This was not the post I was supposed to write this week. Oops! Life got in the way of my carefully crafted plans the past couple weeks, as life does, and I find myself behind on my promise to myself to post on my blog each week. So here I am, over a week over-due with now TWO posts I need to get out. According to my “Editorial Calendar,” I was supposed to write something insightful about wellness coaching-what it is, how it works, how I can help you. We’ll still get to that…probably next week. I was also going to write about my monthly theme…we’ll get to that, too. For now, I will offer you up this little desperate piece that might be snarky, might be random, but for sure will be honest, transparent, and hopefully entertaining.
Let’s call this “Why I Should Be Your Wellness Coach: A Case Study.”
I should be your wellness coach because I know what real life is like. My life is a constantly revolving shit show that I somehow hold together with lots of lists, a planner that I am slightly obsessed with, a good deal of jaded snark, and yet an underlying optimistic attitude that never lets me fall completely into despair and hopelessness. In other words—I get it. I get that you have a million things going on in your life and just when you think you have a routine and have things somewhat under control, the Universe is going to pop in and say, “Surprise! Here’s a speed bump, a crying kid, an illness, a car problem, or some full-blown hot mess to help you keep it real.” When I am working with my coaching families, I always ask about what all they have going on. How many kids’ activities? What does you day look like? Where does it get difficult? What is your typical pattern of falling apart? I ask these things because I know they are going to happen. I’m not going to sugar coat things and let you set goals that are too big to achieve and leave you feeling hopeless. We will get to those big goals eventually, but first we are going to start small and simple and get some basics in place.
I should be your wellness coach because I have challenges, too. I like my own chocolate chip cookies a little too much. I don’t like to run in the cold—unless it is over 20 degrees—and preferably while it is actively snowing. I rely on caffeine too much. I sometimes don’t get fruit into my day. When you tell me that as much as you want to ditch the pop, (I’m from Iowa. It’s pop; not soda. Move on.) you just really need that caffeine to wake up, stay awake, deal with your daughter’s attitude, etc., etc., I know exactly what you mean. Let’s see what we can do about that that doesn’t leave you exhausted and annoyed.
I should be your wellness coaching because I will provided you with endless hope, motivation, cheerleading, and enthusiasm. Now, you are either thinking that I am some kind of magician if I can give you the motivation to get up and do the things every day or you think that I have an inflated ego and unrealistic expectations of myself and of you. Neither of those things are true. I am always going to believe that you can do it. I am always going to help you find a way. I am always going to ask you questions, make connections and comparisons, reflect your words and feelings, and help you build that motivation for yourself. I am going to celebrate every small win with you and cheer you on the whole way. Even if you don’t see something as a win or a big deal, I am probably going to make it into a big deal. I want you to recognize success everywhere you can so you can build on that and inflate your own ego a little. What I am saying is that I will provide hope, motivation, and enthusiasm in my interaction with you while encouraging you to start building those things in yourself.
I should be your wellness coaching because I am a little bit crazy myself and hopefully you can see how you can be, too. If I can do it, you can do it. You may be thinking that you have enough going on and don’t really want to cross the line into crazy. That’s ok. I am not saying that you have to completely lose your mind in overwhelm or unrealistic expectations. I am hoping that when I tell you that I run across the state on a relay team—yes, the whole state; yes, on the highway; yes, through the night; yes, I am tired; Yes, it is the best thing ever—that you will start to see that maybe you can do hard things. Maybe you can push your own limits and try something scary and a little crazy and learn that there is nothing you can’t do if you really want to. We will find a way to make it happen. If that thing you want to do that you think you can never do is run a mountain race or scuba dive or just eat a full serving of vegetables every day, we will figure it out.
Finally, I should be your wellness coach because I am qualified. I have a Master’s in Counseling Psychology. I am trained by Wellcoaches. I have worked on federal, private, and local research grants looking at helping parents teach their teens to drive better, helping parents help their children through painful medical procedures, program evaluation, and program development. I coach children and families in a pediatric weight management clinic that I co-founded with a pediatrician in 2018. I am a mom and stepmom. I am a farm girl. I am a very slow runner. While I will cheer you on, I will also not give you unrealistic expectations although it may seem like it at the time. You have a lot more potential and ability in you than you think you do. We will find a way to tap into that together.
Next week we’ll get back on track with our regularly scheduled posts where I can tell you more about what will actually happen in wellness coaching. Until then, if you are interested in beginning a coaching journey with me, please DM me on Facebook or Instagram or send me an email at Julia@juliaontheedge.com. I do have a contact form on my website, but apparently it doesn’t work like I thought it would and adjustments need to be made.
Hang in there, friends! We’ll get through all of the crazy together!
Peace from the Edge,
Julia
