After the last part of our workshop on Thursday, I sent over the paperwork for my internship client to take a look at before Saturday. Luckily in the workshop we got to practice what we would do for our first coaching session. After going through what I was going to say while reviewing the contract, I became very excited and ready for the coaching session. Saturday morning could not come soon enough!
Saturday morning did come, and I met my client at the library where we had our first session in a private study room. Between Thursday and Saturday I had rehearsed what was going to say when going over the paperwork, but I wasn't really sure what I wanted to say when I was to share my life story.
The contract talk was easy, and while my life story was abbreviated, it painted a good picture of how my childhood, recent revelations and faith in God have lead me to point I am at today. We learned in class to share personal details to catalyze authenticity, and I was happy when my client shared very personal details regarding their life story. Their ability to open up about their past helps me a coach to better understand them.
After sharing stories, we looked at one of the coaching tools, The Wheel of Life, to determine the level of satisfaction within the different areas. They stepped through each area and gave feedback for each part. At the end I brought up the 3 areas that they rated the lowest, and the decision was to set a financial goal for the next 6 weeks. (6 weeks in the length of time of the internship, however I have spoke to my client about continuing after the first 6 weeks).
So they set a goal to save 10% and off we went to determine the potential action steps to help make saving money happen. Each question I asked came back to the same answer. Everything circled back to this one main theme.
God. The relationship with God. The trust in God.
So I named this. I don't know if it's considered leading or not (I'll ask my trainer though) "I know we set a goal for saving money, but I am hearing you bring up God alot in your answers/conversation, where is your heart at this point?"
At that moment my heart was leading the conversation, and once we switched gears to speak of their relationship with God, everything just clicked.
Action steps were decided and although they lack a support system immediately, I reminded them that I will be there for them. To provide the best S.E,A I can. They know that I will be checking in, but they don't know when or how. So I have the upper hand in terms of providing the best encouragement and accountability.
At the end of the session I wanted to debrief, to find out what their biggest takeaway was and what they thought about everything.
The take away was they are ready and excited and emotional because they know it's going to be a great experience. It fills my heart with overwhelming love and joy to know that through the power of the holy spirit speaking through me, I can touch someone else's life.
Our church sermon today talked a little about these things. Saying Yes to God changes the world. He will bring about blessings in unexpected places. My internship client is as much of a blessing to me as I am to them.
Greater is he living in me than he who is in the world.
As for the technical parts of coaching, I didn't stress, I remained in the moment, fully present and aware and I was able to coach from my heart. I think in terms of meeting all of the objectives for the coaching curriculum, I was successful.
In terms of having a loving heart, just caring and loving my neighbor, I was right there. There is no promise that you will not endure a storm, even in the midst of God's will. But there is the promise that you will not endure the storm alone. No it was not perfect, however I rest in knowing that it is not up to me to make decisions. When you give yourself over to God, you have a peace that does not bring about worrying.
I just bask in the joy that I feel and the love and hope I desire to show and the happiness I want to share.
YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' 31"The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' Mark 12:30-31
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Marathon Coach Training - Saturday Peer Meeting and Workshop
After going to the retreat two weekends ago, it has been great to see how God has worked in my life, specifically my self- image and my marriage and relationships with others. It is one thing to say that you are giving everything over to God, and another thing to actually do it.
There is something so liberating to take the pressure off of yourself and seek your identity in Christ and his plan for you. There seems to be a theme in my posts, to breaks the bonds that bind you to this world so you are free to live out your ultimate purpose and his plan for you life. Considering this, it is amazing how God connected me to my internship and as promised I will share that story.
After the retreat, I received a facebook request from a woman that was also at the retreat that we share a mutual friend. I thought it was really nice to be friended, especially since we did not talk to each other directly at the retreat. Then on Tuesday I saw that she posted that she was convicted by the message of the retreat and she is ready to get some things in order. Without skipping a beat I messaged her, explaining everything about coaching and what I can offer. Not thinking that she was respond and actually be interested, she did! She replied saying that she would love to work together! On Thursday morning I also spoke with her on the phone and after my conversation with her, I am more than ready to begin coaching her on Saturday! I am not sure what I will be coaching her on, but one common thread is that we've decided that God put us in the place we are, and has orchestrated this relationship.
Fast forward to Saturday morning, the last day of the unsupervised peer meeting where my peer and I got to share our progress and final thoughts and debrief about our coaching abilities. Bottom line, we were both very gracious about God and the insight he gave us regarding our respective issues. I took that gracious attitude in with me to the workshop where during one activity we got the chance to coach one of our classmates. The way the activity worked was there was one main coach and a backup coach, I ended up being the back up coach to be "tagged" when the main coach was stuck.
I sat there and waited to be tagged by her, and it wasn't until the end of the session she tagged me in, and I was able to ask an accountability question. I realized that we have different coaching styles. She was asking surface level fact-gathering questions, and towards the end I asked a question about knowing the solutions discussed which one could she commit to for the upcoming week? This allowed for her to become emotional and able to reevaluate her situation. It was very rewarding to be able to help her see a potential solution to her problem (through the power of the holy spirit).
During the workshop it was also a time of giving and receiving feedback regarding coaching styles and our "elevator speech". We had to give a short blurb about what our niche is as a life coach and what we do as a life coach. I explained myself as a "personal change expert" and that I wanted to partner with people to help them reach their ultimate potential as children of God. While I have this idea as my niche, the thought of focusing on this type of growth is intimidating. I've still been prayerfully considering the focus that I want to have, and this point I am being lead to the same point each time.
Just the thought of being able to work with someone and help them achieve all the glory that God has planned for them, and help them get closer to God makes my heart full of joy and excitement. Now that I can say that my niche is "Breakthrough, Life Purpose and Life Balance" coaching, the next steps question that I seek guidance on is coaching as a business or coaching as a ministry.
I will end this post here and the next post will be about the above dilemma.
In light of my decided focus, I leave you with Proverbs 3:5-7, the only way to gain insight and wisdom is to openly seek and depend on the holy spirit.
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, In all of your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.
There is something so liberating to take the pressure off of yourself and seek your identity in Christ and his plan for you. There seems to be a theme in my posts, to breaks the bonds that bind you to this world so you are free to live out your ultimate purpose and his plan for you life. Considering this, it is amazing how God connected me to my internship and as promised I will share that story.
After the retreat, I received a facebook request from a woman that was also at the retreat that we share a mutual friend. I thought it was really nice to be friended, especially since we did not talk to each other directly at the retreat. Then on Tuesday I saw that she posted that she was convicted by the message of the retreat and she is ready to get some things in order. Without skipping a beat I messaged her, explaining everything about coaching and what I can offer. Not thinking that she was respond and actually be interested, she did! She replied saying that she would love to work together! On Thursday morning I also spoke with her on the phone and after my conversation with her, I am more than ready to begin coaching her on Saturday! I am not sure what I will be coaching her on, but one common thread is that we've decided that God put us in the place we are, and has orchestrated this relationship.
Fast forward to Saturday morning, the last day of the unsupervised peer meeting where my peer and I got to share our progress and final thoughts and debrief about our coaching abilities. Bottom line, we were both very gracious about God and the insight he gave us regarding our respective issues. I took that gracious attitude in with me to the workshop where during one activity we got the chance to coach one of our classmates. The way the activity worked was there was one main coach and a backup coach, I ended up being the back up coach to be "tagged" when the main coach was stuck.
I sat there and waited to be tagged by her, and it wasn't until the end of the session she tagged me in, and I was able to ask an accountability question. I realized that we have different coaching styles. She was asking surface level fact-gathering questions, and towards the end I asked a question about knowing the solutions discussed which one could she commit to for the upcoming week? This allowed for her to become emotional and able to reevaluate her situation. It was very rewarding to be able to help her see a potential solution to her problem (through the power of the holy spirit).
During the workshop it was also a time of giving and receiving feedback regarding coaching styles and our "elevator speech". We had to give a short blurb about what our niche is as a life coach and what we do as a life coach. I explained myself as a "personal change expert" and that I wanted to partner with people to help them reach their ultimate potential as children of God. While I have this idea as my niche, the thought of focusing on this type of growth is intimidating. I've still been prayerfully considering the focus that I want to have, and this point I am being lead to the same point each time.
Just the thought of being able to work with someone and help them achieve all the glory that God has planned for them, and help them get closer to God makes my heart full of joy and excitement. Now that I can say that my niche is "Breakthrough, Life Purpose and Life Balance" coaching, the next steps question that I seek guidance on is coaching as a business or coaching as a ministry.
I will end this post here and the next post will be about the above dilemma.
In light of my decided focus, I leave you with Proverbs 3:5-7, the only way to gain insight and wisdom is to openly seek and depend on the holy spirit.
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, In all of your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.
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