![]() "I wanted to share a few words from my own journey for those considering a coaching partnership. My advice: go for it! In September of 2012 I moved to a new company and began work as an Executive Officer, the second-in-charge of a company of 95 Soldiers. We knew that in six short months the company would deploy to southwest Afghanistan and conduct route clearance, driving all over to look for roadside bombs. There was much to do and precious little time to prepare. Always eager, I threw myself into the new position and was quickly immersed in the logistics, maintenance, administration, and training readiness of a company on the road to war. Early morning and late nights were the norm as we trained, prepared, and planned. I slept less, didn't exercise as much, and doubled my coffee intake - lifestyle changes but nothing I couldn't handle. Slowly our deployment drew near. In January of 2013, I began my partnership with an Integrative Health Coach. The goal: work together to manage stress and promote a balanced lifestyle during my deployment. We were skeptical of our new "life coaches." As a Soldier, the idea that I need help to manage my emotions is uncomfortable, to say the least. When faced with a stressful task, we tend to bear down, grit our teeth, and push through to the end and on to the next challenge. Where is there time for self-reflection? Despite my skepticism, I hit it off with Coach Lou right away. Our conversations brought forth new thoughts and observations I had never bothered to express. She coached me towards my goal of reaching mindful awareness during stressful times, and how I to use my mental/emotional processes to manage stress in a healthier manner. For nine months, Coach Lou was an invaluable resource, a sounding board for my ideas and doubts, and a resource to help me develop as a person and leader. Now a few months removed, I fully appreciate how our coaching partnership helped me along my way. Better understanding of self, stress management, keeping perspective in the moment - all things that I gained thanks to Coach Lou. I realize that I will always have a need for coaching, no matter how strong and well I am. There is something to be gained by all. Thanks Coach!" Scott Vitter CPT, US Army ![]() Changing a behavior is difficult to say the least. Behaviors are habits. Habits are created by developing neurological patterns in your brain. Shaped and molded by a combination of genetics, development, environmental, social and familial experiences. The brain is capable of change and developing patterns and establishing new neural pathways. Coaching is a scientifically researched method to successfully achieving new behaviors, habits, neural patterns. Learning, rehearsing, persistence with new behaviors lead to the development of new neural pathways. Developing new healthy behavior patterns doesn't necessarily guarantee prevention of disease or disability from occurring. However, the healthier the habits and behaviors that are mapped in our brains, the stronger our capacity for resilience to stress, disease, sudden illness and disability, if and when it occurs. The result is a more authentic healthier you. Living is about resilience. Standing strong in the face of adversity, when life throws you a curve ball or a maverick comes crashing into your shore of life. Resilience is having the courage to face the adversity, develop persistence and steadfastness to hold on and maintain focus on the silver lining or the light at the end of the tunnel. The only constant in life is change. Life will always bring you waves; some waves will be smooth and some will be mavericks. When life rolls the big ones, the easy action would be to have someone throw you a ring buoy, pull you to safety and tell you what you did wrong and what you need to to right. This parallels the current paradigm in health care that is failing. What then, you may say, will help me survive those tough currents? After spending 20 plus years treating patients acutely after sudden onset illness, I have witnessed what does not work. Dishing out education, information, what to do and what not to do...etc., is ineffective at best. After returning home, they (patients) begin "feeling better" in a few weeks, they return to the same lifestyle, the same unhealthy choices landing back in the emergency room with the same or more severe illness and consequences. A few receive their wake-up call during their hospital course and actually do seek empowerment and help to change course to a healthier lifestyle. Many do not. The answer for better outcomes in our health care system and our individual ownership of health is learning to be a better swimmer through those big waves that pull us under. Learning to adapt, learning confidence, becoming stronger to life's many waves leads to being a better swimmer. Integrative Health Coaching is the missing link that will fill in this gap of our current failing health care system. A coach will inspire, uncover motivation, provide reinforcement, resources, tools, and accountability for lasting change...your partner in the ocean of life with the outcome of being a better swimmer! -Coach Lou Winterling, July 3, 2014 |
Coach LouHead Coach & Trainer Archives
January 2016
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