A life coach may help put you on the right path
"Do you really want to get well?" John 5-6
I decided to add life coaching to my personal and professional skills about a decade ago after I read an article in a magazine that nurses make good life coaches.
At the time I didn't know what a life coach was, but through research I discovered many aspects of life coaching that appealed to me.
Coaching is a two way process in which the coach and the client share knowledge and experience to develop and achieve agreed upon goals for the client's growth and potential.
Besides developing goals, coaches are good listeners and can be a source of new ideas. They can help clients discover and explore options. They provide input that can bring new perspectives, and occasionally a coach can bring an awareness of a community resource that is available.
Coaches can help in a variety of areas. They can help improve communication skills, assist through a life transition and process grief, and help with skills such as finances, speaking, writing, music etc.
Whereas at one time coaches only helped in sports, now coaching is used by everyone from CEOs to the average person looking for new direction to reach their full potential and live a satisfied life.
The International Coaching Federation began with a handful of potential coaches and currently has thousands of members. Local collages have developed curriculum for life coaches, and many counselors have added coaching to their approach.
Coaching appealed to me because, as a nurse, I helped patients form health-centered goals. Through goals, a coach can help you save time.
Coaching is a great service for any nurse, teacher, pastor or counselor to provide. They can specialize in one area or many, depending on their knowledge and skill base. They also can provide one-to-one or group coaching.
I once read that Christian coach stands for Christ-oriented, attitudes, conditioning health. I enjoy a faith-based model of coaching that helps with spiritual formation at the core of personal development.
I realize Jesus was the ultimate life coach. Reading the Scriptures, I see him ask all the right questions to help us examine our hearts and minds. He is more about transformation than success. However, if we are willing to transform our thinking, we will improve our self-image, discover our purpose, add meaning to our life and succeed.
Coaches are cheerleaders, bringing hope and encouragement. If you want to grow spiritually strong, physically fit, relationally enriched, mentally sharp, emotionally stable and practically wise, coaching may help you.
• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She is available to speak at your church or group, or coach you individually. She can be contacted at (847) 543-8413; P.O. Box 532 Grayslake, IL 60030; or Annetteebudzban@aol.com.