While the costs will vary between coaches and counselors, it’s not surprising that the use of these services can consume a significant chunk of a person’s finances. However, that shouldn’t stop you from getting where you want to be in life. The results can be rewarding in the end, both from a financial standpoint and a personal growth one. For example, a coach or counselor can help you acquire the skills needed for a career that could lead to a healthy income. You could make back the money that you spent on hiring professional help, and then some. Additionally, may be a better decision financially to increase the opportunities for life change by investing in your personal growth rather than saving up for next year’s newest car model, for example. Think about it, why would you invest in something that depreciates over time? Isn’t it better to invest in yourself (i.e., something that can appreciate over time)?
Looking To A Mentor
Another resource for people looking to change where their life is headed is in the form of a mentor. This is not a very talked about route in the mainstream. Mentors don’t usually advertise that they are mentors – the good ones don’t, anyway. A mentor is a person who you respect, look up too, and whose life or lifestyle you want to model yours after. They provide you with their wisdom, share their experiences, and can help you acquire the skills needed to foster professional or personal development. Generally there is no monetary fee, as a mentor is usually at a point in his life where he is sharing his knowledge because of altruistic reasons. But there may be an unspoken "quid pro quo" aspect that underlies the relationship. Don’t cringe. It’s usually the polite thing to do; that is, to give something back to the person who invested a lot of time and effort into your own personal development. Mentors may not expect anything in return, but it’s ok to give back something as a gesture of thanks or to show your mentor that you have really taken what he has given you to heart. You can find a mentor by making yourself available to others, joining social networks, attending seminars, or by just asking others for help. You’ll know who the mentors are. You’ll know it because you’ll say to yourself, “I want to be like that person.”
So the next time you’ve come face to face with an obstacle in life, what will you do? Coaches, counselors, psychotherapists, and mentors are just one way of getting help when you feel stuck. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to pay for help. But you’ve got to start doing, and stop not doing. You’ve got to apply what you learn and expect that the first time you try something that it won’t automatically lead to change. It’s a process. Sometimes it’s a shorter process for some, and a longer process for others. But your life will never change unless you change first. Step out of your comfort zone and risk a little.
