Life Journey

Are we there yet?

How will we know?

Do we know where we are going?

Do you remember when you were young being asked, “What would you like to be when you grow up?”

That seemingly innocent question will have set you off along a path of discovery. Whether you actually achieved what you set out to do as a child will have a shaped the way you think and plan as an adult. At that critical time as you answered the question a plan began to be formulated and milestones were set along the way to help you to recognise the progress you were making towards achieving your goal. Perhaps as milestones were reached you re-evaluated your position and took a new path setting off towards a new goal or perhaps you plodded on resolutely to achieve the original goal. Some may have set targets beyond their belief and the milestones may have been set too far apart leading to plans being adapted to reach easier attained goals. For those who reached their goals, the support of family and friends may have been invaluable as the days when the goal seemed to remote to achieve they were encouraged by those around them who supported their efforts to achieve their dream.

Whatever the road or journey was like or indeed is like we all have the similarities along the way. At some point we will have set ourselves a goal – for some these will be consciously set and have clearly marked milestones to guide us along the way. For others the goal may not have consciously been set, but deep in our subconsciouswe have expecations of how our life will be.Perhaps the expectations of our parents or significant others shape the way our life pans out and we feel we have little or no influence on that. Societal expectaions about how boys or girls behave, what behaviour is acceptable or not, what expectations are regarding our role in life, our education, our work life, our social life, and every part of our being. Life chances can be enhanced or diminished according toour place and period of birth. Just consider the options available to a child born in the African region of Darfur compared to those born into a middle class family in the United Kingdom?

How would it be then if by making some clear goals in life your life could be transformed and you could feel that you were in the driving seat of life determining not only the direction your life might take but increasing your potential along the way?

Coaching helps to put you in control of your own life. You will be helped to recognise how you yourself ensure success or failure in your life, how it is you and only you who determines your life goals.

“If you think you can or you can't you are probably right!”

The secret though is to work slowly and determinedly through the issues, embracing all the opportunities along your path, having a complete belief in your ability to succeed.

“Oh, but what if...” I hear you say, “That's alright for you but you haven't been dealt the cards I have!”

Okay, no I haven't, but I have learnedthat I am either for me or against me – my every thought enables or prevents me achieving my goals.

I could do that for you too! As your coach, I would have complete and absolute belief in you and your ability to achieve your hopes and desires. I will help you learn to address the “Shitty Committee” that congregates in your head telling you that people like you dont achieve great things and together we will set in place milestones to help you work towards those goals. So, start to live that dream today, write down that goal, have a belief that you can achieve whatever you want to do and then pick up the phone and share that dream with me.

Together we will make it happen, then you you will know where you are going and know with some certainty when you have arrived!

Barbara J. Cobbold

30.06.08