When I was a kid, everyone I looked up to played basketball. I wanted to be good at it to fit in with my other family members. Only, I wasn't going to be tall, nor did I have a sixth sense of how to shoot the ball. However, I was lucky enough to have excellent coaches that taught me the game's rules and techniques. They showed me how to hold the ball, pass the ball, and did things like put tape on the floor so I would know where to start the layup. But more than that, they believed that I could do it even when I didn't.
Coaching is more than an exchange of information. It's not a personal pep rally. My coaches were challenging and demanding, but they never for a minute doubted that I could learn to nail free throws. Coaching requires the belief that the person can do what they set out to do, especially when they don't believe it themselves.
So, when would you need a coach? Say you've made a commitment to start getting up at 5:00 am and exercise, and you do it for the first two days. Later in the week, when the newness wears off, you feel tired, and talk yourself out of it. And, say you've made this commitment to working out ( or dieting, hiking, cleaning your house, or another goal) before. In fact, you've made it several times before. You've let yourself down so many times you know before you start, you're not going to make it happen. You no longer believe in your ability to honor your commitments to yourself.
Situations like this are when a coach can help! A coach knows and believes you CAN do it! They've seen countless others master this problem and they know you can to. But it takes being coachable. It requires you to trust your guide and know that their desire for your success is just as strong as yours. Sometimes the coaching process is uncomfortable. You'll have to try new things, learn new ways of doing things, and become aware of your thoughts. You might even have to run extra laps to develop the endurance to recover from your mistakes. That's okay. It's all part of the process.
Good coaching lays down new neural pathways. It helps you rewire your brain and change your beliefs. It prepares you for whatever situation lies ahead. So that even 30 years later, you'll still have a great free-throw percentage!
If you've been thinking about getting a coach who believes you can reach your health and fitness goals so that you can be a hiker who's confident on the trail and doesn't worry about being left behind, now's the time! Message me to schedule a consultation call and find out how coaching can help you be a better hiker!
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