Life Coaching 101

I remember when I first told people I was a Life Coach. The general response was usually "A Who? A what? What is a Life Coach?!?" Add confused facial expression. Life coaches have been around for decades but nowadays, with the help of television and even the internet, the term is more common and maybe even overused! (Life coaching is not a replacement for therapy and always make sure your coach has training with a reputable institution!)



The certification process with my particular institution was very intense. I vividly remember the first workshop that I attended. It was he@#! Ok, maybe not THAT bad, but horribly uncomfortable. I was asked to be completely vulnerable and let me tell you, people, I do not like to be vulnerable with a group of complete strangers! (Who does?) By the end of the 3rd hour I felt like I was walking around without any skin on my body. Raw. Painful. Sensitive. Suddenly, the though of becoming a life coach did not seem so appealing after all! Thankfully, I did choose to stay for the whole workshop. I learned more about myself in those 3 days than I had in years. It was a powerful start to my path to becoming a coach and I have never had even an ounce of regret.



The best part of my journey has been watching others unfold. It really is a miracle to witness. I hate to bring up the overused butterfly reference, but have you ever watched the process of metamorphosis? My son begged me to get one of those kits where you can watch the little caterpillars make a cocoon and then hatch into a butterfly. I thought it would be a good learning experience for him but really I was the one watching in fascination. No one ever mentions how this "beautiful" transformation is actually quite a mess! Personal development is quite similiar. It can get ugly, stinky, and messy but if you commit yourself to it, you really will find beauty on the other side. Sometimes the commitment to the process can be the greatest challenge of all. I remember standing in front of a workshop and telling the participants "Sometimes the Coach needs coaching!" What I meant is that, I too, am always in my process. I am always metaphorically going through the stages of metamorphoses. Aren't we all? Where are you in your journey? What do you want to change?
~Angela