“Without knowledge action is useless and knowledge without action is futile.” - Abu Bakr
Successful health change requires a lifestyle approach with several critical mindset shifts. Both of these keys require cognitive awareness--or forms of knowledge. Now, to wrap up this package on transformation, it is time to share with you the final key which is centered upon action: Life Coaching.
Rather than an authority simply instructoring or subscribing necessary steps for change, a life coach requires us to personally map out a route for success. It has been my privilege to have different mentors in my life that functioned as life coaches--for college, for personal growth, and now for my business. Now my clients benefit from life coaching interwoven into their nutritional therapy. Through these experiences, this key has proven to be timelessly effective. Here are some of the benefits of life coaching and how it produces action:
•Life coaching fosters an environment to process challenges and formulate clearly defined goals. Dialogue is a powerful tool that allows challenges to be identified; then with questions, a life coach can equip individuals to problem solve. Within a conversation, S.M.A.R.T goals are a framework I often use to formally or organically guide clients to execute change:
Specific: Be simplistic, and clearly define the result or desired outcome to solve a problem. Take advantage of an opportunity, or meet a challenge. Measurable: Demonstrate tangible progress towards your desired outcome. There are usually several short-term or benchmark measurements built into a long-term goal.Assignable: specify who will do it.
Actionable: Goals are challenging, yet feasible and well defined. You must possess the appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities. Relevant: Measure outcomes within the scope of your goals and values.
Time Bound: Specify when you want to achieve your goal. [1]
•Life coaching stimulates creativity. Sometimes it is not the season to set certain goals because they are not realistic. However, you can set a “hard” goal and creatively make it attainable. Life coaching not only allows a fresh perspective, but as a team you and your life coach can inspire new possibilities.
•Life coaching provides accountability. Often, an outside party is needed to stick to commitments. Regular meetings or touch-points are so beneficial to propel momentum and determine how quickly you progress. The more accountability, the simpler the execution. Then you get to move on to conquer the next goal!
Additionally, I have discovered that life coaching is a learned method of executing goals. I can often take the principles and discipline myself with them. You can coach yourself through S.M.A.R.T. goals, discuss challenges with a friend to inspire creativity, or create personal reminders for accountability. I continue to grow in self-discipline as well as thrive with a life coach.
You now have the keys for transformation! To summarize: successful lifestyle change requires vulnerability, conviction, preparation, and practice. Work through each of these elements with the prompts I gave you. Next embrace key mindsets for transformation: Food is a tool for self-care; Focus on what you CAN have rather than what you can’t; Eating healthy is NOT hard. Last of all, position yourself in an environment of formal or informal life coaching where you can put your desires into action and experience lasting health! Transformation awaits.
[1] https://hr.virginia.edu/career-development/employee-performance/employee-resources