Health and Beauty

So you wake up one day and realize that you aren't enjoying life as much as you could be. Maybe you work too much and don't have enough time for family or hobbies or friends or exercise. Maybe you feel trapped in a job or a relationship. Whatever your situation, there are things you can do to help yourself feel more fulfilled and less frustrated. But where do you start?

"Get help!" says Laura Lewis, a lifestyle and healthy living coach. It's easy to become blind to your own roadblocks and a outside party can help you identify changes that can put you on the road to success.

First, identify what you really want. It could be more time with family, an overseas vacation, your own business, better health or a better relationship. Once you are aware of your goal, you can pat yourself on the back because identification is the first step to success! Now it's time to find help.

Choosing the Right Help
The three types of help, says Lewis, are the counselor, the consultant and the coach. The type of help you choose depends on your goal.

For example:
– If deep-seated fears are keeping you from success, you may need a minister or counselor to help you face and move past them.

– If you want to start your own business but other things get in the way, get a time-management coach to help you manage your time better and a small-business consultant to guide you through the legal and business processes necessary to set up a business.

– If you know how to eat well and exercise, but can't seem to make time for it, you'll need a healthy lifestyle coach to keep you motivated, to encourage you, and to hold you accountable for your calorie intake and exercise commitment.

What to Look for in a Coach
The hallmark of good coaches, counselors and consultants, says Lewis, is that they know their limitations and will refer you to others for the type of help they can't provide. For instance, a licensed therapist can help you with emotional issues, such as poor body image, but you'll need a personal trainer to help you develop an appropriate workout routine.

Selecting a Coach:
– First, ask for referrals from people you trust. When you have a list, make contact and ask for references – and be sure to check them.

– Next, interview your prospective coach to make sure your personalities are a good match. After all, this person is helping you reach your most important goals. You have to be comfortable with the advice they offer and the ways in which they try to motivate you. You should feel like you've been listened to and heard, and that the person is qualified to offer advice.

Once you're comfortable with your choice, be ready to give the coach at least three months to work with you on your first goal. Depending on the project, the relationship may last many months or even years.

No one says change is easy. It can be uncomfortable and intimidating – and that makes it easier to avoid. One of the biggest advantages to hiring a coach, consultant or counselor, says Lewis, is that you are committing to a set time to work on your goal and make changes in your life. She reminds her clients that the initial discomfort is well worth it when you see the ultimate result – a life you really want and a happier, more productive, more passionate you.

Laura Lewis, a health and wellness coach for 20 years, is based in Dallas, Texas. She is the author of 52 Ways to Live a Long and Healthy Life and has hosted numerous radio shows and webcasts on wellness topics.