I recently met Siama when she dropped by the studio. Many of you have seen my interviews, and that’s where I saw this meeting going, but there was a lot more to discuss. Siama speaks a multiple languages, has experienced many cultures, and consults with people from around the world on big life issues. Here at the Citizen, giving perspective to our lives in the valley is an underlying goal. To this end, we suggested Siama write about how her life came to be here in Salida, and what a life coach does. The term has been thrown around a lot lately in popular western culture, and we hope to learn from Siama’s writing. We will be posting monthly articles and stories from her. If you have any questions, as always, please comment, or contact Siama directly. -bd
By Siama
Twelve years ago when I returned from a two-year trip around the world I had no idea where I wanted to live or what I wanted to do. I had been a married person for 26 years, raised three children, worked for others and owned businesses of my own. On my return I had none of those roles to fill up my life and I didn’t have a clue about what was next.
I was visiting a friend who asked me to accompany her to a meeting of life coaches from the Denver/Boulder area. She wanted to find out what coaching was about. It sounded boring, but I said I’d go. Toward the end of the meeting the person leading the group said, “We have 20 minutes left, let’s do four 5 minute sessions with someone. Who wants to be the guinea pig?” No one raised their hand, so I did. I sat in a chair and a coach sat across from me and began to ask me meaningful, challenging questions. After five minutes the next coach slid into the chair and continued with where the other person left off.
In 20 minutes, through their impeccable listening and questioning, I told them all of the things I was good at, loved to do and what mattered most to me. I enumerated all of my values and which ones I never violated and which ones I let slide by and why and when. By the time the 20 minutes was over those four coaches elicited from me a clarity about my life that I never experienced before. I was stunned to have discovered so much about myself just through questioning. It was exciting to think that people knew how to do this – and how simple and powerful the process is. It is not therapy, advice or counseling, although there is a profound looking and seeing, claiming and acknowledging.
The following weekend there “just happened to be” an introductory coaching course taking place in Denver. I loved the training and then completed the rest of the courses in San Rafael, CA at the Coaches Training Institute.
Now when people ask me “what is life coaching”, I tell them being a life coach is like being an athletic coach. An athletic coach is interested in supporting you in your performance in your sport. A life coach is interested in helping you clarify what is important to you and supporting you in the creation of its unfoldment and expression. Why not live the life you’ve always wanted?
Powerful questions for you to get started:
1. Do you know and are you doing what you came here to do?
2.On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most fulfilled) how would you rate your:
a., career.
b. health.
c. relationships.
d. money.
e. personal growth
f. physical environment.
g. fun and recreation.
h. friends and family
3. Could your life improve? Do you want to make any changes?
4. Would you like some support with the process?
Best of luck with your journey! -Siama
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