I have been on an internal journey the last couple of years looking at the time when I would need to reenter the workforce. We decided that I would need a steady income by the time Kyra starts kindergarten.
I loved my former career working in psychology facilitating support groups, helping people through transitions in older age, and providing resources to people. I really wanted to be able to be in the profession I love and use the education and skills I have. However, I felt torn about the idea of the girls being in childcare after school and during the summer. So I wondered if it would be better for me to get a retail or restaurant job on the nights and weekends to supplement our income during the hours that Andy is home, so no childcare would be needed. Or should I change careers completely and get education in medical transcription to be able to work from home. Honestly in weighing the options I kept feeling pretty frazzeled. Then there was this other possibility hanging out in the side in my mind- Life Coaching. Life coaching held the possibility of working from home (since often life coaching is done by telephone) and the possibility of using my education and skills in psychology. It sounded wonderful, but so incredibly risky. It's a newer profession, often people work for themselves, which means marketing myself and finding my clients. It seemed like a crazy risk, so I put it out of my head. But it wouldn't get out of my head.
So after praying about it and talking to Andy about it I decided to go for it. I found a program built for someone like me, who already has a Master's in Psychology, and I enrolled in classes to get a certificate in Life Coaching. And guess what, I still think this is one of the riskiest things I have done in my life.
However, I love life coaching and I really believe in the power of this technique and the possibilities for individuals in it. I loved the classes and I love coaching people through struggles, transitions, and desired goals. Andy has been so supportive in this new venture and it is requiring a whole new level of trusting the Lord for me.
The classes were all done by telephone and for several weeks of one class, I had to listen and participate in the class while sitting in the parking lot at my girls' school so that I could pick them up right at 3 when the class ended. So Kyra and I adjusted to make this situation work by having fun snacks for Kyra and a movie on the iPod for her to watch. She was a jewel and also a pain at times, but we made it! I finished my classes in March.
You may wonder what exactly life coaching is. It is partnering with women to help them make changes to their lives for the better, whether this is career changes, strengthening relationships, improving exercise and diet, working through a loss, or finding work/home life balance. I provide questions and tools to help clients get unstuck. If you know of someone that could benefit from this type of service/partnership have them email. rebekah@rklifecoach.com
In the next couple of months, while I am getting my business up and rolling, I am coaching for free. Coaching is very convenient too because it is most often done over the phone but also in person too. I am so excited to see who God will bring into my life through my new business and how He will grow me too!
