Life coach

We can always develop

Today, personal development, self-leadership and mental strength — mindset — are key concepts in both your private and professional life. You, like most people, are interested in understanding yourself better to develop your full potential.

Life coaching is a broad concept and many different types of coaching can either be placed under its umbrella or be independent coaching variants. What all coaching has in common, however, is that the focus is on the client. The coach also has the attitude that the client has their own answers and solutions. The hard part is finding them, which is why coaching is invaluable.

In this article, we will explore the concept of Life Coaching and how you can take the next step to continue 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 explore your idea of yourself. We often forget to be proud and happy with who we are and what we have achieved. We chase the great happiness.

But what is happiness? Perhaps it is found in a promotion at work, maybe it is through getting more education opportunities, or having a vibrant social life.

When we don’t allow ourselves to stop and reflect on what we truly want, time can pass us by. Not stopping to think about where we are going is unsustainable. It leads to a lack of clarity, which for us humans creates stress. Stress — prolonged negative stress — leads to sick leave and disimproved personal circumstances. Over a third of all adults in Ireland (36%) say that they regularly suffer from stress, higher than the global average of 31%. This in turn changes the life situation and the happiness we are chasing seems even more distant.

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The puzzle of life

In the midst of all this, life goes on. You have to perform at work, in your studies and in your relationships. Multitasking becomes an opportunity to manage this, especially in studies and at work. However, research shows that multitasking is not as effective as we think. Our life quality deteriorates and it also takes more time than we think 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/study and life there is a factor that is often forgotten — you. When you try to do too much at once, it’s much more likely that you will drop the ball and start making mistakes.

With your life coach, you go on a journey of discovery in your own reality and in 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 in life coaching

Many life coaches use the wheel of balance (life wheel) as a first tool to help you identify where the journey towards your full potential should begin. The wheel is divided into different pieces. Either there are important parts that you put into words and want to reconcile – or you use the common parts (finances, relationships, physical well-being, close relationship, personal development, physical environment, rest and relaxation, profession and career). Our professional coaches meet you where you are to support your development.

From current state to desired state

Like all coaches, regardless of specialisation, a life coach starts from your current situation. Together you explore where you are in different parts of the balance wheel right now.

The next step is to you look at how you would like it to be. You can also think about when you are in the desired position – what it means for you and how it affects you, your life but also your surroundings. Based on this, it becomes easier to see where to focus and thus where to start to get to where you want to be. Experience shows that a change in one part of your life also affects the others in a positive way.

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Why Lavendla?

Clarity

It is becoming increasingly clear 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 — an ambassador for peace through his lectures on inner peace — links the concept of happiness with inner peace and awareness. These two concepts mean being clear to 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 seeing a clear goal and working to reach that goal yourself. No one is going to hand it to you on a silver platter. In addition, the coaching will also make you aware of the obstacles that are in your way. You and your life coach will see what strengths and experiences you already have that can help you overcome them. You will work on your mindset – how you think, about what is possible and what is not.

In life coaching, as in most other types of coaching, you work on your self-esteem and self-confidence. This is hard to avoid. The conversations are about you and your experiences. Furthermore, you highlight what will be possible for you when you reach your desired destination. In short, it is a journey of discovery about you and your perception of yourself. In the process, you get to see your possibilities. In doing so, it becomes less important what others think and feel.

No matter why you choose to work with a life coach, you will gain greater self-awareness. Based on this knowledge, it will be possible to start looking for answers to your questions. Questions that can be 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 steps you need to take in your journey of change. The coach you choose will accompany you throughout your process as you develop towards your goal, towards your full potential.

Is it time to take the step?

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

Perhaps some numbers can 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 the relationships the individual has and wants – and how to find their way there. It can be further specialized in couple coaching, parent coaching or individual/group coaching in a work group.
• Self-image coaching – focuses on strengthening the individual’s self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth. With insights and work on this, the individual’s self-confidence is also strengthened.

There are a variety of niches in coaching and on our site you can find information about several of the most commonly requested coaching types that our coaches offer. No matter what your situation is, the coaching you choose offers different tools and strategies that are customized for you. This will help you become more aware of your strengths and weaknesses and thus improve your quality of life.

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 good place to start. The life coach will help you identify what areas you can develop. You do this, for example, by using the balance wheel.

Through life coaching, you also learn to prioritize in a different way than you did before. Changing habits is energy-intensive. Therefore, it is important to learn how to deal with this through coaching. It is a collaboration that runs over a longer period of time and you train yourself to hold on and persevere. A life or health coach, for example, can help you continue the healthy life you’ve decided to live.

If your inner negative thoughts are taking over and preventing you from doing what you want, life coaching is also something you should consider. You explore what is important to you. By identifying this, you can also counteract the negative thoughts. Most importantly, you become aware of how incredibly competent you actually are.

Life coaching is also for those who want to be happier, feel more motivated, more committed and feel free. Be prepared, however, that you and your life coach need to be clear about what this means for you. Your idea of happiness, for example, is not the same as anyone else’s. They may be similar, but that doesn’t mean you can copy someone else’s solution. You need to go your own way. Do what you need to do to reach your goal.

Can I talk about my career with a life coach?

Life coaching can be just as good for those who are wondering about their career. It doesn’t matter whether you have a job or not. The only question is what you want to do. Sometimes it can be difficult to know. Therefore, together with your life coach, you will explore your strengths and what is important to you.

Working in something that makes a lot of money, but where you still feel unhappy, can be a good indication that a change needs to be made. A life coach can help you see what’s wrong, or help you to see if making money is your priority.

Many people also choose to work with a life coach when they have concerns about their employment or starting their own business.

The benefits of professional help

Taking the step to talk to a professional coach can make a huge difference in your life. As it can help you see your problems or challenges from a new angle, it can also offer practical solutions that 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

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 can develop on your own terms. Our core principle is to make the difficult easier for you.

How to get help with your personal development step by step

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
  Pur pose: To create a realistic and achievable plan.
  Action plan: Use calendars and planning tools to prioritize 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 visualization.
• 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. On our platform, you can easily get in touch with therapists, coaches or psychologists who can support you on your journey and make the difficult ones challenging.

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

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

In many exercises, you will also have the opportunity to practice thinking well of yourself. I am good enough – is the first step towards a strong self-confidence. After that, it is easier to see what steps you need and can take to become even better. Feel even better.

How many times should you see a life coach?

You and your coach explore what your needs are. Then you set clear goals for your collaboration. On the one hand, you should have a goal for your entire collaboration, but later also for each meeting. Based on these different goals, the coach uses questions and exercises that will help you. Through this, you become aware of your strengths and find your way to the goal. Between your meetings, you take the steps and do what you have decided you need to do to move forward.

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 when they coach, the common thing is that they are there for your sake and are responsible for ensuring that you get somewhere in the conversation together. This means that you should have been able to think, reflect and perhaps do an exercise and hopefully come to some insight and learn something about yourself before the conversation is over. Of course, everything should 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 whole partnership, but also on what you want from each session.
• first and foremost support you to find your answers – your coach is not a mentor or advisor.
• invites you into the collaboration by asking questions that are about you and not about the subject matter – It is by becoming aware of yourself that you will also be able to influence the outcome, i.e. the subject of the coaching.
• gives you most of the space to speak (our coaches adapt the opportunity for communication based on you – they know that some people may have difficulty expressing thoughts in words).
• 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 gives you time to reflect on the insights you take away from the conversation.
• do not take notes.
• maintain confidentiality – you do not have to worry that what is said in the conversation will be passed on.