| Joan Lunden is the host of a recent Executive and | | | | This, I believe, is the heart of Jesus' message along |
| Spiritual Life Coaching television special. As one of the | | | | with many other spiritual Teachers throughout history |
| Coaches interviewed, I was asked, "What is the | | | | (e.g., Mohammed, Buddha, Ghandi, King and Mother |
| function of a spiritual life coach and what are some of | | | | Teresa). This is something each of us has the power |
| the tasks and methods they use?" | | | | to do. The result being better citizens, better partners, |
| The answer to the first part of the question is as | | | | better spouses, and better children. This is spirit in |
| varied as there are spiritual coaches, but the theme | | | | action. |
| each has in common is working "from", "with" and "in" a | | | | As a coach, one seeks to keep oneself out of the |
| spiritual dimension, spirituality in this case understood as | | | | way as much as possible in order to let the client find |
| that which is both totally beyond us, but at the same | | | | his/her own answers. The coach owes it to the client |
| time inextricably part of us. | | | | to insure that the time spent belongs to the client. |
| Simply put, a spiritual life coach facilitates his/her clients' | | | | Hence, many coaches find that having clients come to |
| spiritual growth. This can run the gamut from people at | | | | a session each week with an agenda is most helpful. |
| the very beginning of a spiritual life to those well | | | | The spiritual coach should always be fully present to |
| advanced on a spiritual Path. It also encompasses | | | | what it is the client is hoping to achieve by whatever |
| people in spiritual transition (e.g., people leaving and/or | | | | spiritual, religious, and/or denominational means. |
| joining a particular faith tradition, people who have been | | | | Spiritual coaching is like an emptying process (Greek: |
| abused spiritually/religiously and who now wish to | | | | kenosis): coaches attempt to remain nonjudgmental. |
| reclaim a new, healthy spirituality while working through | | | | and in so doing are able to act as conduits or sounding |
| their pain, etc.). | | | | boards with the clients' interests at heart as opposed |
| Most often, the coach works primarily by listening and | | | | to layering the coach's agenda on the client, thus |
| then asking the client questions relevant to his/her | | | | hijacking his/her experience of finding truth for |
| "agenda". The coach and client then devise a plan for | | | | themselves. The client holds infinite wisdom, including |
| reaching the client's spiritual goals. The coach acts as | | | | the answers. It is often simply waiting to be retrieved, |
| cheerleader, mentor, accountability partner, and, what I | | | | remembered or resurrected. |
| like to refer to as, the client's Sacred Witness. | | | | Is spiritual coaching religious? It certainly can be |
| It is important to remember, however, that coaching is | | | | depending on the coach and the client. Traditional |
| not therapy nor is it pastoral counseling. The | | | | religions are followed by some coaches, but others do |
| relationship between coach and client is that of equals. | | | | not follow any religion. Tolerance is a huge part of |
| The journey is a shared experience and the coach | | | | spiritual coaching. People should be met where they |
| doesn't necessarily have to know more than the client. | | | | are and on what ever path they're walking. A spiritual |
| Some coaches will give their clients "homework" such | | | | coach should be flexible enough to work with a client |
| as journaling, keeping a "dream journal", and/or making | | | | from his/her personal philosophy, faith tradition, and |
| lists of things that empower or hinder a person's | | | | spirituality. And a coach must certainly make extra |
| spiritual growth based on what the coach knows | | | | room for the person who is not in touch with any |
| about the client's goals. Clients are encouraged to list | | | | spirituality, but is seeking one. People wake up spiritually |
| ten goals they wish to reach over the next ninety | | | | at different times and for different reasons. |
| days. | | | | Think about the times in your life when you've had |
| In a large way, spiritual coaches help others to help | | | | spiritual experiences. What were they like? What |
| themselves, to live empowered, responsible, joyful, | | | | provoked them? How did they leave you feeling? |
| grateful and peaceful lives. A spiritual coach is | | | | To summarize, then, a spiritual life coach works with |
| attempting to raise peoples' consciousness and | | | | clients in facilitating spiritual growth. By listening and |
| disseminate the good news (gospel) that one person | | | | asking relevant questions, the coach helps the client |
| at a time we can turn the world around, as individuals, | | | | begin to find his/her way along a meaningful Path or |
| as couples, as families, as corporations, as | | | | conversely helps the more advanced client attain even |
| governments, and countries, and as a planet. Together, | | | | greater spiritual depth. In a world that is becoming less |
| coach and client take the spirit energy that is within | | | | and less certain, growing and maintaining a healthy |
| each of us and begin using it as a tool of profound | | | | spiritual life is of the utmost importance. When |
| personal change or transformation, building and tending | | | | uncertain about life, many people become introverted, |
| and nurturing the lives we want in our deepest hearts | | | | looking for a greater power than themselves. The |
| to have, lives as whole, integrated, peaceful, loving, truly | | | | coach must do all he/she can to understand what the |
| happy people, that is, people who are in tune with spirit. | | | | client is going through and help the client work through |
| A spiritual life coach should work to empower and | | | | the process. Learning to live comfortably with |
| inspire people to, as Bishop John Shelby Spong aptly | | | | uncertainty is one of the primary lessons we must |
| puts it, "Live fully; love wastefully; and be all you can." | | | | learn as incarnated souls. |