In truth, though, it’s not always a smooth journey. It can be frustrating, it can feel lonely, sometimes pointless, and you might find yourself in a blind alley – lost and devoid of solutions.
In such instances, it might be worth on-boarding a professional life coach.
Who is a life coach?
A life coach, simply put, is a professional who helps individuals thrive in different aspects of their life – personally, financially or professionally. Also known as a personal development coach, a life coach acts as a guide to help you make the mental shift you need to overcome your obstacles or get to the next step of your life.
Personal growth is a journey that calls for deliberate effort and consistency of habits. That’s not always easy to maintain especially in the face of the inevitable obstacles that are wont to get in the way – regular life responsibilities notwithstanding.
Sometimes, even while the will is there, you could find it hard to make meaningful headway towards your goals. Or to even get started in the first place.
This is where a professional life coach could be most useful.
Important things to know before you hire a life coach
Before you go set out to hire a life coach, it’s worth knowing what to expect.
One of the most common misconceptions people have about life coaching is confusing it with therapy. Life coaches are not therapists or mental health professionals. In fact, while they may possess some professional credentials, life coaching does not require one to undertake a college degree. Ideally, however, a qualified life coach will have a coaching certification (or two).
But professional credentials should not be the only evaluating criteria.
You also want someone who has walked the journey and is not just about talk. Someone who has had to overcome setbacks and jump hurdles in their personal journey to get to where they are. Experience is the best teacher it is said. It ingrains in one lessons that cannot be gained from sitting through hours of coursework.
As such, coaches who have both the life experiences and professional credentials tend to be better placed to guide individuals in their personal development journeys. They understand first-hand what it takes to overcome adversity, mental blocks and struggles, and other forms of challenges.
Something else worth noting is that the job of a life coach is only to act as a guide. Unlike psychologists or counsellors, life coaches are not there to spoon-feed you solutions. They only serve as a bridge to help you get from your current circumstances to the life you desire. And they achieve that by helping you work through barriers or things that might be holding you back.
It’s a narrow divide, and the benefits of working with a life coach may seem to overlap with a therapist’s or psychologist’s. That’s especially considering a life coach may help you deal with some unresolved issues in your life.
However, what they cannot do is treat conditions like addiction, anxiety, mood disorders or other mental disorders.
How life coaching can help you reach your potential
Life coaching is more about personal development. It helps you better yourself as an individual, and in the process grow into the person you envision to be or achieve the things you hope to accomplish.
Life coaches are professionals who can help you get to your destination faster. Their objectivity encourages you to approach things differently. They empower you to shed habits that are no longer working for you. And they will work with you to help you reinvent yourself based on your vision.
Here are three major ways a life coach can help you transform your life:
1. Inspire a mindset shift
The mind can be the biggest stumbling block in the pursuit of your goals. And it can get in the way of your success in more ways than one, including through:
harbouring negative thoughts
overthinking
having a scarcity mindset
entrenched beliefs
or other mental barriers
One of the top benefits of working with a life coach is that they can help you identify any mental obstacles that are holding you back. No real growth can happen without a proper mindset shift, which explains why personal development is a continuous process. To get to the next step of your life, it calls for a different you; a behavioural shift.
An experienced life coach can be immensely useful in this regard. They can help you uncover thoughts, emotions and beliefs that are blocking your progress. They can steer you towards your goals or desires by helping you cultivate habits that will serve as the stepping stones to getting there.
2. Spur action
Sometimes, we seem to have the best intentions when it comes to setting goals. But making progress can be a challenge, let alone taking that first step. Whether it’s due to analysis paralysis, lack of commitment or procrastination, the journey to achieving goals can be a slippery one.
By having a professional by your side, you are not only more likely to be committed to what you set out to do, but also will have someone you are accountable to. It becomes easier to commit to your goals when working with a life coach compared to leaning on a close friend or loved one for accountability.
A social research study that focused on the impact of coaching in reducing procrastination evaluated the effectiveness between self-coaching, individual coaching and group coaching using three control groups.
They established that individuals who were subjected to individual coaching and group training were least likely to procrastinate.
People in the individual coaching group had better goal attainment and greater satisfaction, while group training knowledge encouraged knowledge acquisition. People in the self-coaching group had the most difficulty hitting their goals.
3. Lend professional support
Making meaningful change in your life takes time. It requires consistency and commitment. When things get in the way, it’s easy to fall off the wagon. In addition to acting as a guide that steers you down the path you need to be going, your coach will also be your biggest support, encouraging you along the journey.
Life coaching is a collaboration between the coach and their client. They will help you track your goals, but will not judge you when you have off days or fail to accomplish what you agree to in certain weeks or months.
Rather, a coach will offer you the support you need and help you evaluate things when you encounter pitfalls.
It’s a great way to take you closer to your goals and desires.
Conclusion
Making lasting change in life is not as easy as it looks. While it is possible to accomplish your goals by going it alone, working with a professional life coach will make the journey smoother and shorter – as the aforementioned research study demonstrates.
New habits take a while to entrench, but the behavioural change is far likely to happen when working with a professional. And not just because you’ll be committing yourself financially. There is a mental switch that happens when you know you are working with a professional to help you improve aspects of your life or circumstances.
If you are looking to enhance the quality of your life, hiring a life coach is one of the best ways to invest in yourself as far as personal development goes. The benefits will far outweigh the costs.