Life Priorities
My youngest child just started college, so my life is in sudden transition. It seems like a good time to reevaluate my goals and priorities, but I’m not sure where to start. How can I make the most of this next phase of my life?
This is a time of enormous transition as you enter a new phase of your life, one where your focus can begin to shift toward your purpose, your dreams, your goals and your legacy. Some people might face this time with a sense of disappointment (“life hasn’t gone the way I thought it would and I don’t feel ready for this stage”), others with a sense of bafflement (“life has gone well, so why do I feel unsatisfied as I look forward?”), still others with feelings of anticipation (“I can finally focus on me! I wonder what’s next”).
Only you can really determine your next priorities, but there are a number of specific life spheres that you may want to consider as you think about what’s important to you. These 11 life spheres make up what is commonly called the life balance wheel. This might also be a good time to really delve into your personal life’s purpose. Why are you here? What gives your life meaning This might seem intimidating at first, but the rewards of this exploration are very rich. This exploration is one you can certainly do on your own, but the support of a life coach can exponentially increase the speed of the search.
A life coach provides encouragement when you need it, accountability when you’re slipping, reminders when you lose sight of where you’ve been or where you said you were going, and challenges when you’re stuck in the ruts of old thought patterns. Even more, a life coach provides a consistent, safe space for personal exploration and helps you notice your life as it unfolds.
There are many other supports available to you as you enter this new phase. You can let this be a time of exploration in all kinds of arenas. How can you feel your healthiest? Have you ever worked with a nutritionist, a yoga therapist, a chiropractor, or an Ayurvedic practitioner? How could you feel your most relaxed? Have you ever worked with a massage therapist or manual therapies practitioner? How could you maximize your sense of joy? Have you ever worked with a hypnotherapist? What else might be out there to support you right now?
Congratulations on your openness in acknowledging this time of change.
Warm wishes for your present and your future,
Melissa Parkerton, MA
by Melissa Parkerton, MA
Life Coach