Powerful Leadership Through Coaching

14Coaching the Whole-Person

Determine what motivates you and you can find your path to love, happiness and influence and that which you seek to make your life complete.

—Louis Howard, professor of mathematics at MIT

Life can be difficult and stressful. No one is entitled to anything, and no one owes you anything. Life can also be full of false expectations, unrealistic demands, ups and downs, detours, setbacks, empty experiences, thrills, meaningful moments, and real connections with people in a number of diverse ways. Our human experience is full of change, challenge, adaptation, and a precious life that can be fulfilling, adventurous, and joyful. The nature of the work-life balance can be difficult and feel unrealistic and unobtainable. How do we balance living, working, health, and relationships? How do we find meaning and purpose? How do we succeed and find joy and real happiness? How do we fulfill our unique gifts, strengths, and contribution? How do we find a high quality of life? These are all important questions to consider in our life’s journey. As George Bernard Shaw stated, “Life isn’t about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.” So how do we create the life that we want? How do we engage our whole-person?

When we seek to improve and sustain our happiness, performance, and success in life, it begins by overcoming the mindset that we are one-dimensional beings. We need to love what we do and overcome the focus on our work dimension. Professional success ...