Recently I met someone who said that although she was going through a very difficult transition, she did not need a coach because she has good friends that can be counted on for support. Well, it is indeed a great blessing to have supportive friends especially at a time when friendship is too often given a backseat in the fast lane of modern life and its numerous priorities. Occasionally, friends can also provide a good nudge to help us motivate ourselves into needed actions. Sometimes, people closest to us, by definition, lack the distance and detachment necessary to see the whole of who we are and could become.
You may remember the movie Miss Potter, in which the father of Beatrix – best-selling children’s books author – said to his wife “your daughter (Beatrix) is famous and you are the only one that does not know it.” This was a blatant example of the fact that caring relatives or even close friends can sometimes be blind-sighted to our greatest abilities and talents.
Undoubtedly, the bonds we share with others provide invaluable nurturing and fulfill our need for a sense of belonging and connectedness. Yet, if the bonds have become too tightly entangled we may be at risk of allowing ourselves to be overly influenced by those closest to us. This need to belong is a gravitational force which tends to generate in us a strong loyalty towards these emotional bonds. But if, acting on this loyalty goes against one’s own propensities and heart felt desires, the cost may be far too much. The cost could be to forfeit the larger and more engaging life we truly yearn for. For example, in my coaching practice, I have encountered people who made career choices based on the implicit wishes of their parents only to sadly regret it two or three decades later.
The greater perspective that a good coach embraces is necessary for that ultimate accompaniment on the inner path of one’s resplendent higher self towards a compelling vision. This ultimate resourcefulness within is being summoned in a skilful process when the coach is well attuned to that keeper of inner knowing in the client. This is the path through which a person can better tap their own passions, purpose and grasp the magnitude of their destiny. A good coach helps to light up the blind-spots that even self-aware persons have about themselves. When the vision is clear and ready to be brought into reality, in bold and confident ways, the coaching process supports the client’s accountability as he/she takes the steps forward.
As we keep striving to thrive and craft our uniquely designed best future, let us be aware of the important differences between a skilful coaching process and supportive conversations with good friends. May you cherish the friends and relatives that hold a special place in your heart. If one of them is professionally trained as a coach, you may be able to benefit from this service through him/her. Otherwise, if you find yourself challenged by a major work/life transition, reach out to a great coach, to help you lead yourself on the bridge of higher possibilities and to bring your greatest gifts in service to the world.
As an experienced and well-recommended coach, (see testimonials on the coaching page) I offer complementary consultations to help others determine if a coaching program will provide the greatest support and return on investment, at this time on their journey.
Isabelle
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