A spiritual life coach can access a deeper part of ourselvesI haven't worked with a spiritual life coach, yet I suspect that if I did, it might accelerate my spiritual development. What I've done instead is to immerse myself in two spiritual traditions - Buddhism and yoga. It's ironic that I sometimes resist working with "experts," which includes professionals such as therapists, teachers and coaches! These two quotes speak to me... “If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!” ~Zen Quote “No meaning that comes from outside of ourselves is real. The Buddhahood of each of us has already been obtained. We need only recognize it.” ~Sheldon Kopp I want to share a paradox with you that I’ve been dealing with most of my adult life. On the one hand, I know that if I want to grow or develop myself in a spiritual way, the “high road” would be working with a teacher or a coach. A coach can reveal my blind spots and open up new possibilities for my life. Spirituality has become more important for me as I age to give me a greater sense of connection, freedom, peace and happiness. Some would consider me to be a “seeker,” and my job is to find the “right” path, the “right” teacher, the “right” coach. Once I’ve achieved that, I’ll be free and I’ll transform from, “this isn’t it” to “this is it.” I know how powerful coaching can be and the impact it’s had on me and others in all domains of life, including spirituality. I always come to the realization that there’s nothing outside of myself that’s going to “save my ass.” Ultimately, it’s up to me to discover the truth of who I am. That’s the paradox. It’s interesting that I’m an executive coach, working with clients who fit within the “Third Age” (forty-five to seventy-five years of age). When I’m hired for business reasons, there’s often something unspoken by the executive, which has to do with meaning and purpose. There’s something missing for them to be truly fulfilled. Adding spiritual life coaching to the conversation can make a big difference in a midlife transition. In her book, Coaching With Spirit, Teri-E Belf gives the reader a very good sense of the value of incorporating spirit into the coaching process. A spiritual life coach can be a valuable resource in the following ways: - most of us are immersed in our "thinking," which for the most part is automatic. There's a notion that claims we don't have thoughts; thoughts have us. Thoughts can be a source of suffering. Working with a spiritual life coach can get us more into our heart and our spirit. This is a place of connecting to life and freedom. - most of us our lacking compassion for ourselves. The "spaciousness" that's present with a coach who's developed this capacity in themselves will most likely be extended to the coachee. - there are universal spiritual principles that if we integrate into our "being" and life can open up a whole new world for us. A coach familiar with these principles and who's engaged in them will add to the quality of life of the midlifer going through a transition.
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