Having meditated for last few years, I relate to Coaching in many different ways. I feel I have found my calling in Coaching and there are several reasons I feel this way.

In meditation, one goes into the zone where there are no thoughts, nothing exists even you yourself don’t exist. Coaching also takes you to a zone many times which is not known to the coach and coachee, something that coachee may have experienced for the first time. I am not talking only about the things that the coachee may have discovered about himself/herself for the first time but just the feeling of being there in that moment and flow is pure bliss. The joy and peace in that zone is something which can’t be explained in both coaching and meditation.

During coaching, the coach probes on the issue at hand but while probing and peeling layers, the coachee may get answers to his/her life questions, life purpose. In meditation, one comes to know who one is, what is the purpose of one’s life and where one wants to go.

My Spiritual Guru always talks about connecting with a Soul or rather becoming a Soul…meaning going beyond the physical body and being in touch with who you really are. This is not easy and needs a lot of practice and sadhana. Coach also needs good amount of practice to conduct a good coaching session and help coachee reach the real cause or root of the issue. Once coach achieves a mastery, coaching sessions are free flowing.

Many times in life, we hesitate taking certain decisions, we don’t understand why we don’t do something even when the whole world wants us to do it. It is because deep down, our soul doesn’t want us to do it. It is possible to achieve this state of our soul guiding us when one meditates. A good coach also helps us go down to the real person within by peeling the outside layers one by one. These layers are of our fears, inhibitions, obstacles which we may not know existed. The coach helps us reach the real us / our identity by asking right questions, probing, just being available for the coachee by being non-judgemental. Coachee discovers parts about himself/herself, he or she has never known before in a well conducted coaching session. It is a journey similar to meditation to find our own true self.

The coach helps the coachee reach his/her inner self so that coachee finds solutions to the problems / issues and reach his/her potential. After a good coaching session, coachee is committed to what he / she has decided and stands by it. Coachee is self-motivated and doesn’t look for external reaffirmation. Meditation also helps one find one’s own self and get closer to the soul. The one who meditates gets answers from within and doesn’t have to depend on external suggestions / solutions / advice. In both meditation and coaching, person gets answers to his/her questions, there are aha moments, there is discovery.

No wonder, there are so many discussions around Coaching and Spirituality within coaching community. This is a deep subject and a lot still needs to be explored…I am still exploring…

About the Author

Vandana Shejwal is a Master Certified Coach and Human Resources professional with several years of industry experience. She is currently leading HR function at Daiwa Portfolio Advisory. She is passionate about Meditation, Classical dance of Bharatanatyam and connecting with people.

Image Courtsey : https://pixabay.com/en/photos/spirituality/?