I'm sure it's not news to you that men and women are different. Like men, women face pressure in each role they play - at work, as a parent, as a partner, and so on. But women also face pressure in areas that men don't, like when it comes to social expectations. Women are expected to be ... well, womanly in all situations. Nurturing, matronly, domestic, passive, forgiving, subservient, patient, and kind ... all at the same time. Along with being a sexy goddess, of course. We are expected to not feel, or at least suppress, emotions like anger or aggression. But do we really live like this? No. Thus, the pressure, before we even take a step out the door.
I don't discount the pressure men face. But it's not the same, and not coming from so many directions. They can usually organize their lives in a mostly linear fashion and be fine. Women deal with many more facets of life, so instead of a line from A to B, women need organization that has width and depth, not just length.
Coaches understand that. Here are a few specific benefits women receive from life coaching.
1. You will know clearly what you want. Your goals become defined and even your dreams become more focused. When you feel pulled in many directions, it can sometimes seem like everything blurs together; a coach can bring clarity and give you an objective point of reference.
It's almost a cliche that women don't know what they want. The reality is, we know exactly what we want, but don't know how or where to start!
2. You can get what you want. Once you know what it is, it's much easier to figure out how to make it happen. A coach speeds up the process and helps you find ways that work for you.
Men are socialized to be problem-solvers, women are socialized to be team-players. Unless you had pretty radical parents, ladies, finding ways to make things happen - all on your own, and just for you - is not familiar ground.
3. You make better and more intelligent decisions. You intuitively understand that two heads are better than one. Your coach understands it, too. Plus, unlike men who are less interested in sharing ideas, women are more practical in this area - if there's a good idea floating around, a woman will give it a fair try.
4. You stay on track. Your best friend might let you slack and even help you rationalize why you could or should, but your coach holds you accountable, knowing you'll feel better about yourself. You can count on your coach to encourage you keep taking positive action.
And unlike a friend, your coach isn't there to judge or take things personally! (The whole point of coaching is for us to work ourselves out of a job, after all!)
5. You become more organized. When you have a plan to follow, your whole approach is more organized and you are able to keep moving in the right direction. The side benefit is that the organization and planning have a positive impact on the rest of your life.
This is where your creativity and intuition can really benefit you. Men might just sigh and force themselves to work a particular system. You'll be more selective. But when you find a system that works, you can easily modify it to work in other areas of your life.
6. You find greater harmony between the areas of your life. As one area smoothes itself out, others benefit as well. And you'll start to see the connections between those areas, so you can appreciate the benefits even more.
Men often keep things compartmentalized, so they may not be as aware of the synergy.
7. You develop more self-esteem and confidence. It makes sense that when you achieve something worthwhile, you feel better about yourself! Your coach can help you see the small achievements that you might overlook, so you have even more to celebrate.
Yes, this true for men, too. But women tend to be much worse at self-talk. We can be our own worst enemies! Learning to be our own best friends is great, and makes a more dramatic impact in our lives.
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Now you see what you've been missing? Well, here's another tidbit for you. If you're in the Phoenix area (or can be) on Saturday, August 20, you won't want to miss the Woman-to-Woman Phoenix Brunch & Beyond! (It's the "W2W" I keep tweeting about.) There's brunch, of course, and an expo, plus you can take advantage of hour-long sessions with local professionals in various areas:
Discovering Your Purpose
Fashion/Beauty/Health Tips & Demos
Career Choices and How to Achieve Them
Financial Fitness
Daily Life Balance (that's me!)
Inspiration & Empowerment
For more info on W2W, call 480-619-9276, or go to www.w2wphx2011.eventbrite.com
Hope to see you there!
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