Ask Coach Vanessa: A garden variety of questions

Hello again! It's been awhile since the "Ask Coach Vanessa" column has made an appearance. I recently had a handful of questions sent my way and thought I'd address them all here. For those unfamiliar with the column, here's a little blurb that sums it up:

* The Ask Coach Vanessa column helps you think in the box, outside the box, around the box, and without a box. You will get clarity, resources, a plan of action, and plain old feel better. Got a question or a scenario that you'd like some FREE coaching on? Click 'Email Me" on the bottom right. *

Onto the questions...

#1 - "How to find true life purpose" - C.B.

Great question! It's kind of like walking around looking for a treasure when the chest is sitting right in the middle of you. Here are 3 tips for finding your true life purpose:

✿ Assume you have already found your purpose and are living it. It may not look how you thought it would, but every experience, and how we feel about it, gives us clues and unveils more of our purpose. Essentially, each moment gives us the opportunity to learn and become more clear about who we are.

✿ Pay attention to what's showing up in your life. This includes repetitive thoughts and feelings, synchronicity, dream images, fantasies or visions of the future. Themes of your relationships, career choices, family dynamics. Ask yourself "If this experience was my life purpose talking to me, what is it saying, what would it like me to understand?"

✿ Ask yourself some more key questions like - What conversations do I keep returning to? What lights me up? What would I love to have happen and why? What is life asking of me? What would I like to contribute?

Have fun with it!

#2 - "Even with all the tools and information I have, I have issues thinking of myself as an expert so have a block in making my coaching business successful. I just can't see myself as a guru even with all the info I have and my ability to see what others need and assist them in getting it. Since I have issues getting past this block I feel like even though I have a talent for helping others get past their blocks I feel subpar. How do I get past this?" - T. C.

You're already helping yourself move past the block by acknowledging that it exists. That's the first step. Next, I would remind yourself that you're human. We all have stuff we're working on, and often times it's the very thing that we excel in when working with clients.

Who says you have to think of yourself as an expert or a guru? You are you. All you have to do is be the best you you can be and trust that it's enough. The mental spin we can all get ourselves into never seems to be solved by focusing on it. Let it be there. Once you accept that it's there, then get yourself into action, even if you're volunteer coaching and building your clientele that way. The action will shift your energy around it, as will acceptance that these feelings and current self-perception are part of your journey.

#3 - "Whats the reason for total numbness and pain 1/2 right side of my back? Blocked energy? vs pinched nerve? vs herniated disc?" -S.B.

Hmm, this one is a bit out of my expertise. It sounds like something a good chiropractor could address. Being a wellness coach though, I'd always suggest supporting your overall health nutritionally getting in some healthy fats to lubricate your insides and start the healing process.

#4 - "What is wellness to you?" - Q.C.

Ah, sometimes the simplest questions are the hardest to answer. Wellness to me is:

✿ Enjoying life, having fun, laughing, and breathing deeply

✿ Taking loving care of yourself in 8 key areas (listed here)

✿ Finding peace and acceptance with where one is at

✿ Going with and doing your part to direct the flow of life

✿ Having a strong community that you contribute to and feel supported by

✿ Feeling connected to the larger picture of life - nature, our spirituality, ancestors and future generations, the evolution of life itself. Knowing we are an essential part of an amazing adventure. 

You can also check out my 7 Basics of Health.

#5 - "What are the dates of the teleseminars? thanks so much!" - C.B.

The teleseminars she's referring to is the *free* Let Your Life Bloom series, which is 9 months long, with 27 guests, which you can learn more about here. They don't happen on a specific date where you call in. When you sign up, you get an email 1x/week with a link to the recording. You can register for that at the top right hand corner.

Thanks for all the questions. Send more my way, I love to answer them!

Comments

[Bridget Pilloud]

I am stuck on that guru thing too. I think it's because we don't want to be perceived as more than others. It's not about being more or less. It's about having information and tools that others need. At least, that's where I'm at today.

[Vanessa Smith, Wellness Coach & Intuitive]

I agree that it's all about sharing what others need. Plus, I figure, we all come here with certain gifts and strong interests, that's God or Spirit moving through us, guiding us to do things for a reason, and by claiming our "expert" or "guru" status we are fulfilling our life calling.