Perhaps your days and weeks have somehow become very full but somehow not fulfilling. Maybe you were following a path that seemed to make sense at one point but suddenly has you in a place that feels stuck. How did you get here? And, more importantly, how do you get out of this place and on with the vibrant, passionate life you desire and deserve?

An underlying guide to the coaching session is the question: What makes it all worthwhile? I like to call this "finding the sparks." The sparks are wellsprings of personal resource. The concept of the spark is based on the demonstrated fact that we have more time and energy for those things that we really love. Over time, this means you work less hard for more personal gain. Finding your personal sparks is often the first step toward creating a deeply fulfilling life. And finding this fulfillment is one of the most common goals sought after and achieved by my clients.

How can you unearth these sparks that you may have covered in a think layer of ashes consisting of "must do's," "should's, and daily minutiae? Here are a few questions to consider:

    1) If you find your life full of must's and should's ask the questions: Is this really true? Must I really do this? What is the consequence if I do not? Are these must's and should's real or have I created them? Is there a way for me to reframe this situation so that it is better suited to me? Challenge yourself to see the "real" limits versus       "created" limits of your life.

    2) If you feel unsure about what you would do evenif you had the freedom to do it. Ask the questions: When do you feel the most like yourself or when do you feel the most content, complete, or full? Instead of looking for a career or way of living that is you. Think about any aspect of your life that gives you joy. It could be when you are leading and inspiring other people, quiet time in the morning drinking a cup of coffee, or when making a special card for a friend's     birthday. There is no part of your life that is unworthy of      consideration.

    3) Sometimes looking to the big picture is helpful too. Our dreams and hopes provide us with answers even if they seem impossible in the present moment -even if others think they are crazy. Ask yourself the question: what would I do and who would I be if I was living my ideal life? Don't bother checking in with reality for this question. Dream as big as you can.

You've uncovered a few embers representing forgotten interests and now you can't stop thinking about them, or you find yourself continually fantasizing about the life you could have had or would have "if only". This wishing and dreaming doesn't have to be just an escape from a life you don't feel good about. It can be a tool to help you see more clearly where you want to go. Similarly, your longings, your jealousies, your disappointments, and your joys are all clues that can lead you to a richer and fuller life. Rather than push these thoughts and feelings aside, as many of us try to, it is helpful to take a close look at them so you can gain a clearer understanding of how you would like to live.

Sometimes our "mistakes" are also clues to who we really want to be. People seek internal balance. If they are not acknowledging and meeting their needs in a healthy way, they will likely try and sneak them in any way they can. These covert approaches to getting our needs met sometimes looks like problems or mistakes. That is until they are examined more closely for the clues they contain. Then, they can become tools for living a more satisfying life.
 
Who you want to be is truly who you are. The trick is how to focus yourattention and apply your action to bringing out this inner and unique and important self. The following suggestions offer a few ways to begin moving toward a more authentic you.

    1)Whenever you feel the most fully yourself, start by         doing that more.

    2) Pick 1-3 goals that are really exciting or compelling. If     you think: well I should... then you on not on the right         track. If you think: that would make happier than                 anything else...you are moving in the right direction.

    3) Take one action every day that moves you toward your     goal.

    4) Suspend skepticism or doubt and just do it.

    5) Be nice to yourself; It makes the process and the             results that much
    richer.

Maybe you have considered working with a coach but didn't quite know where to start. Here are some pointers on picking a life coach.