During the initial process of the life coaching sessions, the life coach helps the client clarify his/her goals. Along with eliminating life-draining habits, however, a vital component of the coaching process is to help the client replace negative practices with new positive ones.

Springboard for Ideas

In the 8 Proven Secrets to SMART Success, Peggy McColl (2002) purports that a life coach asks his/her client to think about how he/she is presently living. In developing goals for the client, the coach would next ask his/her client to consider how he/she would like to be living. The client would then write a description of the mental image of the way he/she desires to live. The coach could then, as McColl advises readers in her book:

Keep that written description of how you would like to be living in front of you. Then use the information as a springboard for ideas that you can implement that will move you closer to your goal.

Look for one are two things that you will commit to implementing right now. Things you are not presently doing on a consistent basis. Things you know will make a difference in your life and the results you want. (McColl, 2002, p. 2).

Defining Moments

McColl (2002) asserts that Secret Number 1 for change is to be aware of the following:

Creative power (creative being)

Choices (affect results)

Conscious thoughts (just like seeds that you plant in the ground. Starting point to all things).

Opportunities (everywhere)

Beliefs (determine what one will be willing to consider and what he/she will refuse to do (McColl, 2002, p. 7)

McColl (2002) recounts a Monday night in her past when attending a motivational seminar that words by the speaker, Bob Proctor triggered a defining moment in her life, when she first became aware of something in her life, needed for change: "You cannot escape from a prison, unless you know you are in one," Proctor said (Proctor, as cited in McColl, 2002, p. 8) the following challenges and/or considerations, which McColl proposes to her readers, excepts from Secret number 2 aptly apply to Life Coaches working with clients ready for change, the researcher asserts,

Set your intention from your desire (McColl, 2002, p. 15). Clearly define goals in all areas

Take consistent, persistent SMART action (McColl, 2002, p. 35). Remember that as the Bible notes: "Faith without works is dead" (Bible as cited in McColl, 2002, p. 35).

Have absolute faith (McColl, 2002, p. 71).

Overcome obstacles, adversity and challenges (McColl, 2002, p. 85).

Be a student: study success (McColl, 2002, p. 101).

Be a master (McColl, 2002, p. 117)

Ready for Challenges

McColl (2002) recounts words by Lou Holtz, a foot ball coach to encourage readers that things will come up that challenge them and their goals. Holtz said: "If adversity isn't hitting you right now, it's coming. So get ready...

85). A Life Coach may use the following questions to help his/her client learn from challenges, obstacles and adversities he/she encounters:
What will I do differently next time?

What have I done in the past to be for this?

When have others done?

With strategies are most effective?

Is there another way?

How will I do this?

Who else has done this?

What resources are available?

What do I choose NOW?

What WILL I do today to take control the situation?

How will I solve this now? (McColl, 2002, p. 93)

As a Life Coach utilizes a variety of strategies to help a client meet his/her goals, pre-assumptive questions, such as the above help the client learn from his/her experiences with obstacles.

Questions prefaced with such words such as "How will I... " proposes/assumes that a person will, in fact, do something. A blind person, as noted at this essay's start, learns from the strategies presented by his/her skiing instructor. In a very real similar sense, an individual working with a life coach, who utilizes particular strategies to help the client realize his/her potential, will not only learn how to make positive changes and/or reach goals in his/her life, he will begin to see what he/she set his/her mind to do.

References

The Columbia University Press.(1996). Retrieved January 26, 2009 from www.bartleby.com/66/.

Dantzker, Gail. (2004, October 8). What Is a "Goal"? Retrieved January 26, 2009 from ipa.tamuk.edu/Documents/Planning/HowTo/What_Is_a_Goal_An_Objective_An_SLO. ppt goal. (2009). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved January 26, 2009, at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goal

Louise Hay. (N.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2009 at http://www.louisehay.com/

Marianne Williamson. (2008). Retrieved January 26, 2009 at http://www.marianne.com/

McColl, Peggy. (2002). The 8 Proven Secrets. Destinies Publishing. Nepean, Ontario.

A strategy. (2009). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved January 26, 2009, at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strategy

Williams, Patrick, & Thomas, Lloyd J. (2004). Total Life Coaching: 50+ Life Lessons, Skills, and Techniques to Enhance Your Practice-- and Your Life W.W. Norton & Company. Retrieved January 26, 2009 at http://books.google.com/books?id=cKW7PGsaNhEC

Whitworth, Laura, Kimsey-House, Karen, Kimsey-House, Henry, & Sandahl, Phillip.(2007).

Co-Active coaching: New Skills for coaching people toward success in work and life. Davies BlackPublishing, Retrieved January 26, 2009 http://books.google.com/books?id=AcNtZXiLOC0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=CoActive+coaching:+New+Skills+for+coaching&lr=&ei=Yk9-SczbK6GayATNwqyHDQ

Wood, David. (2009). Certified Life Coach. Retrieved January 26, 2009 at http://www.lifecoaching-resource.com/#work