| Your journey through midlife may seem rocky | | | | moved out of the house. She and her husband |
| and tricky at times. Many of your relationships | | | | spent all their savings on college for the two |
| may be in transition. Your body changes daily. And | | | | children and retirement is inching closer every day. |
| your hormones may seem like they are on a | | | | Debbie is 48 and has worked as an administrative |
| separate trip of their own. While your passage | | | | assistant for the last 10 years. She isn’t |
| through the midlife season will differ from those | | | | bringing enough money to save for retirement, |
| of other women, there are some common | | | | feels adrift since the kids left home and has been |
| threads. | | | | suffering from back pain, panic attacks and |
| Midlife transition offers the same opportunity to | | | | insomnia. |
| everyone if they are able to see it with a positive | | | | In this scenario Debbie’s life coach helps her |
| attitude. Sometimes, however, it is hard to see | | | | discover that she always believed the man should |
| the whole forest when your arms are wrapped | | | | be the breadwinner. And that it would be |
| tight around one tree. This is where a life coach | | | | disrespectful for her to out-earn him. With her |
| comes in. | | | | awareness of her traditional views, she concludes |
| Life Coaching has evolved into an expanding | | | | that these beliefs aren’t helping anyone and |
| profession, offering guidance for many different | | | | works to change them. Also brainstorming with |
| areas of life—including careers, finances, | | | | her coach leads to the idea of running a business |
| nutrition, exercise, spirituality. In midlife there is a | | | | as an online virtual assistant. |
| special opportunity to look back and decide what | | | | As Debbie moves forward with your business |
| hasn’t worked and to look ahead to having | | | | idea, her coach helps her make a plan to pursue |
| what you want in any area of your life. | | | | her goal, encourages her and together designs a |
| A life coach is someone, often with a psychology | | | | timeline to help her be accountable to herself. |
| or counseling background, who guides you through | | | | The coach also encourages Debbie to start taking |
| your self-discovery to help identify what | | | | better care of herself and to see a health |
| doesn’t serve you. | | | | professional about her symptoms. At the |
| Many who write, speak and teach about this | | | | doctor’s Debbie is shocked to find that she |
| process of improving your life, agree that your | | | | has been having menopause symptoms for two |
| underlying beliefs are the key to your ability to | | | | years now and has been suffering needlessly. |
| make permanent life changes. The problem is that | | | | Through her doctor’s care, better diet, |
| most people are unable to “see” their | | | | exercise and a new yoga class Debbie begins to |
| underlying assumptions and try to move forward | | | | feel much better. |
| without help. | | | | · If You Could Do it Yourself You Would Have |
| · Using a Life Transition Guide | | | | Life coaches offer a team approach to life. As a |
| A warning: not all coaches base their coaching on | | | | woman in midlife you probably spent the last few |
| the importance of subconscious beliefs. Consider | | | | decades nurturing others and trying to do a great |
| finding one that will so you can work at a deep | | | | job whatever your responsibilities. And yes, |
| level. Even then the methods and style of these | | | | you’ve been independent and self-sufficient. |
| coaches may differ but the basic process is | | | | However now is the time to change to work |
| similar. Your life coach will help you discover the | | | | collaboratively in partnership with a life transition |
| core beliefs in your subconscious mind. Important | | | | guide, a life coach. |
| ones are about what you deserve, how important | | | | If your intention is to create balance, live a life of |
| you are, how life is supposed to be, about loving | | | | purpose and embrace the abundance the world |
| and being loved, about being successful, and so | | | | has to offer, you must be willing to do some |
| on. | | | | serious work to get there. A life coach will work |
| Together you will find a plan for rewiring those | | | | with you, usually on a weekly basis, and assist |
| beliefs, identifying your goals and dreams, and | | | | you in getting the clarity you need to cut through |
| creating an action- plan. Finally, your coach will help | | | | the mundane demands of everyday life. |
| you to navigate the obstacles that are keeping | | | | Midlife can be a miraculous journey of discovery |
| you from attaining your goals. | | | | and revelation. A life coach can partner with you |
| Let’s look at a typical kind of midlife transition. | | | | and accompany you so you make the most of |
| Imagine that Debbie has two children who have | | | | this precious life passage. |