Many, if not most of the women who come to seek life coaching from me, arrive with a similar story – they feel stuck. Stuck in a job that is stagnating, no longer able to find the joy they once did in it, or short on promotion prospects. Stuck in a marriage that no longer feels as lively and supportive as it once did. Stuck in a career that now seem like a mistake they made when they chose it. Overwhelmed by the responsibilities of raising their kids, supporting a spouse, appeasing the expectations of family and friends, and feeling they have no purpose other than serving in those roles. They feel they are under an oversized load while receiving insufficient support, resulting in their wishes and priorities getting pushes down the list. They have tried to advance themselves in some ways, but life makes that difficult to impossible.
You have to wonder. Decades have passed since tectonic changes affected our society’s perceptions and expectations of women’s roles at home, work, and life in general. Still, many women, including members of progressive and educated households find themselves in the same spot their mothers or even grandmothers fought from for a change.
The range of opportunities afforded to each of these women is not the same throughout the nation, and not even throughout each state. Even as free and equal as we believe we are, women are not yet equal to men, who still hold the majority of powers in most fields. Add to that the numerous forces that shape our lives’ quality and choices; the political atmosphere, religious doctrines, economic health, and local and regional social norms, to name a few. Each person has to make their personal and professional choices to fulfill their potential in the face of these powers.
I am a life coach, not a social scientist, and my objective is to help solve such situations, not explain them. The important advantage that all these women have in common is that they have recognized the shortcomings of their personal or professional situation and chose to invest in ways to improve it.
The next step for a person in that position is to assess their options and select goals to achieve. The transition process may require implementing lifestyle changes, summoning the help and support of immediate circle members, careful execution of the steps set through the coaching dynamic, and prudent monitoring of the progress made. The process demands serious self-work with the support and guidance of the Life Coach. In case the situation merits involving a spouse in the coaching process, they could be invited to participate in sessions as necessary. That, as well as any other part of the coaching process, is done in accordance with the coaching client and only with their consent.
If you are interested in learning more about how Life Coaching could work for you, try it out for yourself in a free, no-obligation introductory session. To request your free session, please visit this link.