| One of my favorite quotes comes from Ralph Waldo | | | | I'd heard of life coaches and did a little research online |
| Emerson and reads: | | | | to get a clearer idea of what they do. It didn't take long |
| "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead | | | | to find the person I needed. Once your mind is made |
| where there is no path and leave a trail" | | | | up destiny awakes! I reviewed coaching websites |
| Exactly a year ago this month I had that quote in mind | | | | educated myself. Most coaches focus on people in |
| and decided it I was ready to move toward some | | | | particular careers and life situations. It's useful to take a |
| major changes in my life. As a creative person, I live | | | | handful of coaches up on their complimentary |
| for self-expression and my medium is the written | | | | consultations. I was selective about who I decided to |
| word. However, the scope of my vision for | | | | contact. |
| transitioning from J-O-B holder to professional scribe is | | | | I conversed with a few people but I was most |
| BIG - too big to shoulder alone. That is a lot for a | | | | attracted to the person who is now my life & |
| woman from a working class background with no | | | | creativity coach. She is a great fit for me because she |
| close examples of visionaries in my life to carry alone. I | | | | specialized in working with the artistically inclined and |
| grew up among those who had talents, abilities and | | | | the late bloomer - or as she calls us, "tortoises". Those |
| dreams but relegated their entrepreneurial spirits to the | | | | two features hit directly upon what want to work on. I |
| realms of foolishness. Dreams and visions, bent by the | | | | was happy and after speaking with her I knew she |
| demands of bills and folded into the landlord's wallet, | | | | was the right one for me and my objectives. |
| were reformed into fantasies - daydreams for mental | | | | Thanks to the support of my coach, I feel I have made |
| respites at mid-morning snack and 2 pm energy | | | | more personal strides over the course of this year |
| deficits. | | | | than I would have made alone. Having a sounding |
| I came to a point, as I move toward my 4th decade | | | | board and having an unbiased ear to whom I can be |
| on the planet, where I'd become weary of chasing | | | | accountable has added value to my life. That value |
| after what was passing for life. Deep in silent repose, | | | | has come in the form of greater confidence and clarity |
| reclining in the back of my mind were dreams | | | | of purpose. In the act of enlisting the aid of a coach, I |
| deferred. Those dreams are real things. They reside in | | | | broke a strangling lifelong habit - not asking for help |
| the very grooves of your brain and dance between | | | | when I KNOW I need it. |
| the beats of your heart. For the most part, I ignored | | | | Like me, maybe you also are accustomed to handling |
| them but sometimes I'd find while sitting in my cube, the | | | | things yourself. Maybe you've not had anyone else |
| computer screen would start to float and tears would | | | | you could count on. A coach is not a therapist or a |
| streak down my cheeks. Some part of me was | | | | counselor. He isn't there to slap your hand but to |
| thinking about my deferred dreams even if my mind | | | | remind you what your hands can do. The coach isn't |
| was not engaged. | | | | there to chastise you but to encourage you. The |
| I realized, if intended to take Emerson's advice and | | | | coach isn't there to tell you what to do, but to help you |
| "leave a trail", I would need to shake off doing things | | | | determine a course of action. You can lean on your |
| the way I've always done them. I am not obligated to | | | | coach but a good coach won't allow you to lay on |
| do what I've always done. Once I made the decision | | | | them! |
| that I have a say in the matter of my life, providence | | | | The coach is there to accomplish things WITH you not |
| showed up. No matter what one's back ground, mental | | | | do them for you. He/she will celebrate your victories |
| or emotional inheritance, there is always a CHOICE. | | | | with you. I have this knowledge through my |
| With that choice, I knew I would need assistance in | | | | experience. Personal responsibility is stressed. If you |
| making the necessary adjustments to set the stage. | | | | aren't ready for that, you aren't yet ready for coaching. |
| I felt it would be best to have an unbiased voice to | | | | I thank God I had the courage to take this step toward |
| provide guidance. I did not want the unavoidable | | | | my future. I thank Him most that I have someone to |
| judgment that comes with turning to a relative or a | | | | give me that needed push when courage fails. So in all |
| close friend. It's common knowledge that those closest | | | | this, I feel I am on the path to making Emerson's quote |
| to you, mostly with good intentions, might hinder your | | | | a reality in my life. By working with someone who |
| progress with their preconceived ideas. And you know | | | | helps me honor my uniqueness, I find more reasons |
| what they say the road to hell is paved with.... | | | | every day to revel in it. |