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While the life coaching industry might seem new to many people, coaching is an essential component for those who achieve notable success. If you look at any public figure who’s achieved astronomical success, they’ll admit there’s no way they could’ve made it without a coach. Consider some of the biggest benefits of life coaching and mentoring.
1. Accountability
When children are able to achieve good grades or win sports tournaments, it’s partially because they have people to hold them accountable. In most cases, these people are parents/guardians, teachers, and coaches. A child doesn’t become a success story on their own. Unfortunately, once a child turns 18, it’s not uncommon for them to lose their accountability in the form of parental supervision, invested teachers, and more.
It’s up to them to seek out people who can keep them accountable as they progress through college, careers, and more. You don’t necessarily need a mentor with a life coach certification, what matters most is having someone that you can rely on or trust to help you stay accountable and help you achieve your goal.
2. A Positive Voice
Before you can be really hard on a person, chances are they’ve already been extremely hard on themselves. That inner voice can be a really mean critic. When you’re in your own head, it’s easy to listen to that voice only. When you’re constantly listening to the inner critic, it’s easy to get stuck. Hiring a life coach can be empowering because they’ll serve as a voice of positivity and inspiration.
3. Vulnerability
Vulnerability is a soft skill that most don’t know how to master. It takes a lot of strength to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is essential to the process of mentorship because you’re allowing someone in to see what needs work and what’s imperfect. In a day where social media filters and images hide the imperfections, you need someone to come alongside your imperfect journey and bring out your ability to be vulnerable.
4. A Guiding Light
In most cases, life coaches and mentors have done the work. They’ve gotten to where you’re trying to go. It’s one thing to see a person on television. It’s another thing to sit down with a successful person on a consistent basis. Their mere presence is a tangible example of what’s possible for you when you put in the work. When you have that guiding light as an example, it can also shape your vision so you can see yourself in that position.
5. Community
When you’re struggling in a particular area of your life, it can get pretty frustrating. It’s especially frustrating when you see other people reaching their goals and achieving the experiences you want badly. It can become an isolating experience. A life coach can provide a sense of community. They can help you work through those tough emotions of sadness, loneliness and despair. When you’re able to get that type of help along your journey, this can empower you to move further and faster to your desired goal.
6. Another Set of Eyes
Famous motivational speaker Les Brown once said that it’s hard to see the picture when you’re in the frame. The same thinking that got you into your current mess isn’t the same thinking you’ll be able to use in order to get yourself out. You need to get the perspective of other people. However, you have to go to the right people. While well-meaning family members and friends might offer wisdom, it might not be the right fit for your life. Instead, a licensed life coach or mentor will be able to see your blind spots, recognize your pitfalls, and partner with you to work your way out of your current predicament.
Getting another set of eyes can be powerful because they’ll be able to point out your weaknesses, but they’ll also be able to see your strengths as well. When they’re able to help you identify and utilize your strengths, you’ll be able to work in your zone of genius to get incredible results.
Conclusive Thoughts
Everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Tiger Woods can point to specific people who coached them throughout their careers. If you want to live the life of your dreams, you can do it. Just know that a coach and a mentor can really help you make it happen. It might be an uncomfortable process at first, but it’s well worth the effort. When you’re able to achieve your dreams and get to a certain place in your life, you’ll be happy you put in the work to become the best version of yourself.
Author: Tracie johnson
Tracie Johnson is a New Jersey native and an alum of Penn State University. She is passionate about writing, reading, and living a healthy lifestyle. She feels happiest when around a campfire surrounded by friends, family, and her Dachshund named Rufus.
