“Coaching?! I bet I’d be great at coaching! I love when people come to me for the answers to figure out their life. Because, to be honest, most people’s lives are messed up and I usually know what they should do...”

I look back and laugh now, but I’m pretty sure that was basically my thought when I first heard about coaching. People who are bad at managing their life hire someone to manage it for them, right??

Boy, did I have some perspectives shift over the next few years!

Let me tell you a little of my coaching journey:

I took my first coaching course, Coaching Culture, because of a desire to help other people. But I needed help first.

• I needed to learn to let go - to trust that God is speaking to everyone and that they can hear Him for themselves.
• I had to release my “need to be needed” and recognize that the best coaching empowers and gives support for growth.
• I needed to learn how to listen, how to REALLY listen, with curiosity,...

I believe if you are a believer then you are a leader, because whether you like it or not, whether you realize it or not, people are expecting you to model Biblical living. 

It's not easy, but it can be simple.  

YOU DON'T NEED TO BE PERFECT,  but you do need to be intentionally growing and authentic about your pursuit of becoming like Christ.  

So what was Jesus really like? What did He promote as leadership?  

Matthew 23:11 says, "Whoever is your servant is the greatest among you."  

In my opinion, serving is the best, hardest, and yet simplest lifestyle choice we can make as believers. Let me explain.  

It is best because Jesus called us to it. His Kingdom ways are upside down from the world.  

It is hardest because it does not come naturally, it requires practice and patience as we all learn how to realize who He is to us and reflect Him to others.  

It is simplest when we just let go....

Bridges Coaching exists to make disciples, not dependents.

We do this through:

• training leaders in the Coaching Culture
• guiding people to understand their Destiny by Design
• personal coaching
• guided workshops: Soul Care Personal Retreat and the Life on Purpose Workshop
• self-guided coaching journal book by Cindy called Traction

It's easy to go through life unintentionally not engaging in what God has for you personally.

It takes clarity and intentionality to move with purpose engaging in God's unique best next step for you! 

Most people don't mean to be dependent but here's how you could tell if you are tending that way. Give yourself 1 point for a positive response to any of these 10 markers.

___ I would prefer if someone would just tell me what to do.

___ If only things would come together for me as they do for everyone else.

___ I can't be expected to adult, I just never got the tools.

___ If the right leader would just mentor me, then I could really become...

[Tips and Tools Series]

You know that thing. The one that really ticks you off. And you're like "AHHHH!!! Why does this keep happening? Can't they see this isn't right?"

Or maybe you're more self-focused and you react to the thing by wishing you weren't so________________ (insert self-judgment here, so quiet, so moody, so wordy, so hot.... whatever.)

Whichever it is here's a quick tip to prepare for the next time THAT happens. 

Let me introduce the "Rethink and Prethink".

It's simple really.

You go back to that moment in your mind and define when you were triggered and how you reacted. Whether the other person was at fault or the situation wasn't right is not our immediate concern, but more so how we reacted in that moment.

Many times we live in a state of regret or anger. Or maybe we vacillate between both. 

The key is to look back and redo what happened in your head. Then rethink it. What should you have done? How would you like to have shown up?

Now take what...

Even Jesus had to answer these age-old questions. 

     "What should I do?" & "When should I do it?"

In coaching, we often focus on the first question. We help people discern a goal and then make SMART goals to move toward that goal. 

BUT, what if we are missing a key element? 

TIMING!

Imagine Jesus as a young adult. Let's say He is 23 and He is fully God and fully man. He is capable of miracles. He knows his mission is to bring the kingdom of God to mankind - to change the way people relate to God from His time forward.

What a mission?!

I would have been anxious to get going! 

I would have jumped the gun! 

He was sure of His calling. He had an important destiny. He waited on His Father for the right timing.

I often rush....I want to move things forward so badly that I often pre-empt the perfect timing of God. Ahhh, to know His voice and discern His will, not just in the destination but in the timing!

"Jesus said to his...

Let's talk about "Doing" vs "Being", or maybe let's talk about "Doing" without "Being".

In the past couple of decades, there has been a lot of emphasis on just "being". It is valuable to "be". 

     Be in God's presence.

     Know who you are as a believer.

     Rest in His love without striving.

     Seep yourself in gratefulness that salvation cannot be earned, but only can come through receiving.

THIS IS ALL INVALUABLE! Our foundational core needs to be centered!

Yet somehow in the midst of it all "doing" got a bad rap. I find myself with James on this. 

My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them? James 2:14

Pretty clear to me.

And yet I get it. If we have only "doing" or works, we are completely missing the point of grace. 

"Doing" gets a bad rap when it is not preceded by "being".

Ephesians 2:10 says, "God...

[Tips and Tools Series]

I first heard this acronym from Josh Finley, my pastor at the time, and it stuck with me. 

It makes total sense, but when you are in the middle of stuff  - these tips are not usually our first go-to for some reason.

When we feel like this picture we probably all need to HALT and if you are coaching someone who feels like this, the most useful questions for them could be HALT type questions.

(I did a little research and can't give credit to any one source for HALT - so if you know where it originated please let me know!)

H- stands for hungry. Simple right? But if you have ever fasted or had to go without food for whatever reason, you know that hunger can cloud your judgment and things feel a LOT different and more manageable when you have had a good meal!

A- is for angry. If you have some unresolved issues, dealing with your anger will keep you from depression or aggression!

Do you need to forgive someone?

Do you need to frame up a crucial...

Next Level Coach training is not available to everyone- in fact, it's a private registration page you can't even find on the Bridges website.

But we wanted to share a shout-out to our alumni that this year's Next Level Coach Training registration is open till Aug 20 or the cohort gets filled.

If you are a Bridges Certified Life Coach and you are interested in leveling up your coaching competency, getting credentialed with ICF or CCNI, or working as a Bridges coach training facilitator or associate coach, this course could be for you.

Check out the course details (there's so much in there!) and then check out the discount details below!

Two ways to register:

• Pay full price upfront Total - $2,250.
• Use the payment plan of $600 per month. Total - $2400 

Honestly, I know this is a huge investment but the payoff is huge as well!

Let me know if you have any questions and may God guide your every next!

Building Bridges together,

Cindy

...

[Tips & Tools Series]

We've all been there.

Whether you are hoping to help someone else or trying to figure things out for yourself, being puzzled or confused about how to process something is difficult.

In Tom Paterson's STRATOP process he uses 4 clarifying questions that can bring clarity set anyone up for success.

I've personally used these questions to better understand everything from relational interactions to evaluating organizational structure. They are especially valuable for reviewing events and systems and can be used for family, ministry, or work interactions.

BUT WAIT - before you read any further. Pause a moment and pick an actual item you would like to assess. It could be just about anything. Think of a relationship, situation, or even an event where you would like to have a better understanding of what is going on.

Okay - got it? 

Now you can read on!

1) What's right?

Verbalizing what is good about the situation is a healthy and valuable...

Here are 5 other people groups we have seen benefit from coaching certification.

Parents

What a surprise! So many alumni took the training for another reason, but it has significantly affected their parenting. Whether their kids are preschoolers or full-blown adults, coaching shifts not only the conversation but especially the results!

Friends

Ever have a friend that keeps talking to you about the same thing(s) over and over. It's like they are stuck on repeat with the situation they are facing. A couple good coaching questions could change everything!

Adult Children

Talking to your parents about decisions they need to make as they age can be difficult. Coach training gives you the conversational tools to help create awareness without telling others what to do.

Business Leaders

Coaching isn't only for spiritual growth. Collaborative and self-motivated goal affiliation affects buy-in, productivity, longevity, camaraderie, and other vital markers in an organization....