From an early age, I’ve wanted to help others feel better about themselves. I think this was due to a desire to feel better about myself. As a little girl, I unknowingly followed the Buddha’s guidance of trying to be the change I wanted to see in the world and sought to provide for others the encouragement and positivity that was missing in my life.
I’ve always been a good listener, a loyal friend and confidant. I’m a natural uplifter who sees the cup as half full and looks for a silver lining in challenging circumstances. Because of this, friends and family often seek me out to share their problems and struggles. Throughout the years, I learned that I could help people suffer less and felt very connected to this mission of empowering lives by helping people feel seen, heard, and valued.
After my mother’s sudden death in 2018, I went into a bit of an untethered tailspin. The shock of the finality of her being lead me to seek the help of a therapist. I felt unmoored and lost at sea. I questioned my life and choices up until that point. Time felt more precious than ever before and I felt an urgency to live a life that I would not regret on my deathbed. My therapist helped me to see how I had been playing it small, playing it safe, and ignoring my inner voice that urged me to seek more meaning and fulfillment in my life. I was not living in alignment with my calling, purpose, and passion.
While in therapy, I shared the knowledge and perspectives I’d gained from decades of interest in psychology and personal growth and development so often that my therapist teasingly started calling me doctor. It was shortly after actually experiencing the transformation of working with coach that I began to investigate a path forward as a coach. My therapist encouraged me towards coaching, sharing that I would be very well suited to it since I would be able to use my knowledge, experience, and personality in service of a greater purpose. I explored it, found a path forward, and became a certified life coach.
Like many others, I initially had doubts about the concept of coaching. However, with increased understanding and deeper study, I came to realize that with my B.A. in Psychology and previous studies in the realm of self-development, I could make a more significant impact in this field than in any other. The skepticism surrounding life coaching has created a challenge in reshaping and educating people about its benefits. Nonetheless, I am wholeheartedly committed to tackling this task as part of my life coaching transformation.
During the 2020 pandemic, I worked with the NYSDOH to help stop the spread of Covid-19 and to provide services, resources, and support to those in need. I was able to help so many people to navigate an extremely challenging and frightening time. I truly care about people and derive fulfillment and satisfaction from helping others improve their lives and feel better. One of the biggest issues I see in my work is the lack of love that so many people feel for themselves. Not only is self-love often lacking, but much of the time self-loathing is present instead. This often leads low self-worth.I believe we are all special and that we each have a unique gift or talent to share with the world. Courageously shining our light and sharing our gifts is what we are meant for, but so few of us receive messages that would encourage or embolden us to do so. We are not told about our specialness, our worthiness, and our inherent value and therefore sometimes struggle to believe it.
Through my coaching work, I help my clients work through their issues and learn to believe in themselves and their dreams. Some clients come to me after reading numerous books or seeking advice from friends, and once they enter my space, we dive into the work immediately. Together, we embark on their journey of empowerment and self-discovery using effective coaching strategies, empathy and guidance. Others are dealing with a transition they were not prepared for and need a different sort of support: navigating a life transition; overcoming grief and loss; or regaining purposeful living. I can be a consultant, a guide, an enthusiastic supporter, or a grounding force depending on the client’s needs.
Typically, I can shift your perspective within the first 15-60 minutes of our consultation – I'm that effective and efficient. It's not always a slow process; personally, when I decide to invest in something, I'm prepared to put in the work and in that environment things can move quickly. While it’s not an easy journey, neither is it an overly challenging one; it's more about confronting your problems and finding empowerment in the process.
I see you. I hear you. I'll provide straightforward insights, delivered gently if necessary or more directly if you prefer. If there are deep-seated traumas, I'll guide you towards a therapist. Try me – I'm here to support you. While you can definitely move forward on your own, having a coach accelerates the process and makes the journey all the more rewarding!
As always, I'm here to help,
Lourdes
@lourdes_laifer
Comments