Life coach

We can always develop

Personal development, self-leadership and mental strength are key concepts in both private and professional life. Like most people, you might be interested in understanding yourself better and developing your full potential.

Life coaching is a broad concept that includes many different types of coaching and variants under its umbrella. What all coaching has in common, however, is a focus on the client. Coaches realise clients have the answers and solutions to their problems inside of them. The key is finding what they are, which is why coaching is invaluable.

Here we will explore the concept of Life Coaching and how you can take the next step in your personal development with the support of a coach.

What set our therapist apart was her genuine empathy and personal insight. Not only did she possess a deep understanding of neurodiversity, but she also shared personal experiences that resonated with us, creating an instant connection and fostering a sense of trust!

Benedetta Osarenk

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Create the life you’ve always wanted

Together with a life coach, you get to explore the idea of yourself. We often forget to be proud and happy with who we are and what we have achieved. We chase ultimate happiness.

But what is happiness? Perhaps it is found in another position at work. Maybe it is found in higher education, gadgets, or socialising.

When we don’t allow ourselves to stop and reflect on happiness, we keep chasing it. Further and further. The chase is continuous, especially within us. Not stopping to think about where we are going leads to a lack of clarity, which creates stress. Prolonged negative stress leads to sickness which negatively affects our life and makes the happiness we are chasing seems even more distant.

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The puzzle of life

In the midst of all this, life has to work. You have to perform at work, in your studies and in your relationships. Multitasking is a way of managing this, especially in work. However, research shows that multitasking is not as effective as we think. Quality deteriorates as it takes more time than we realise to keep several balls in the air at the same time.

We often talk about having a balance between work and private life. In balancing work and life there is a factor that is often forgotten, the self. Without balance, there is no room for what you need, to grow as a human being.

Your life coach will take you on a journey of discovering your reality and your inner self. What is it that you can’t put together in the life puzzle? How do you want life to be? Where should you start?

The balance wheel as a starting point

Many life coaches use the wheel of balance (life wheel) as an initial tool to help identify where the journey towards your full potential should begin. The wheel is divided into different parts. There are important parts that need to be reconciled, and common parts which include finances, relationships, physical well-being, personal development, physical environment, rest and relaxation, profession, and career. Our professional coaches are here to support your development.

From current state to desired state

Like all coaches, regardless of specialisation, a life coach starts by looking at your current situation. Seeing what it looks like for you in different parts of the balance wheel. What does this mean for your life at this moment?

Then they look at how you would like things to be. You imagine your dream position, what it means to you and how it affects your life and surroundings. Based on this, it becomes easier for a coach to see what to focus on and where to start getting you to where you want to be. Experience shows that making a change in one part of your life affects the others in a positive way.

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Why Lavendla?

Clarity

It is obvious that we need clarity and direction in our lives. Professor Michael Argyle, of the British Psychological Society, said that by engaging deeply with something we can also feel deep satisfaction. It’s all about becoming part of something bigger. It’s the outlet for what we are interested in and want to contribute to.

Prem Rawat, well know for his lectures on inner peace, links the concept of happiness to inner peace and awareness. These two concepts mean being clear with yourself. In other words, you know who you are and what you want. Above all, you know why, because you have chosen to work on your development. It is about having the courage to be in the moment with yourself and everything else.

Life coaching sets the direction

Choosing life coaching is about taking control of the direction of your life. It’s about finding a clear goal and working to reach it. No one is going to hand it to you on a silver platter. In addition, the coaching will make you aware of the obstacles in your way. You and your coach will work with the strengths and experience you have. You will work on your mindset – how you think – focusing on what is possible and what is not.

In life coaching – as in most other types of coaching – you work on self-esteem and self-confidence. Conversations are held about you and your experiences. You highlight what is possible for you when you reach your desired objectives. In short, it is a journey of discovery about you and your perception of yourself. What others think and feel is made to feel much less important.

Regardless of why you choose to work with a life coach, you will gain greater self-awareness. With this knowledge, it becomes possible to find answers to your questions. Questions about anything from career and relationships to who you want to be.

Our coaches help you clarify what you want and support you in taking the right steps make this journey of change. Your coach will accompany you throughout the process as you develop towards your goal, towards your full potential.

Is it time to take the step?

Are you thinking about changing your career or wanting to improve your relationships? If you feel that life hasn’t turned out the way you hoped, or you don’t know what you want, it may be time to consider taking action. Coaching can be the investment in yourself that can give you answers and help you with personal development.

Here are some numbers to help you understand the power of coaching:

• 80% of clients felt they had improved self-confidence.

• 73% of clients felt they had improved their relationships

• 72% of clients felt they had improved their ability to communicate

• 67% of clients felt they had a better work/life balance.

(Survey by the International Coaching Federation, 2017)

Examples of different types of life coaching

• Career coaching – helps individuals see their strengths and abilities in order to make decisions about their working life. Whether it’s training, changing jobs or staying put.
• Relationship coaching – focuses on specifically exploring relationships the individual has or wants – and how to find a way there. This can be refined further with couples coaching, parent coaching or individual/group coaching in a work group.
• Self-image coaching – focuses on strengthening an individual’s self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth. Through insights and exercises, an individual’s self-confidence gets strengthened.

There are a variety of niches in coaching. Our site helps you find the types of coaching which are most in demand. No matter what your situation is, coaching exists that provides tools and strategies customised for you. This will help you become more aware of your strengths and weaknesses and allow your quality of life to improve.

When should I choose life coaching?

If you feel that you don’t really know what you want – other than to change – life coaching is a great place to start. A life coach will help you identify areas where you can develop.

Life coaching teaches you to prioritise things in a different way than you did before. Changing habits is energy-intensive so it is important to learn how to deal with this through coaching. It is a collaboration that runs over an extended period of time and trains you to persevere. A coach can even help you maintain the amazing healthy life you are already living.

If inner negative thoughts are taking over and preventing you from living well, life coaching is definitely something you should consider. It gives you a chance to explore what is important to you. Identify this, and you can counteract any negative thoughts. Most importantly, you become aware of how incredibly powerful you actually are.

Life coaching is also for those who want to be happier, more motivated, committed and free. Your life coach needs to be clear about what this means for you as your idea of happiness, for example, is not the same as anyone else’s. It might be similar, but you cannot copy someone else’s solution. You must follow your own path and do what is necessary for reachng your goal.

Can I talk about my career with a life coach?

Life coaching can also be effective for those who are questioning their career. It doesn’t matter whether you are already in a job or not. The question is what you want to do, sometimes that can be difficult to know. Therefore, you will guided to explore your strengths and needs.

Working in a job that makes a lot of money, but where you still feel unhappy, can be a good indication that changes needs to be made. A life coach can help you see what’s wrong and if financial success is what really drives you.

Many people also choose to work with a life coach when they are thinking about changing jobs or starting their own business.

The benefits of professional help

Taking the first step to talk to a professional coach can result in a huge difference in your life. It can help you see your problems or challenges from a new angle, and give practical solutions you might not have thought of on your own.

Many people think that coaching is only for those with problems and mental health issues but this is far from the truth. Coaching can be extremely beneficial even for people who are simply looking for support or guidance in life.

If you’re ready, we are too

When you feel it’s time to invest in your personal development, we have qualified coaches who can help you on your journey. Because coaching is confidential, you can feel confident that you will have the safe space to develop on your own terms. Our core principle is to make the difficult easier for you.

How to get help with your personal development

Pursuing your full potential is a journey that requires commitment, work and mental focus. Therefore, we have developed a step-by-step guide that includes elements of mental training and coaching to help you start your journey.

• Step 1: Self-reflection
  Purpose: Understand your strengths, weaknesses, and goals.
  Action plan: Use tools like SWOT analysis or journaling to identify your core values and ambitions. Map out what you contain and why you have become who you are.
• Step 2: Goal setting
  Purpose: Set clear and measurable goals.
  Action plan: Use S.M.A.R.T. criteria or other mapping to define your goals.
• Step 3: Scheduling
  Purpose: To create a realistic and achievable plan.
  Action plan: Use calendars and planning tools to prioritise time to work on your goals. Get other exercises that can focus more on emotions and body depending on what you need to practice more.
• Step 4: Mental or Emotional Training
  Purpose: Improve your mental and emotional state and focus.
  Action plan: Use techniques such as meditation, mindfulness, and visualisation.
• Step 5:Coaching/Therapy
  Objective: Gain external insight and hold yourself accountable.
  Action plan: Engage a professional coach, therapist or mentor to guide you. You will be given exercises in the therapy room to practice between sessions.
• Step 6: Monitoring and follow-up
  Objective: Make sure you are on track.
  Action plan: Regular evaluations and adjustments to your plan.
• Step 7: Feedback and adjustment
  Purpose: Understand the impact of your efforts and make necessary adjustments.
  Action plan: Ask for feedback from trusted sources and make adjustments to your plan accordingly.
• Step 8: Reward and Recognition
  Purpose: Celebrate your progress.
  Action plan: Set smaller milestones and reward yourself when you achieve them.

Is personal development for me?

Working on personal development can be challenging but extremely rewarding. Instead of struggling to manage stress or emotions on your own, you can train yourself mentally with professional help. Our platform makes it easy to get in touch with therapists, coaches or psychologists who can support you on your journey and make the difficult ones easier.

How can life coaching help my self-esteem and confidence?

Working with a life coach gives you the opportunity to find out who you really are. They will help you find strategies to ignore negative voices, your inner voices, but also those that come from others.

Exercises will give you an opportunity to practice thinking positively about yourself. ‘I am good enough’ is the first step towards a strong self-confidence. After that, it is easier to see what steps are required to become even better.

How many times should you see a life coach?

You and your coach will discuss what is best. Clear goals will be set for your collaboration. There might be an overall goal for your entire collaboration, and one for each meeting. Based on these different goals, the coach will use questions and exercises to help you. You will become aware of your strengths and the way to the goal. Between sessions, you take decided upon steps and actions required to move towards your goals.

The number of sessions depends on what you agree to. It is not the number of coaching sessions that is important but the result. Instead, think about how long and how often you should meet.

How does coaching work?

Our coaches have different styles but what they have in common is that they are there for your sake and are responsible for ensuring you gain insights in each conversation. You should be able to think, reflect and perhaps do an exercise which leads to an insight before in each conversation. Everything will be connected to the overall goal you have set for the collaboration.

Although our coaches work in different ways, the common denominator is that they:

• reach an agreement with you on the outcome of the collaboration, also on what you expect from each session.
• first and foremost support you to find your answers – your coach is not a mentor or advisor.
• invite you into the collaboration by asking questions about yourself and not about the subject matter. By becoming aware of yourself, you can influence the outcome.
• give you the space to speak, adapting conversation based on you. They are aware some people may have difficulty expressing their thoughts.
• challenge you to find the smallest possible steps you can take today – or tomorrow – to start your journey towards your goal.
• end the conversation in a way that you agree on and that allows you time to reflect on the insights gained from the conversation.
• do not take notes.
• maintain absolute confidentiality. You do not have to worry about things said in the conversation being passed on.