DeAnna King, Certified Life Coach, Reiki Master & Yoga Teacher, ERYT-500, YACEP

This morning, someone questioned the value of a life coach, saying they were already self-coaching through reading and constant adjustments. I hear them – that was me years ago! But now I understand the power of a coach: speed. Imagine a personal development struggle you’ve had for years. What if you could achieve significant progress in just 3-6 months? Crazy, right? But a coach can accelerate your growth. How, you ask? Accountability: A coach keeps you on track, ensuring consistent effort towards your goals. Also, a coach can help you become aware of your blindspots. We all have them! A coach helps you see what you might be missing. A life coach isn’t a replacement for self-work, it’s an accelerator. 

A bit of my story…

Rage. It might be hard to believe now, but that used to be a huge struggle for me. Years ago, anger was this overwhelming force in my life. I remember a phone call with my mom when I was 22. Things escalated, I completely lost it, and she said the words that stung the most at the time: “You have anger issues.” Let me tell you, that didn’t go over well. I was defensive! I blamed her for my emotions. I felt unheard. I was furious! I fumed to my friends, only to be met with hesitant agreements and a few eye-opening explanations of how terrifying I could be. Terrifying! Me? I wanted to have people respect me, not be terrified of me. That’s when I knew that I had to make a change. 

There’s a part of me that almost misses the power I felt knowing I could be scary. It’s a dark thought, but back then, anger was my currency. Therapy was a godsend. It helped me understand the roots of my anger, but there was a missing piece. I never got a roadmap to change. Now, looking back 20 years later, I wonder if a different therapist might have been more helpful. But at the time, I was left to navigate this minefield alone.

This is where a life coach would have been a game-changer. Someone to hold a mirror to my thinking, point out my blind spots, and most importantly, create a plan! My anger issues took a decade to unravel on my own. With a coach, I know I could have gotten there so much faster. Honestly, you don’t need a coach to grow, but it definitely makes the journey smoother and quicker. A general life coach could have made my journey less bumpy, but a spiritual life coach? Now that would have been transformative.

My anger stemmed partly from a deep loneliness, a spiritual disconnect. No one ever taught me about cultivating that connection, and I didn’t even know it was an option. Religion and spirituality were interchangeable concepts in my mind. It was a very long, rough journey to get where I am, now. It is for everyone who walks it alone. 

Think about the personal growth issues that you have worked on. Look back at your life over the past 5 to 10 years. Now, what if you could’ve made that much growth in a matter of months! How would that have changed your life? What are you working on now? Is it a 10 year plan, or a 3-6 months plan?

DeAnna Clark King, CLC, RYT-500, ERYT-200, YACEP

DeAnnaKingLifeCoach.com