My heart thumped. My mind raced. My thoughts were like an assault, firing item after item on my To Do list. I was overcome. I had so much to do!!!
I sought clarity, but confusion was my constant companion as I made categories – home, work, social, physical, emotional, financial – and lists within those categories trying desperately to get control of my schedule and get it all done.
The biggest problem of all was the self-loathing, guilt, and shame I felt.
What was I doing here again? How had I backed myself into such a corner of “too busy to think straight”? What was the matter with me? Shoulda…woulda…coulda…
I had created a mess with too many “yesses” that should’ve been “nos.”
The only way out seemed to be through. I had to just put my head down and do the next thing. I had to keep checking items off “the list.” Try to live my life according to my carefully calculated calendar. Stay up late weeknights working and keep right on going through the weekends in what seemed a never-ending cycle of work, work, and more work.
I knew I couldn’t go on like this!
Once this season was over, it was time to re-evaluate. I was losing my joy. Going through the motions. I had lost sight of my purpose and passion. This was not how I wanted to live. And I knew this was not what God had for me either. The fruits of the Spirit, that are supposed to be ours, were not operating in my life – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to make the necessary changes. After all, this had been a pattern for over 20 years. So I knew I needed help. I had met a Life Coach I liked…and she was offering a FREE half-hour consultation. What the heck? No commitment. Free. What have I got to lose?
I set up an appointment… I scheduled that first phone consultation smack-dab in the middle of all my busyness, anxiety, and angst. And I have to tell you, Whew! What relief I felt on that particular morning as I breathlessly told the life coach what was on my mind. She already knew a bit about me and how I was (or was not!) balancing my life because of the survey I filled out in preparation for our meeting.
I poured out my heart in the answers to her thought-provoking questions. She listened, carefully, which was clearly indicated by her thoughtful responses and questions. That one little half hour was so productive and my coach was so reassuring, I knew I had to continue.
Coaching is about someone coming alongside you to help you go from where you are to where you want to be. << Click to Tweet
I was certain this coach, who became my coach, was going to help me go from scurrying and frantic to purposeful and peaceful. This shift was no longer something I hoped for, it was what I needed to live my best life. So I enlisted my coach’s help, we made great progress, and continue the work together even now.
And guess what? My Life Coach really helped me take giant steps forward toward living the life I want to live. She helped me:
Assess where I was - What am I saying yes to? How do those yesses line up with my top values? What does my present schedule look like and what does my ideal schedule look like?
Map out measurable Action steps - What steps can I take toward that ideal schedule? What can I say no to? What is non-negotiable? What is a realistic time frame for making necessary changes?
Be Accountable - I need regular check-ins to keep me on track. And when I hit an obstacle, my Life Coach helped me figure out what was stopping me and how to push past that block.
Achieve my goals - Through time, goal-setting, action steps, dialogue, and lots of questions, my Life Coach helped me figure out what mattered most to me, how to slow down before saying yes, and how to value my time so my life matched up with my top priorities.
I loved the coaching process and the results so much that I decided to become a Life Breakthrough Coach myself.
This wasn’t entirely out of the blue. I had been thinking about becoming a life coach for years because I’ve always loved coming alongside people, listening intently, and helping in any way I can.
Now as a certified coach, I encourage, empower, and equip people to make the changes necessary to live with a purpose that lines up with their passion and priorities. Interested in experiencing it for yourself? I’d love to work with you.
Let’s set up a FREE half-hour consultation to see how I can help you go from where you are to where you want to be. Just click here to take the first step toward living the life you were meant to live.
You can also follow along as I write posts for 31 Days of Life Coaching. You’ll find more of my story and lots of Life Coaching tip throughout this series that runs through October 31. Click here to check it out and subscribe so you don’t miss a post!
If you have any coaching questions, feel free to leave them in the comments.
Elise Daly Parker has been married for 28 years and is mom to four mostly grown girls. She is a writer, editor, writing coach, and blogger. She believes we all have stories that matter--big life bios and small meaningful moments. Elise believes our stories are a reflection of God’s glory and are meant to be shared. They have the power to inform, reform, and transform. She loves God, family, friends...and really likes travel!