What is coaching, anyway?

November 1, 2021

When our lives don’t feel like they fit anymore, that’s a natural opening for something that wants to be shed or to be born. Oftentimes, one part of us is ready to grow, while another part of us is reluctant to disrupt the status quo. One foot on the gas, one on the brake, right? Partnering with a coach can help us reveal what’s holding us back and allow life to flow more smoothly on its ready path.

With the advent of my fall programs, I’ve been receiving the question, “So what exactly is coaching?” now more than ever. Coaching is resourceful, it’s creative, it’s transformative. It’s a relationship with someone (me, as your coach) who joins you at a moment in your life where you’re ready to grow whether you realize it or not. How might you know? Well, you may be unsettled, empty, anxious, or stuck.There may be something nagging in your mind or heart that you just barely sense but can’t put your finger on. You may simply feel flat or depleted. Honoring exactly what you’re feeling – even if you don’t have words for it – is the first step in our coaching conversation. That is a Space of Allowing. From that safe starting place, we build awareness and allow some new light into your life.

Every coaching partnership is different. Some women come to coaching with a specific personal or professional goal in mind. Others desire a chance to catch their breath and honor their own needs in a sea of competing responsibilities. Still others are restless to feel better and are eager to get on the path to allowing happiness and fulfillment into their lives. What follows is one client’s journey of coaching with me from the inside out. You’ll hear how she found me, what her goals were, where our coaching took us, and how we remain connected still today…

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The way Nancy came into my life was nothing short of cosmic. I had just gotten married, moved from NYC to small town Pennsylvania leaving behind my family, friends, pets, and an industry I had worked in for years. I found Nancy’s sleek and stylish business card among the stacks that my new yoga studio kept on display to support local businesses. With so many big changes happening all at once, and without a new Therapist yet, I contacted Nancy for a consultation. I had no idea at the time that it was a phone call that would change my life forever.

Nancy started our call by having me do some grounding exercises and breath work. We talked about what I was hoping to get out of coaching and I shared with her that I really needed to find work but that I was also feeling overwhelmed by all the newness in my life. Next, she had me close my eyes and visualize what my situation looked like in my mind’s eye. I had never done something like this before but the image came to me almost instantly. I was at a fork in the road, the kind you see in movies where the protagonist stops at the road signs, hesitates, turns one way, and then after a few minutes pulls a U-turn and then speeds in the opposite direction. I was very much stuck at the fork in the road. I was paralyzed with the fear of not knowing which way to turn, worried I’d make the wrong decision, and–most importantly–not knowing how to trust my gut.

From there, Nancy and I began work on navigating liminal spaces and the uncertainties of life. Nancy always made herself available to me and quickly became a touchstone to me. She shared with me as much as I shared with her and little by little I began to feel more confident in my decision-making process and my natural instincts. When I began to struggle with anxiety and depression, Nancy helped me to develop healthy coping strategies and explore local resources. Nancy and I compassionately collaborated to create “A Space of Allowing.” That space has helped me to: feel safe in my body for the first time in years, at peace with any breakdowns or breakthroughs I have experienced since I met Nancy, open my mind and my heart to opportunities for transformation, loving kindness, Maitri, and growth. Healing is not linear. We all need to learn how to ride the waves of our lives. Time takes time. There is always hope, and love will never be lost if you have faith in it. These are all concepts my incomparable Life Coach and friend, Nancy Coco has instilled in me in the years we have worked together. She is a blessing in my life and I am grateful for her guidance, empathy, encouragement, and unwavering support every single day.

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With love and deep gratitude to Kristin Ann for not only taking the journey, but also for allowing us to bear witness to her transformation!

Interested in trying coaching for yourself? Book a free, no-strings discovery session by emailing Nancy@SpaceofAllowing.com