If you’ve been a life coach for any length of time, you have no doubt found that clients often say one thing and do another.  Say you give them an assignment based on THEIR stated goal of putting together an action plan for a small business. They say they want to succeed in business and need to put together a list of ten priorities to accomplish over the next three months. This was the stated goal of one of my clients years ago, so I gave him that assignment, merely as an accountability exercise.  Simple, right?  We’re talking list here . . . not the actual doing of the list. Two... (Read More ...)

Life may be a puzzle, but death is truly unknown. People tend to fear the unknown, so it’s no wonder that most of us are anxious about this final moment and whatever may come after it. Two friends of mine have had to face mortality this month due to cancer. I am incredibly amazed at how well they are facing it. They are with the experience and moving through it as gracefully as they can. It is heartbreaking to hear this kind of news and be unable to change the facts, but they are facts. If we avoid the biological truth that our physical bodies can get sick and will eventually stop functioning,... (Read More ...)

Quick. Do you know what to say? As a Life Coach, you are part of a unique breed. Rather than compete in a dog-eat-dog world for power and riches, you have a real desire to see others succeed . . . and in so doing, know that you will win as well. While your intentions may be wonderful, however, if you can’t communicate them to others, they won’t buy what you’re selling! Below are 41 things you can tell those who want to know the benefits of a Life Coach, and how life coaching can help them. Simply say, as appropriate, “I can . . . .” 1. Be a powerful sounding board. 2.... (Read More ...)

Anger is an issue to which many people seek help. It is also a subject that may come up in your life coaching clients. Fortunately, there are many ways to cool or redirect anger, and I’ll discuss a few of the better ones in this article. The first step to resolving anger is to understand it. Anger is an evolutionary response to a threat. Adrenaline production increases and fight-or-flight reactions set in which, although these will negatively affect your short-term health over time, they also help you survive in a hostile world. In the past, when a fight-or-flight reaction happened to... (Read More ...)

Are you completely focused on this page or are you bouncing between multiple tabs, eating a sandwich or thinking about other things you should be doing right now? I invite you to stop what you’re doing and focus only on one thing: this moment. These words. Let everything else fall away. Just for a couple minutes. Be here now. Aaaahhhh… Are thoughts passing through? Sore spots in the body? Perhaps you’re twisted into an uncomfortable, tight position over your keyboard. If so, I invite you to relax into an easy, upright position. If you’ve been following along, then you are... (Read More ...)

Are Ancestors important for Life Coaching? Judging by the number of ancestor-related websites being promoted lately, there appears to be a growing interest in checking out your family roots. Ancestry.com is the 149th most popular site in America (according to Alexa) and averages over 700 hits a day, mostly by older researchers. But what does familiarity with your ancestors have do do with life coaching or counseling? A lot, it appears. Many spiritual practices and religions – particularly in native cultures and the orient – revolve around both the acceptance and, in many cases, the... (Read More ...)

Dr. Ron Owens Dr. Ron Owens is a spiritual life coach in the Atlanta area, and is currently working on the curriculum for the Basic Life Coach Training program for those who want to be certified as either a “basic” or Logical Soul® Life Coach. Dr. Ron has also been compiling a list of what he calls universal spiritual laws that can provide some keen insights into the nature of reality, and help you as a coach to be MUCH more effective with your clients. Dr. Ron also points out “there are as many as 42 such laws” and wanted to list some of his favorites. Here they... (Read More ...)

Set and ACHIEVE your goals this year! Happy New Year! As midnight came to pass, and I celebrated the New Year, I couldn’t help but think of all the wishes and hopes and dreams that people held in their minds for 2013. Marking a new year isn’t just about the future, but also about laying the past to rest so that we can continue our journey with lighter hearts and minds. Most people take this opportunity to commit to resolutions for the New Year. Statistics show that 45% of Americans usually make New Year’s resolutions, and only 8% are actually successful in achieving those resolutions. That’s... (Read More ...)

Let a life coach help you get to your destination. Life doesn’t come with an instruction guide. We’re all learning as we go and doing the best we can, but sometimes we need a little help along the way. At times like this we may turn to family and friends for support. But let’s be honest, sometimes you need an objective, experienced person to tell it like it is and help you get on track. A life coach is not a therapist or a medical doctor, but someone who helps you overcome obstacles to a goal or objective. You don’t need to have an illness or be at your wits end to ask for... (Read More ...)

If technology is the answer, what the heck is the question?? Since the early 19th century and the onset of the Industrial Revolution, humanity’s relationship with technology has been one best described as Love-Hate. For centuries, the main struggle was between a) the love of luxury and convenience that technology provides, and b) the hated loss of jobs that technology inevitably brings. The original technology haters were “Luddites” – English textile artisans who, like their namesake Ned Ludd, violently protested against the machinery that made it possible to replace... (Read More ...)

Benefits of NLP in coaching. After author and star of “The Secret,” Joe Vitale, had learned the power of the new Ho’oponopono as taught by Dr. Hew Len, he wrote in his book Zero Limits that he felt all his previous books (on subjects like hypnosis and NLP) were now irrelevant or less effective. Dr. Len then reassured him this was not so; that each of those books are stepping stones for people at different stages of their understanding. This is something that I think is important to understand as a coaching client and as part of life coaching. We all have the desire to get to... (Read More ...)

Be the Goal Keeper! The main purpose for any kind of coaching is to help your client get from point A to point B. This goal is set up at the beginning of the coaching relationship, and is the foundation for all future conversations. While this may seem simple enough, but usually there are obstacles along the way. Sometimes over the course of coaching, the client can become apathetic about the goal or just want to give up. While tackling my own issues and attempting to achieve goals, I often experienced this. My goal seemed like too much work, and I simply wanted to stop trying and do something... (Read More ...)

This is the “age old” question:Directive life coaching?  Or Non-Directive coaching?  Which is better? And which approach should you use – and when??  The answer isn’t all black and white.  Your approach to coaching greatly depends on the client and your client’s needs and individual goals . . . so first, let’s take a look at what these two kinds of coaching are: Directive Coaching This coaching skill involves more input from you, the coach, rather than the client. You are providing advice, wisdom, and direction to the client based on personal experience... (Read More ...)

The Great Manifestor If you want something as a child, you either ask your parents, grandparents, or that guy at the mall called Santa Claus.  And (assuming you’ve been “good”) you’ll actually get it!  Great deal, huh?  Want something.  Get results.  Life Coaching Tip:  when you grow up, this process no longer works.  While it makes sense as a child to expect that your cuteness will bring “stuff,” as an adult, you are no longer as cute.  In fact, you must often work hard for what you get!  Many people, however, continue to follow this “desire =... (Read More ...)

Life Coaching naturally involves both “life” and “coaching.”  Since “life” can’t be defined, every life coach training program out there focuses on the coaching part, or things to DO.  These things usually involve active listening, appreciative inquiry, and a dozen other words to go along with a way of getting results based on connecting with others with an end or result in mind. What would happen, however, if the results could happen naturally based on BEING instead of “Doing”?  What if there were an approach built on “life”.... (Read More ...)

Osho I first heard the term “No Mind” from the writings of Osho, my wife’s guru. He was the source of my realization that No Mind, meditation, pure awareness and life itself were all one and the same. Although I never had the privilege of meeting Osho in person, his words spoke to me in ways that still touch my heart and soul. Years ago, however, Osho (or Baghwan Sri Rajneesh as he was called at the time) was inaccessible to me.   This was not his doing, but mine. At the time – in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s – I was involved in another meditation... (Read More ...)

Life Coaching with No Mind What is “No Mind”? And how does it relate to life coaching?? I’m taking a chance here.  I’m taking the chance that you are drawn to being a life coach because your focus is on “life.”  If you believe that personal transformation is the highest expression of consciousness, continue reading.  If, however, your focus is on “coaching,” skip this series of articles.  You already have a definition of life coaching, know exactly what you are doing, and how you are doing it . . . Chances are there is nothing here for you. This... (Read More ...)

Choose to be free. “You are your own worst enemy”. We’ve all heard this phrase, and the more I observe myself, the more I find it to be true. It can be easy to be afraid, confused, doubtful, or conflicted. Sometimes the idea of failure prevents us from taking action. Sometimes the idea of success is too overwhelming to consider. Sometimes, it’s simply easier to stay in our comfort zone. Almost everyone limits themselves in some way, and most life coaching tips will address different methods to resolve this piece by piece. I’ve read about EFT, NLP, affirmations, and... (Read More ...)

Break free of memories! Scientists are still trying to understand how and why different types of memories are formed. Neuroscience is a complex field with very few definitive facts that we can actually work with as a lay person. However, as human beings we’ve come to understand that a healthy memory is vital to our success on all levels, particularly as it pertains to our life coaching practice. Being able to remember people’s names, for example, or appointment dates, personal or professional issues, and the myriad of business details . . . these are all important. But your memory isn’t... (Read More ...)

Learn to Accept Wealth for your Life Coaching. Are you struggling to make money with life coaching? Do you seem to be doing everything right, but still don’t have the money you feel you deserve? Do you even ASK for the money when you perform services for others… or simply give out a lot of free sessions because it’s “the right thing to do”??  Chances are you have a subconscious decision that’s working as an obstacle to your success. Dr. Craig calls this “Success Sabotage Syndrome”. You can, in fact, sabotage your success, not only in life coaching,... (Read More ...)

Illuminate Your Life with Positive Thinking The power of positive thinking is a wonderful tool for manifesting positive results, but I’ve never found it useful when combating those deep, negative thoughts that I never wanted to have in the first place. In fact, (Read More …)  (Read More ...)

Image Courtesy FreeDigitalPhotos.net “Journaling” is a fantastic way to track progress, whether it’s for yourself or your life coach clients. When you hear the words “track your progress” you probably think of check lists, points, and other means of keeping score. These systems are an important aspect of achieving goals, and as a life coach you’ve probably used them many times. However, when it comes to self growth, sometimes you need to go a bit deeper. Journaling can be used to track your progress in numbers, but it’ greatest benefits are found when you... (Read More ...)

Source: Wikimedia As a life coach, you will help people to identify what is holding them back and how to resolve it. An easy way to begin is to find out whether or not your life coach client’s needs are being met. Even the most successful entrepreneur will not be happy or reach their full potential if one of their basic needs is not fulfilled. A simple way to identify what is missing is to look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. I can tell you from experience that it holds true in life. I once spent an entire year in a drafty attic without heat or warm clothing. I relied on the kindness... (Read More ...)

Don’t let fear cloud your vision. Today I’ve decided to write about a subject I’m deeply familiar with: fear. This is an emotion that can shatter your dreams and stop you from living your life. Fear has stolen many years of my life, and the lives of others. For many, in fact, it is the primary motivator of the subconscious mind. So how DO you get beyond fear? As a life coach, you must have tools and the understanding to help move your client beyond his or her fears. The first step is to realize that you often attract clients with problems or concerns that you yourself need to... (Read More ...)

Rewrite your story. We all have personal stories. These are the sum of our experiences, beliefs, and actions. Friends and family have probably made you aware of certain attributes that you’ve come to accept as fact. “She’s such a giving person,” or “He always has good advice.” You hear these things over and over and subconsciously accept them as a part of your story. As a life coach, it is easy to build a personal story where you are the savior of others, or perhaps the humble healer. These characteristics come to define and motivate you, even if they’re... (Read More ...)