Resistance to Change

Published by Lisa J Butler on

Quite often, people will arrange a coaching session and then just before the session, they contact me to say they need to reschedule. This can happen several times, and sometimes they end up cancelling all together and never take advantage of the opportunities that coaching offers them. Sometimes they just don’t turn up. Why does this happen when they are so filled with enthusiasm to reach for their goals or resolve an issue that’s holding them back from enjoying life to the full?

Their reasons for rescheduling or cancelling are always valid, but I’ve come to understand that some people, when faced with the reality of making a change in their life, feel a level of resistance that puts fear into even the most enthusiastic mind. The excuses, whilst valid, are rarely the true reason for bailing on the session, but fear is a powerful thing. Fear of failing or succeeding, fear of change, and fear of the unknown – these are among the biggest roadblocks people face, and taking that first step into a coaching session is a big one for a lot of people.

Its not always easy to ‘bite the bullet’ and place action behind goals to start actually working toward them. And it can be a very daunting prospect to look at issues in one’s life that are causing unhappiness, and change the emotional habits and thought processes that have been held for a long time. Moving out of the comfort zone can be hard for many people. A good coach journeys alongside their client, motivating and gently challenging them to move forward in positive and helpful ways. A good coach understands how daunting it can be for people to share their thoughts, fears and dreams with a stranger and so they will build a strong relationship with their client based on confidentiality, trust and respect.

If you’ve put off booking or attending a coaching session, know that its normal to feel a certain level of trepidation, but pushing through your resistance to get to that first session is the most empowering thing you can do for yourself and will lead to the opportunities for personal growth and success that you dream of attaining.  As I’ve heard it said, “Feel the fear and do it anyway!”