Rob Brezsny's horoscope for this week

[sun_set_bravely]

Okay, I'm gonna have to ask Mr. Brezsny to please step out of my brain now.

"VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I'm grateful for my years of psychotherapy. They've been crucial in helping me shed bad mental habits and master the art of being happy. How about you, Virgo? Have you ever met regularly with an empath whose primary purpose is to listen to you and enhance your life? It's a perfect time to start giving yourself this necessary luxury. Or, if you're one of the lucky few who already has a skilled wise person working in service to them, it's a favorable time to dive deeper into the work. The astrological omens suggest that you now have the power to get more help than you've received before -- but you have to ask for it."

~ ~ ~

On Monday, I had a phone meeting with a personal coach that I met through Woodhull. We got along well, and she asked me to hire her. I'm considering it, because the coach-client partnership seems like it would have great results in my life. She wouldn't help me do anything I can't do on my own, but her guidance would help me do it much faster. She'd help me bust through old habits and thought patterns that are keeping me from really going for my dreams.

But it's an expensive investment ($350 a month). I'm not sure. I need a few more days to think on it, and I want to see what the potential new job is going to offer me for salary.

Rob seems to think that I should hire her, though.

Does anyone else have experience in this area?

Comments

[nickelchief.livejournal.com]

I don't have experience with a "personal" coach, but in my early days as an actor in New York City I hired a "career" coach whose job it was to help me get work as an actor, or at the very least to give me some of the skills and tools I needed to look for work most successfully.

What ended up happening was that she showed me, by her life's example, everything that I resolutely did not want to become, and within a few months after our sessions were over, I had quit acting. I don't blame her for it -- I credit her for showing me the truth of the situation. For the same reason, I don't look at it as a waste of money -- without her, I would have wasted far more money pursuing a dream I didn't really want.

How is a "personal coach" different though? I assume it's about more than career choices?

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

This coach in particular focuses on helping women achieve their BIG dreams in life -- career, relationship, health, etc.

Here are the services she provides: "You can count on me to listen compassionately, believe in your greatness, hold the vision for your dream, help you stay focused, point out energy drains, tell the truth, encourage you to take wonderful care of yourself, and celebrate your progress."

This sounds like good stuff to me.

Re:

[bluesavannah.livejournal.com]

that's awesome. I've never heard of this before!!!! But, i think i may have found my new calling in life ;).

If you decide to go for the investment, I can't wait to hear about it!

Re:

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

Check out the International Coach Federation (http://www.coachfederation.org/) for more info on the Coaching profession. It's pretty interesting stuff!

Re:

[nickelchief.livejournal.com]

My impression, for what it's worth, is that I have seen you do all of these things for yourself already, and that is just in the pages of this funny public journal. I've even seen you provide this service for others gratis. I don't mean to be a big-jerk devil's advocate, but I do think you're on to something when you say "she wouldn't help me do anything I can't do on my own."

Re:

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

You make good points, you big-jerk devil's advocate. :) I agree with what you're saying here. Still, there's something alluring about having a person dedicated to doing this, who plays a different role than a friend or loved one who does these things for me anyway.

Plus, I can write it off as a professional expense next year, because she would be helping me make the transition into writing.

I'll see what happens with the job, and then make a decision.