WHEN WE think of ‘Life Coaching’, most people have no idea what it is. Interestingly, the British Government paid for 3,500 new life coaches to be trained in 2005 at Newcastle University. Their research said that ‘life is changing and family support is not what it used to be, the nuclear family has gone.’
Coaching reminds me of a story that is set at the circus, backstage where the elephants are waiting for their evening performance. The elephants are just milling around and the only thing that is stopping them from charging off is a tiny rope, no cages, no chains, just this tiny rope. When asked why these magnificent animals did not break their bonds and escape, the trainer explained, “When they are very young and much smaller, we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they think the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? How many of us are being held back by old, outdated beliefs that no longer serve us?
I worked with the Head of Development for The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF) London. My fear of public speaking was something that I had carried with me throughout my 15 year television career. It had always held me back and I missed opportunities to put myself forward. Through one NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) session and hypnotherapy I changed the belief I had that I was no good at this. I now speak in public almost every month, once to an audience of 3,000 and once to Royalty – and I love it.
As someone who had doubts about the effectiveness of NLP, the results have just astounded me. Life coaching is not just listening, a good coach is trained to communicate with the unconscious mind, helping you to untie the rope, this way old beliefs and behaviours can be changed at a deep level, giving lasting change. This is your life, so live it. I am interested in helping people get the results they want and that to me is life coaching.
Amanda is a Certified British Life Coach, a Certified NLP Master Practitioner; Time Line Therapy™, Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, Dip Life Coaching, Certified Instructor of Transforming Communication. Member NZANLP, ICF and INLPTA.
