Most people seek the services of a life coach because they have a goal that they want to achieve. Whether it is a personal or professional objective, they need help getting over obstacles, building the motivation or setting a plan in place to make progress. For other people, they need a sounding board to help them identify what it is they truly want in the first place.
Life coaches have a specific set of skills that allows people to find the clarity they need to move forward in their lives. In addition to helping people identify a goal and create a plan for getting there, they can help people create “good” goals, ones that will set them up for success.
What does a life coach do?
When it comes to reaching your goals, a life coach can be a valuable partner in helping you achieve the life of your dreams. A coach can help you get down to the root of what it is you really want. They do this by asking deep and thoughtful questions and providing you with research-based activities that will help you do the work to figure out your true desires.
Once you have clarity around what it is you want to achieve and why you want to achieve it, a life coach will help you to develop a plan to get there. Just like a baseball coach isn’t going to hit the ball for you, a life coach is not going to give you a road map to achieving your goal. A coach will work with you to develop the plan and guide you along the way. By encouraging you to take the lead, your coach is ensuring that you have the buy-in necessary to accomplish what you want.
Some of the most valuable aspects of the coach-client relationship are the resources and tools that they have at their disposal. The techniques that they have to offer are proven to help people gain clarity, direction and motivation. Using these tools, your coach will hold you accountable to what you set out to achieve. An accountability partner is one of the most effective ways to accomplish what you set out to accomplish.
What Makes a Good Goal
Simply stating that you want a new career or that you want to improve your relationship will not make it happen. Goals are most effective when they meet certain criteria. A life coach can help you develop goals that will set you up for success. When thinking about your goals, consider the following:
Make them positive.
Positivity attracts more positivity. By crafting your goals in a positive tone, you are setting the stage for a positive outcome. Instead of “I will avoid sweets and alcohol to reach my goal weight,” you can keep it positive by stating “I will feed my body nourishing and wholesome foods and drinks.”
Make them realistic.
Your goals should be challenging, achievable and motivating. While setting your sights high is a good thing, you want to create goals that are within the realm of possibility, so that you will have the best chance of actually reaching them.
Gather support.
Life coaches are not the only ones who can offer support when you are chasing a goal. Look to family and friends or even community groups to help support you in your endeavor. Let them know what you are trying to achieve and ask for help when needed.
Prepare for setbacks.
It is inevitable that you will face setbacks on your journey toward reaching a goal. Instead of letting it derail you, accept that it is part of the process. Prepare for it by practicing what you will do when you reach a roadblock and who you will reach out to for support.
Break it up.
We want our goals to be ambitious, but when goals are too big it can be hard to know where to start and easy to give up. With the help of your life coach, you can identify how you can break up your large goal into smaller steps that are more manageable. By doing this, you can realize more success and have more opportunities to celebrate your wins, both of which will increase motivation and build momentum.
Life Coaching Certification at Life Purpose Institute
Are you interested in becoming a life coach and helping people identify and achieve their goals? Contact the team at Life Purpose Institute to learn more about our life and spiritual coaching certification programs today.