A fresh start, a time to recommit and throw yourself back into life, or a dreary slide towards winter? How do you see this time of year? Long into adulthood, autumn still has that “back to school” feeling – for good or ill! Summer’s still seen as carefree time in the sun, while autumn is more about getting on with things. January is traditionally the month for New Year resolutions, but I think autumn too can inspire resolutions and change.
Imagine this as cutting back the summer’s growth in the garden, digging over and clearing the ground so you can sow and plant. Wellbeing too can benefit from change, even small changes and new stimulus. Art, craft, entertainment, music or sport can all open up fresh stimulus within the everyday, and as an arts for wellbeing practitioner, I see and know how being creative using visual arts lifts mood and enriches life. But sometimes I hear from people who want or need to explore how they feel more directly, and open a door to holistic change. That’s what brought me to life coaching.
Life coaching has grown and grown over recent years, with many different niches – there’s confidence coaching, wellness coaching, sober coaching and personal coaching to name but a few. The focus throughout is encouraging and supporting the person (or client) to think about how they live, to question and reflect and explore, and to set goals that can help move things forward. It’s an empowering approach for the individual: rather than being told or led, they have the space and time to think for themselves and carve out a way ahead, with the guidance of a life coach.
Within day to day living, there’s rarely time to reflect on what matters most to you (your core values) or what really stops you doing things or changing things. It’s usually sidelined and overshadowed by simply getting by. Let alone going on to consider how your values might help you with positive change and fulfilment, or how you might lessen the hold negative thoughts have over you.
“Outcomes” and “goals” can feel vague, dreamy, unlikely, fantastical. Life coaching aims to change that, to set honest and practicable goals that give purpose but don’t overwhelm.
I’m someone who enjoys planning. I’m always writing “to-do” lists, for the day, the week, the month ahead. Sometimes I spend longer writing the lists than getting on with the tasks on them! But they help clear my mind, set out what I need to do and break down those tasks into tangible steps. That’s a little like setting goals in life coaching. Time management itself can be a limiting issue, if you feel you don’t have time to make changes. By setting small and gradual goals, change becomes more manageable. I compare this with art for wellbeing. There’s no need to spend ages on creativity. Even a quarter of an hour can be worthwhile, doing a quick drawing or colouring a pattern, opening up a creative refuge within a busy day. You’re more likely to stick at anything if it fits into your life, and if you struggle to concentrate then shorter bursts of activity are also more practical. Life coaching too can set those short tangible goals that fit into the time or (head) space you have.
If you are a woman interested to consider how life coaching might help, have a look at https://medley.live/life-coaching and think how this autumn could clear new ground for you.