I have had the privilege to life coach some high level athletes in my career. I have been a part of several teenagers paths to greater success in their sport in the areas of acrobatic gymnastics, soccer, dance, football, and track & field. Truly, these are the only non-adult clients I will work with. Why? They have buy-in to the process. They are committed to becoming better athletes and better versions of themselves. They have big goals and dreams. They are hard workers both physically and emotionally. They WANT to learn. They have what I would call a “true love of learning,” which is a fantastic quality in a client. They are excited to be a part of this process and to apply new techniques such as meditation and working with their own character strengths.
So are you curious to know what I do differently with teenage athletes vs. my regular adult clients?
Nothing…. I do nothing differently.
-With adults I work on identifying fears that are getting in the way of what they want for their life. With teenage athletes I work on identifying fears that are getting in the way of what they want for their sport.
-With adults I work on breaking down belief systems that no longer serve them as they powerfully choose to believe differently, and therefore live differently. With teenage athletes I work on creating new belief systems that support and enhance what they want for their athletic career.
-With adults I teach Mindfulness techniques, including meditation to help support greater concentration, emotional regulation, and relationships with others. Ditto with teenagers.
-With adults I help them to understand the role negativity and judgement of themselves and others plays in their life and how to change it to support their life. With teenage athletes there is often a huge ‘negative judgement of self’ piece, and this is an important thing to understand as it undermines what the individual is trying to achieve in his or her sport.
-With adults I give homework weekly and that encourages the practicing of these new ways of thinking and ways of being in the world. With teenage athletes, I do the same. The teenage athletes have a much better track record of completing the homework than adults do… much better!
Although each client is unique and so different in what they wants to change or the goals they have for their life, the process can be quite similar. At the end of the day, we all want to be happy and have lives that are meaningful and fulfilling. That may mean in your area of focus such as a sport or career, but ultimately we strive for this in all areas of our life. When you learn one thing that changes you for the better (or unlocks potential), multiple areas of your life are touched. And, when you learn how to do this for yourself, you become a role model for the other people in your life. You also learn how to function at this higher level.
Life coaching is the bomb… truly. I absolutely love being a part of young peoples lives in this way. It is a true honor and privilege to work with kids who really are empowered and motivated to live a fuller life!
