Life coaching is quite common in some sectors, particularly elite sports and corporate Australia.
I am sure their use is prevalent in lots of other areas as well. A good mate of mine and I, both in our mid 50s, have the same life coach.
Interchangeable terms could be used - mentor, trainer, confidant etc.
In my case it started out as business coaching, but quickly morphed into much more, and could be best described as life coaching as the process evolved.
I can honestly say Steph has had an enormous impact on my life, and the other people she coaches have had the same experience.
In farming, some coaching is formalised and in other instances it's more ad hoc. There is a lot of what I would call mentoring in farming.
The majority of experienced farmers are happy to share their knowledge. The good farmers are pretty easy to identify. A drive past the property is the first clue, as well as reputation.
What someone wants from using a life coach will differ from person to person. Some people may want specific help with an aspect of their life or just general guidance.
With all affairs of the mind, once the surface is scratched, the core issue will probably be clear. Prior to this, whatever is going on for that person is most likely buried somewhere in the subconscious.
Sometimes progress can seem glacier like, with momentum building across time. It all depends on one's expectations, and the willingness to open up and be vulnerable.
It can be very challenging to bear your soul - as it were - to someone else. I suspect most people have some sort of shield up publicly, as the societal expectation is we should have our lives sorted.
I think most of us know intuitively that's not the case with most people.
As the saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved. This rings true, but I think it's also important to have someone who will give you the hard truth about certain situations, no matter how uncomfortable that is for both parties.
Recognising personal deficiencies and making a conscious effort to work on them, will pay big dividends in the long-run.
Depending on what is discussed with a life coach, and what achievements are wanted, the journey can be quite rocky with ups and downs along the way. I think it's sometimes best to metaphorically jump off the cliff and see where it goes, no matter how difficult it gets.
The biggest challenge is recognising some assistance is actually needed. The next largest impediment is how best to get started. Word of mouth is always a good starting point. I identified the right person for me via two friends of mine that I trust implicitly.
As they say, life is a journey and there will inevitably be trials and tribulations along the way. As with most good things in life, the road is rarely straightforward but the rewards are worth it.
It will pay to take the road less travelled.
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