Life coaching is about change but change is something we fear. We fear it because it’s different but at the same time different and scary can be exciting and how often do people use the phrases “Same Old”. Change is not easy and effective change does not necessarily come cheap. The first question I would ask of you then is are you ready to invest your hard earned cash in your life? After all it is the most precious thing you will ever have and it is the one thing that will stay with you all the time.

I really understand this because it took me so long to leave my “safe” job with its “safe” pension and “safe” salary. It was a good job and it had status. But in the end it wasn’t safe for me .. it impacted on my health. I took the huge decision to leave. This quote says it all I think: “And then the day came when the risk to remain tight as a bud was more painful than the risk to bloom” (Anais Nin).

Because that’s what it’s about, remaining tight and restricted in the same old way or allowing ourselves to flourish in some new and exciting way. But not everyone is ready for change. In 1994 James Prochaska write “Changing for good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward”. These are the stages in relation to change and seeking help from a life coach:-

• Pre-contemplation: Thinking about change but not ready to take action yet. Pondering on whether this is the right job for you, the right relationship or just knowing that life doesn’t feel right. Change can be even harder if your confidence has taken a bashing through having a family, going through divorce or redundancy or experiencing an illness such as postnatal depression but it’s not gone forever and you can get it back if you want to
• Contemplation: Definitely wanting to make change, is ready but has not taken any steps yet
• Preparation: Identifies a life coach, has had a free consultation, knows this is the right direction and has made the first appointment
• Action: Is working with a life coach and making changes
• Maintenance: Has made changes in behaviour for 6 months or more. Working with a life coach will help that behaviour become more entrenched.
• Termination: This applies to behaviour change such as giving up smoking when you feel confident that you will never light up again. I’m not sure that as far as your life is concerned the journey and the learning ever ends. But at this point you may touch base with your life coach less often.

And, in case you’re wondering, yes, I work with a life coach.

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