If you’re here, maybe you’ve just googled, “What do I want to do with my life?” or “I feel stuck and don’t know where to start” or “Why should I hire a life coach?” 

Welcome, you’ve found the right place. Life coaching has been gaining momentum over the last few years and is carving its space in the personal development world. Unlike therapists, life coaches don’t delve into psychological disorders or deep trauma, nor do we dive into the past and stay there in order to heal. However, we do work with individuals to support them in getting clear on who they are and what they want, exploring what’s been getting in the way, and moving them forward to create a life they love. You can read more about the differences between therapy and coaching here.

Today, we’ll dive into 5 reasons to hire a life coach and explain a little more of what life coaching is all about. 

1. Explore Ideas in a Safe Space

Do you ever get an idea about something and then share it with someone close to you and get discouraged or overwhelmed when their response is filled with opinions, doubts, and fears? Even though most of us have at least one person in our lives that we can talk to about anything, that person still brings their own biases and fears into it because they are (even in the smallest ways) personally involved with what you do and how you do it. 

Working with a life coach offers a safe and unbiased space to explore any and all ideas that come to your mind. This space looks different for everyone, and life coaches are open and flexible, so your coaching time can be everything that you need to feel comfortable and safe to dive into some of your wildest ideas. Your coach is on your team 100% of the time, whether that means picking one thing and working on tiny action steps towards it or having a million ideas and trying them out to see which one fits. A life coach leaves judgment, preconceived notions, and biases at the door so they can show up fully for YOU.

2. Challenge your Mindset

So much of the work that life coaches do is mindset work. Many of our clients know what they want or have an idea of the general direction, but they get stuck or feel lost as to where to start. As coaches, we believe every one of our clients is creative, resourceful, and capable to do what they set their mind to, but sometimes our minds are exactly what gets in the way. 

Life coaching is a powerful way to evaluate and challenge your thoughts and beliefs about yourself and the world around you. It helps shift your mindset into one that helps you thrive. Life coaches can support you in taking the time to slow down, digest what your mind is telling you, and work towards uncovering what it is that you need to succeed. They’re there every step of the way to then support you in shedding the old mindset and embodying the one that will help you achieve your goals. 

3. Get Unstuck through Powerful Questions

I always love hearing a client tell me, “That’s a really good question,” and then silence fills the room as they think deeply about what the answer is. That’s how I know we’re getting somewhere good. Powerful questions evoke discovery or insight and usually challenge the client’s assumptions. Sometimes, it’s the simplest of questions that evoke the biggest “a-ha” moments. Having the space to ask and reflect on things instead of assuming and going through the motions is a great tool to lean into when feeling stuck or lost. 

A life coach has an arsenal of questions that curiously and empathetically probe at assumptions and beliefs that help you unlock what’s already there. Many people believe that it’s the coaches that have the answers, but the true power of coaching is asking questions that help individuals arrive at their own answers and feel empowered in that moment to continue exploring what they discover. 

4. Have an Accountability Partner

As you probably already know, new habits are really easy to think of but not so easy to develop. Creating a new habit, undoing an unhealthy one, or trying something new takes time and commitment. It means showing up for yourself every day and working towards that end goal in big and small ways. 

With a life coach, you have an accountability partner that can not only help you in setting those smaller milestones and checkpoints, but can dive deep with you when things don’t go according to plan with zero judgment. Accountability is not just about having someone who keeps you checking the boxes, but it’s about being able to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what got in the way so you can continue to grow and move forward as you learn more about yourself.  

5. Gain Confidence through Action

Humans are thinking creatures. We like to have everything “figured out” in our heads before we feel confident enough to take action. Yes, a lot of the work you do with a life coach is about thoughts, feelings, and mindsets, but a life coach also supports you in increasing your confidence through action. They do this by taking small steps and embodying the version of yourself you’re working towards becoming. Your coach will encourage you to come up with action items every time you meet to build on the awarenesses and reflections you gain from each session. They will also be by your side as you explore and try things on, and celebrate your wins so you can gain confidence in your ability to be the person you want to be. 

In its most basic form, the purpose of life coaching is to empower you to take responsibility for your life and keep you accountable for taking a structured and disciplined approach to personal development. Our role as life coaches is to help you unlock the answers that already exist within you. We strongly believe that with deep reflection, intentional action steps, and guided retrospection, the answers start to get a little clearer through the noise of the world.