How Coaching Changed My Life
“Cecelia, what are you for?”
Her question pierced the stale air.
I sat for a moment, contemplating her words, then replied, “I don’t know.”
“Alright, well that sounds like a good place to start. Why don’t you think about it for a week and come back to me with a list.”
A week later I was in my second life coaching session, unsure of why I was there. The best way I could explain my situation was that I felt completely grey, and I wanted a more colorful life. It wasn’t that anything was particularly wrong, I just didn’t feel like my life fit me right. Except this time, I had my list.
“I believe in life.
In people that are good deep in their bones and are good for me.
In delighting in others and loving deeply.
In a Creator God who designed beauty for beauty's sake and who envisioned a best life for each of us where we soak up all of God's glorious gifts.
In a God who belly laughs and cheers us on when we crash into that beautiful will & design.
& in grace when we fail to believe in all of the above. “
“Well, is that your life?” she asked.
My two letter answer took the rest of the air out of my lungs. It was in that moment, that question, that I knew things had to change.
We met weekly, exploring my current reality and daring to dream about change. Through her probing, yet grace-filled questions, and the action steps I assigned myself, I slowly began to look forward to meeting with her. I could see my attitude change and my confidence shift. Then, one meeting I was finally able to express why I came to coaching: I knew what I wanted out of life, I simply needed a blueprint to get me there.
Coaching helped me shift from accepting mundanity, to building intentional steps to align my life with my goals and passions. I quit a job that lost it’s luster, read over 20 books, learned 10 new recipes, traveled to places I had never been, got a kayak, married a man I loved, moved to a city full of color & life, threw myself into intentional living, surrounded myself by good people, and started pursuing a career that aligned with my gifts.
I TRULY STARTED LIVING A LIFE THAT REFLECTED WHAT AND WHO I WAS FOR.
THEN, FOR THE FIRST TIME, MY LIFE FELT LIKE HOME.
There is something sacred and beautiful when the beloved of Christ live into the good plans He set for us long ago.
The most empowering part of life coaching for me was that my coach truly believed in me when I thought I was fully burned out.
Coaching’s basic principle is that each individual is the expert on their own lives and goals, therefore, coaching gives you full autonomy to cultivate your life.
Each step, each action, each goal, was something I desired to accomplish for myself. My coach just asked the right questions and gave the right encouragement to hold me accountable to myself.
With many resources from my coach, I started applying the technique of creating weekly action steps in almost every part of my life--work, side hustles, relationships, meal planning, cleaning, etc. I had "graduated" from coaching, and now, I had the tools to help me craft intentionality and discipline in the most important parts of my life. My "to-do" lists were replaced with achievable and fun steps that I actually look forward to checking off.
The verse of truth that I clung to during this season of change & intention is 1 Corinthians 21-23:
“ So then, no one should brag about human beings. Everything belongs to you— Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, things in the present, things in the future—everything belongs to you, but you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”
There are so many things about this verse that I LOVE.
1. Our God is a generous Creator who gives all things to the beloved through Christ. Man, the grace & life that comes from the Gospel is revolutionary & life-giving.
2. All things are ours in Christ when we are actively seeking the will of God and to glorify God with our actions, lives, businesses, etc. The strength, boldness, self control, energy, words, humility, compassion--all of these good things are ours in Christ.
3. This verse captures the heart of life coaching: It is not up to leaders or mentors or the people who seem to have it all on social media. No, our lives are defined by our intentions, beliefs, and abilities. Our voice, our idea, our blueprint, our strength, our purpose. Success is ours. The ability to live a life we believe in is ours because God believes in us & our abilities.
4. Each one of us, no matter what flaws, failures, and disbeliefs we bring to the table, have an active role to play in God's Kingdom. We belong. We are purposed. And I truly believe that when we cultivate what is ours in Christ, the Church and the world will forever be transformed.
For this reason, my coaching business is called Cultivate Life Coaching. I love the premise that everything is already ours in Christ and is within our grasp. We simply need to cultivate our gifts, talents, strengths, faith, and passions through intentional action steps and faith.
Coaching aligns all of my passions, my faith, my ministry & public health experience, into one life-giving business. Seeing first hand how Christian coaching can help transform future dreams into current reality energizes me all the more.
If you are seeking to cultivate your potential, create positive change, or are looking for a blueprint for a project near to your heart, coaching is for you. Coaching is a growth-centered relationship with defined expectations of getting things done!
Together we will create action steps that propel you forward in making your future dreams a current reality.
*This post was originally posted on CeceliaReilly.org on June 30, 2017 and has been edited for the purposes of this website. All material belongs to Cecelia Reilly.*
