You have probably heard about life coaching. It is the hottest new profession and it seems like everyone wants to have one. Those professionals help us manage multiple areas of our lives, such as business, relationships, health and money.
They teach us how to set goals and achieve them. They help us identify any obstacles we might have and give us ways to overcome them in order to achieve our goals. Life coaches help us become better versions of ourselves and have more satisfying lives. They are holding our hand, so to speak, as we go through the difficult processes of change.
However, life coaching services are usually very expensive and most people cannot afford them. So what are we to do? You can be your own life coach! It might take some effort and dedication, but it is truly possible.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
1. Read up on personal development
You do not have to start from scratch!
There are many good books written in the field of self-development and you can probably find them in your library’s self-help section. If not, there is a vast selection online. Choose an area you would like to improve upon and dedicate yourself to it.
Most of these books come with worksheets and exercises to help you acquire new skills, so try to do them all and consistently apply them in your daily life. Track your progress and you will soon notice some positive changes. This will encourage you to continue.
2. Commit to change and get actively involved
The most important step in guiding yourself towards a better life is to make a decision to change. You need to be willing to change and to work on that change. You need to be actively involved in molding your desired circumstances.
It will not always be easy, there will be setbacks, you will have bad days, but you need to stick to your commitment to change and never give up. Once you have this attitude ingrained deep in your psyche, you are halfway there.
3. Build a support network
Think in terms of creating a cheerleading team for yourself. Inform your family and friends that you intend to create positive changes in your life and ask for their support.
You will need someone to cheer you on when the going gets tough and someone to celebrate your progress with when you achieve your goals. You can also look for groups of people who are trying to do the same thing.
Visit online forums and holistic centers in your area. Positive peer pressure is an invaluable asset. Your results will be better and appear much more quickly.
4. Acquire coaching skills
In order to be your own life coach, you should tend to acquire the knowledge and the skills that becoming a coach requires in real life. If you can afford it, you should sign up for an online coaching training yourself and learn from professionals.
If you cannot afford training, find some courses and inquire about what modules they teach, which will give you a good idea on what skills you need to learn. Most often it is a combination of cognitive psychology, sociology, communication skills, goal setting and so on.
You can then learn on your own, and find some volunteers to practice your new skills with, including yourself.
5. Get in touch with your inner self
This part is essential if you want to get anywhere in this process. There are many ways you can go about this, but the classic ones are taking up yoga and meditation and practicing mindfulness. These ancient techniques turn your focus from the outside world to your inside world.
You can also start journaling, writing down your thoughts and emotions. Journaling will help you make sense of your thinking.
It is much easier to identify blocks, fears and hidden desires when we put them down on paper. You do have to be honest with yourself though.
6. Improve your self-management
We are often like children: we know we need to do something, be we are avoid doing it because we do not actually feel like doing it. Dealing with negative aspects of our inner child like this one for example will empower us to be in command of our own lives.
Set achievable goals, and then set rewards and punishments for doing the work or avoiding the work, respectively. Apply them consistently and you will be surprised at how quickly you get into the habit of doing things.
Remember that changing old patterns, habits and circumstances can be quite challenging, but with dedication and perseverance, nothing is impossible. Set small goals that build up towards one or more big goals and acknowledge yourself for achieving each one of them. Keep going, you deserve the best life you can get, and I assure you that you can have it!
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Author: Oscar Waterworth
