When most of us think of coaching, we usually think of sports.

While it’s true that the person on the sideline calling the plays is a coach, you don’t have to be a master athlete to benefit from having a coach to help you achieve your goals. Coaching is an area of personal development that is rapidly growing. From executive and business coaching to health and lifestyle coaching, the potential benefits are endless.

Working with a coach is a great way to work through areas of life where you feel stuck. Having someone in your corner can give you the clarity, confidence or even accountability you need to move forward.

It’s important to note that not all coaches are created equal. Choosing a coach is a personal decision based upon things like your personality and goals. While there is no formal licensing for coaches, most have some advanced training which is added to their personal knowledge and experience around certain topics. For example, a trauma-informed coach, like Calvalyn Day, has experience working with individuals who have a history of trauma, abuse, dysfunctional relationships or toxic stress. This means she recognizes the impact the prior experiences may have had on you, and she uses that knowledge and her passion to help you overcome those barriers.

Remember a coach is also NOT a therapist, but they can be a part of your mental health and wellness team. If you’ve considered working with a coach before, here are some reasons why now might be the right time.

Define your goals. Many of us have goals, but often they are loosely defined or not defined at all. A coach can help you take the hopes and dreams out of your head to create concrete goals. Instead of just wanting something, you start taking real steps towards it. If you’ve had the same goals for a long time without seeing much progress, a coach may be able to help.

Increase your self-awareness. Especially after life transitions, like divorce or changes in family structure, you may go through a period of transformation where you need to get to know yourself more. A good coach will help you become more self-aware. This self-awareness will allow you to be more honest with yourself. You will know what you are good at and what you aren't so good at doing. Self-awareness allows you to double down on your strengths while figuring out how to deal with your weaknesses.

Get out of the comfort zone. The comfort zone got its name from being comfortable. Once you are in it, you don't want to get out. A good coach will coax and challenge you to step out of it. Comfort is certainly not a bad thing, but progress rarely happens without a little discomfort.

One thing coaches are really good at is helping you to take action, so here are 3 quick ways you can take action right now.

1. Grab a pen and write down at least 3 areas of your life where you would like to make progress. Feel free to write more than 3.
2. Set a timer for 5 minutes and write down the things that have stopped you from making progress in one of these areas. Write down every question you have about making progress in one of these areas.
3. Now close your eyes and imagine what it would feel like to have someone to help you make that progress, answering those questions and solving the problems that kept you stuck. How would that feel?

If you’re ready to feel that way, reach out. Send an email to admin@thewellcounselinggroup.com or call our office at 317-471-8996 and ask for your free coaching consultation.