Have you ever had a dream where the wind is pushing you back? You keep trying to move forward. Again, the wind pushes you back.
Identifying barriers with Life Coaching
When clients seek out coaching, it can be immensely helpful to identify and understand the barriers that get in the way, the factors that push you back. While some factors may be external, many contributing factors may be within you. Here are five key causes of feeling held back.
- Unclear goals
If you don’t know what you want precisely, then it’s impossible to identify your next steps. Life Coaching will help you identify what you want to do and where you want to be so that you can identify and act upon the steps and tasks to enable you to achieve your goals, both personal and professional.
- Self-limiting beliefs
However, a low self-opinion, if not challenged may lead you to modify your goals or to convince yourself that you won’t get there. Intrusive thoughts such as “I’ll never be able to do that” or “That’s way above what I could ever do”. Instead give thought to your past achievements and make a note of all the things you’ve managed to do, big and little, both personal and work related, no matter how small they may seem.
- People pleasing
The need to please others is a common cause of not going for what you truly want. A sense of needing approval, awareness of disapproval of something that matters to you, these can form huge blocks to following the path of your choice. An example is taking up a trade or profession expected by the family, when you may have a very different career and ambition in mind. So think carefully about what matters to you.
- Unconfident communication
To achieve requires confident communication, to speak up, put your point of view, convey your opinions clearly, network and create constructive relationships whether with family, friends, partner, colleagues or boss. This is something you can develop by developing your skills of assertiveness and speaking so there is no need for it to hold you back.
- Feeling overwhelmed
The prospect of working towards your goals may feel overwhelming and could stop you in your tracks if you allow it. Careful planning and organisation will help you stay on track. Plan for each goal separately, the tasks to carry out, how long they will take and when you will do them. And be sure to schedule the date you plan to achieve your goal so you can work towards it.
Moving forward with Life Coaching
Though these hurdles may seem insurmountable, you can see that it’s possible to manage each one by developing skills, changing behaviour and thereby growing your confidence.
Luckily, life coaching can help you by supporting your learning and use of a range of strategies and skills, including:
- assertiveness,
- confidence,
- public speaking, and
- good time management.
Free initial call
If you feel life coaching would help and want to know more, you are welcome to arrange a free initial call for 20 minutes without obligation to see how it would help. Life Coaching is adapted to meet your own unique needs and circumstances.
