Living, Working, Loving: And Loving It All
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Managing The Stress ~ Making The Decisions ~ Discovering The Meaning |
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Living, Working, Loving: And Loving It All |
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What a current client says about Denise as a coach: “LIFE COACH” A term I had never even heard of until I started watching “Starting Over” on TV. I was enthralled by the changes their life coaches made in the lives of the women invited to the Starting Over House. Although I don’t have enough courage to put my life on TV for the world to see, I was intrigued by the concept of having someone coach me through a particular aspect of my life. You see, approximately two years ago my job was eliminated, I had a health issue, and my dad was in the middle of a long slide to death. He passed away in February 2004 and my final “excuse” for not returning to work evaporated. Depression and a severe loss of self-esteem had eroded my confidence in my ability to get and keep another job. It didn’t matter how many counselors or family members encouraged me, I just couldn’t take the necessary steps to put myself out there. I had joined one of Caregiving’s online support groups to work through my grief at losing my dad. One day the facilitator, Denise Brown, posted an email that she was going to be doing life coaching and would give members of the groups a sample session. Did I jump at the chance? You bet I did! Denise and I clicked from the first five minutes of my phone session. By the end of the session, I really wanted her help in getting past my self-imposed roadblocks. Was she willing to work with me? Again, the answer was “yes”. Apparently she saw things in me that I was incapable of seeing. And so it began. From the first step if identifying what I wanted, to writing my own help-wanted ads, to actually applying for a job where one had to apply in person. Finally, the fourth week, I had a resume that worked, I had asked my son to help me with a cover letter, and I found three jobs online that really caught my eye. I applied for them all! Will I get called by any of those employers? That is out of my control. Denise helped me focus and work through my issues so that I had the courage to put myself out there and realize that whether I got called or not was not something that I could affect. Was she happy with my progress? I swear I could hear her jumping up and down through the phone. She is my best cheerleader. I would have gotten to this stage eventually; but with her tremendous ability to help me focus, work through my fears and feel like someone worth hiring, she really moved the timeline up considerably. Are we done working together now that I have applied? Absolutely not! As I get called for interviews and eventually get job offers, I will need her ability cut through the morass of self-doubt to help me present myself as the best person I can be. I know that she will cheer louder than anyone when I finally reach my goal. Is career the only aspect where Denise could be an effective Life Coach? Given the articles she has written and the support she provides through the groups she facilitates on line, I am confident she can help with other areas of life. Hmmm, which area should I turn around next? Is Denise a Rana or Rhonda, the Life Coaches on “Starting Over”? In truth the answer is both yes and no. She provides the same ability to see what one need to do to improve yourself and your life. She pushes one to work through the roadblocks, to stretch and grow (beyond what’s comfortable), and to recognize when a goal, even a small intermediate one, has been reached. As for the “no”, well she doesn’t do it on TV with all the benefits and drawbacks that provides. She doesn’t have the budget to do what a syndicated television show can, but she does have the skills, knowledge and heart to “coach” you into making those changes happen. We talked about my “dream job”. There isn’t just one, but she and I share one. She will gain such renown as a life coach that she will need a personal assistant and that assistant will be me. I would love to be the person behind the person helping people change their lives. |
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About Denise and Her Work: "One of the things you said made a profound impact on me, i.e., it isn't my responsibility to make my mom happy. She has suffered from depression on and off her whole life. When I try to help her and get no results I get frustrated and depressed myself. Sometimes when you give people more responsibility, they get better on their own. Anyway, thanks again. This month I plan to go to a support group. This weekend I am going away and next month I am taking a week's vacation. It is nice to know there are people like you in this world." "Many, many thanks for your email. Your words have given me hope." "Your response has been extremely helpful to me in many ways. Thank you for enabling me to gain a more perspective on the entire situation."
"You bring up very important issues to consider and I will pursue them before any decision is made." "You have very accurately grasped the situations and described them from all the different angles we need to consider. Your experience is invaluable in showing me what perspectives need to be taken into account and balanced." "Thank you so much for your insight. It all made so much sense. It's always hard to think things through logically when you are in the throws of it!" "Thank you so much ~ you heard me."
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1996-2004 |
