Is Christian Life Coaching Right for You?

What do you think of when you hear the words “life coaching”? Oprah’s advice? Vision boards? Manifesting a new reality? None of these concepts are biblical, and life coaching is a largely unregulated industry and profession, but that doesn’t mean coaching can’t be helpful for you!

When we think of counseling and therapy, we’re thinking of treatment for mental health conditions and/or difficult relationships. Counseling for relationships and mental health holds a great deal of value – but sometimes, you just need practical problem-solving and an outside perspective on life decisions, goals, or self-improvement. If that interests you, Christian life coaching might be right for you.

What is life coaching?

According to Verywell Mind, “A life coach is a type of wellness professional who helps people make progress in their lives in order to attain greater fulfillment.” In other words, life coaching is focused on self-improvement and personal growth.

A life coach will provide support, encouragement, suggestions, and accountability for whatever growth journey you want to pursue. A Christian life coach can offer a biblical worldview and perspective for your journey.

Often, we can find this type of support and accountability in our friendships, in online support groups, etc., but those relationships only go so far. If you’re someone who wants to maintain healthy boundaries in your relationships, then you know you can’t always ask a friend to provide the type of intense support and accountability you need to stay on track with your goals. However, a counselor who provides life coaching can provide that kind of intensive support.

Imagine the difference it will make in achieving your goals if you know that you’re going to be meeting with your counselor every week to discuss how things went over the past week, identify areas that you need to work on, and set goals for the upcoming week.

Life coaching as an investment in yourself.

One key aspect of life coaching is that it should provide autonomous motivation. According to Positive Psychology: “Autonomous motivation means the person controls the decision-making process. The coach provides resources and support and nudges as needed, but the coachee is in charge.”

This approach can help you overcome a sense of learned helplessness – the subconscious belief that you’re incapable of changing your circumstances or improving your life. With the help of a coach, you can prove to yourself that you can act, and your actions do lead to positive outcomes in your life. When you improve your life and achieve your goals, you’ll be making an impact on those around you, too.

Another key aspect of self-improvement is the challenge of starting strong, then running into obstacles along the way. Setbacks are inevitable and having the accountability and support of a Christian life coach can help you bounce back from difficulties and keep going instead of giving up.

Remember, life coaching is not a replacement for mental health treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition, please seek counseling so that you can find healing in addition to focusing on higher-level goals.

Common reasons for life coaching.

Verywell Mind shares two of the biggest reasons people often seek life coaching:

Gaining a new perspective.

Getting a second opinion or an outside opinion, looking at things in a new way, getting someone else’s take on a situation are invaluable components of life coaching and things that can move you from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.

A fixed mindset says, “This is the way things are, and any action I take is unlikely to change the situation.” A growth mindset says, “This is the way that things are for now, but my choices and actions will make an impact, and things can always get better.”

Sometimes it can be difficult to move from a fixed to a growth mindset on your own. Our minds get used to thinking in certain ways. Talking with an outsider about what’s going on in your life, what you want to change, and the obstacles that stand in your way can make all the difference to seeing opportunities and potential where you may not have perceived them before.

Identifying negative patterns.

Just as we may have trouble identifying positive patterns and opportunities, we sometimes also have trouble seeing exactly what in our lives is holding us back.

Christian life coaching can be invaluable for problem-solving because again, it’s an outside perspective. Your coach can look at your situation and challenges in a new way and identify the negative patterns, providing accountability for approaching your problems in a new and healthier way.

Other reasons.

What are other common reasons you might want to seek Christian life coaching?

Finding a spouse.

If you are single and would like to get married (perhaps even divorced or widowed), knowing how to approach the search for a new partner can quickly become overwhelming. A life coach can walk with you through the process of dating and getting to know a potential future spouse.

Starting a new career or side hustle.

Coaching can help you stay on track, set realistic goals, and achieve a work-life balance.

Growing spiritually.

Maybe you’ve recently become a Christian, and you’re experiencing a renewal in your faith, and you want to grow in Christ. A Christian life coach would love to walk alongside you on your journey of growth in your relationship with the Lord.

Making a major life decision or change.

Transitions are one of the most difficult parts of life, even if they’re good changes such as moving across the country, getting married, having a child, etc. Sometimes we lose our sense of self, motivation, or purpose in the chaos. A Christian life coach can help you connect to your faith, purpose, and goals in this new season of life.

Starting or continuing a fitness journey.

Maybe you’ve had a health scare, or you just want to become more fit and healthy but changing your eating patterns and finding time to exercise can be overwhelming and stressful. A life coach can help you to problem-solve and set goals so you’re not always trying to find the motivation on your own.

Desired outcomes.

When you seek life coaching from an experienced Christian coach, you can be confident that your coach is qualified to provide support, and that they also want you to grow in your faith during your self-improvement journey.

Verywell Mind lists some of the known outcomes of life coaching:

• Better work/life balance
• Elimination of long-held fears and anxieties
• Enhanced creativity
• Greater financial security
• Improved communication skills
• More satisfying work-life
• Stronger relationships with friends and family

Of course, life coaching isn’t a miracle cure, and it won’t solve all your problems, but as Christians, we are called to walk alongside each other as we grow in faith and godliness:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. – Hebrews 10:24

Now, you might ask yourself, as a Christian, what is the purpose of life coaching if I’m not supposed to be focused on earthly things (Colossians 3:2)?

Although we should not be pursuing things on earth as if they are our ultimate purpose, we’re also called to:

• Work with all our hearts (Colossians 3:23)
• Plan to be diligent (Proverbs 21:5)
• Work hard to prepare for the future (Proverbs 6:6-8)
• And make the best use of each day the Lord gives us (Psalm 90:12)

So, if you’re seeking Christian life coaching, it’s best to start with the heart and motivation behind your goals. A Christian life coach can discuss your purpose, meaning, and passions with you as you strive to honor the Lord in all you do. Contact our office today to schedule your risk-free initial session.