Motivated but Feeling Stuck? How Coaching Helps Clients Turn Ideas Into Action

I’m not the most consistent podcast listener, but I recently tuned into an episode of Sam Vander Wielen’s podcast. She and her guest were talking about “information obesity,” and I couldn’t agree more. Growing up, multiple textbooks and documentaries called this era “the information age.” That sounds like a boon, right? But in many ways, it’s actually part of the struggle many clients bring to me. Keep reading for my take on how coaching provides timely support to balance the overwhelm, inaction, and feelings of inadequacy that come with being human in the 21st century.

If you’re curious about how coaching differs from therapy, I covered that in a previous blog. Today, I want to focus on who I specifically help through my use of Core Energy Coaching®.

Early on, as I was shaping the foundation of my coaching practice, I realized something important: I’m becoming the coach I needed when I first started this journey. I spent a lot of time avoiding the entrepreneurial path because I was scared, confused, and unsure of my own skills. So it’s no surprise that my mission is to help people who feel lost or stuck, unsatisfied and unfulfilled, even when—by every metric—they’re doing well in life.

The first time I reached out to a coach on Instagram, I wanted to get to the root of why I was struggling to find motivation to go to the gym. She was a wellness coach who focused on helping clients develop an open mindset versus a fixed one. I knew something was happening internally with my perception or mindset, but I couldn’t quite identify it. When I described my experience, she told me I probably needed therapy.

Looking back, I realize she was more of a wellness consultant with a specific method to help clients achieve certain goals—without necessarily exploring deeper questions of identity or self-awareness. No judgment here; I respect her for honoring her business model. But I felt pretty silly for being vulnerable only to be dismissed, especially because I knew I didn’t need therapy to get to the root of my motivation struggles. Wellness is a high value of mine, and nothing was impacting my mental health in a way that felt like therapy was the right route.

That experience shaped my understanding and expectations of coaching—until I decided to dive down the rabbit hole and become a coach myself. What drew me to iPEC was their core mission of raising consciousness, not just helping clients meet goals. Personally, I feel most at ease with people who are highly self-aware because they understand how they choose to approach the world and take ownership of that approach. It’s not just about what they’re doing, but who they are and why they’re doing things the way they do.

Consciousness and awareness are central to how I coach because ultimately, who you are is key to what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. Sure, the specific task or goal you want to accomplish matters—but the Core Energy Coaching® style is about lasting results. In other words, if our work together is successful, you’ll be able to apply what you uncover in our sessions to any other goals you pursue in the future.

So, while I was trying to get to the root of who I was and raise awareness before focusing on a specific goal, the coach I initially reached out to used a different coaching model—one focused mostly on what I wanted to do and telling me how to do it.

There are many coaching styles, even among accredited coaches (check out the ICF if you’re curious about the ethics and competencies accredited coaches follow). That’s why it’s important to understand the methods and approaches a coach uses. Whether you’re reaching out by email, direct message, or during a consultation call, the questions you bring to your potential coaching partner are just as valuable as the information they share with you. So don’t be afraid to really get to know how someone works before you sign a contract and book sessions.

If you’re interested in finding out how we can partner to raise your own levels of awareness, and work towards your goals, take my Discovery Quiz and find out if Pattern + Purpose™ is the right fit.