From Amanda's very early writing (1990s to early 2000s), shared as it was originally written.
Life Coach
In the July 1994 Edition of HQ magazine I read an article by Tessa Souter on 'Life Coaches'. My immediate reaction was
excellent what a gimmick! Fancy having a life coach. Pleeease.
Then I started to think about it. Maybe in this day of fast track everything, take away everything, drive in , rush everywhere living, it's not such a bad idea to pay someone to force us to look at how we are living!
We have coaches to make us swim better, play golf better, play any sport better, learn better, be a better team, be a better manager or leader, but we don't think about coaches to help us be better parents, better lovers, better life partners, more optimistic, more loving, set (let alone achieve) our personal goals or just lead a more balanced life.
Of course, if we were more disciplined and chose to slow down our lifestyle and pay attention to different values - like less money but more life and joy - we wouldn't need a life coach. Why not use a friend you ask? - my immediate thought also.
Apparently, friends are too kind to us! And because we don't pay them they are too understanding and aware that being tough may damage our friendship. Fair enough comment.
have better bodies, to lose weight , to be to to But most of us plunge on down the path of 'more-ness'. More money, more possessions, more houses, more travel, more everything.
they like us and , forgiving and perhaps become too caught up in their own lives to worry about you. They are also s, I mutter to myself
So the more I thought about it the smarter an idea I thought it was! Personal trainers would never have had a chance if we didn't have busy people who wanted to save time with personalised programs tailored to their specific needs - and someone they couldn't talk out of meeting them so early in the morning!
Perhaps a life coach is a great idea. In the E myth Michael Gerber talks about the reason most entrepreneurs fail - because they get so caught up working IN their businesses, they forget to take tim out to wowrk ON their business. the same applies I believe in life. These days we are so bsuy rinning around IN our lives we never take breath and time out to work ON our lives. Suddenly we're sixty. And miserable. Thinking we haven't done what we wanted to by sixty.
If we had taken some time to plan our lives a little more perhaps we would have done what we wanted to do. Just setiing goals and writing htem down would help. but a life coach - someoen who will sit down with you; guide you in what you want to looka t (although you alrady know)
develop our spiritual selves, our emotional selves, to , except simple pleasures and love, We get so busy earning money, we need to pay someone to show us to slow down, live and love better.If self discipline isn't your thing, pach is a great idea. In his book, The E Me out to work ON their business.
T,e. These days we are so busy ru, lives a little more perhaps we cwhat we wanted to do. Just setting goals and writing them and reviewing them each six months is a fabulous start down would help us achieve what we want.
But a life coach - someone and discipline (read 'force'!) you to review where you are, where you want to go and what you need to get theree; and then monitor your progress; follow you up; spur you on or prod you when necessary - may really help you progress. Not just financially - but progress back to what's important for you to die and feel you had a rich, satisfying, rewarding life where you lived, loved , raised happy children and made a worthwhile contribution.
Funnily, enough, never having heard of the concept before, someone was advertising as a life coach in a local paper last week! If you were to consider employing a life coach, what personal and professional goals would you like to work on? Even if you weren't going to hire one, but made your 'inner self' your life coach, this is a useful exercise.
What changes would you make in your family life? In the creative or artistic areas in your life? Your spiritual life? Your work life? The financial arena? The balance between work and home? You as a parent, lover, partner? Time for yourself? Time for friends? Interests other than work - your intellectual self, or hobbies? Your health, fitness and nutrition? Your pessimism, optimism, attitude to life? The amount of fun and laughter in your life? Your inner peace? your ability to tune into your inner wisdom and intuition? What areas have I missed for you? You will know what your own primary needs are.
How often would you meet with this life coach to review your progress and needs? If your inner self is your life coach, make time to meet with yourself with the same frequency! Let nothing interfere with it!
If you have enough self discipline and time, be your own life coach. If you have enough money, but less time and discipline, hire one! You'll be amazed at the changes you can make, once you start planning and working on your life - not just running around like a chook without a head on , in your life!
