Maya has become so stuck in the comfort, yet dissatisfaction, of her life. She hires a life coach named Ben. His sessions give her the confidence to follow her dreams of travel and writing. She starts a blog and books a solo trip to Italy where she...
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Maya had always believed that life had a way of surprising her whenever she least looked forward to it. She lived in an apartment with a cozy lookout at the city park, a job she liked, a tight group of friends, and a cat named Oliver-as comical as it got. Yet, for all its comforts, Maya still felt a lingering sense of dissatisfaction; something was amiss, and she could not place her finger on it.
It was one of those evenings when Maya would spend hours browsing social media. One lucky evening, an ad for a life coach in town popped up from a person named Ben Carter. The tagline was something like, "Unblock your potential from within." Curious, Maya clicked through to find different testimonials of clients who transformed their lives. Skeptical but still intrigued, she signed up for an introductory session.
A week later, Maya entered Ben's office place bright and bathed in sunlight throughout, with plants and plush furniture everywhere. He then smiled warmly at her and from the look in his eyes immediately relaxed, a gesture that quickly dissipated her nervousness. "Welcome, Maya! I'm so glad you're here. What brings you in today?
Maya scrunched up her face, not knowing how to put it into words. "I don't know, I just feel. Stuck, I guess. I've got a good job and friends, but for some reason, I just can't shake this feeling there's something more.
Ben leaned a little more forward, nodding. "That's not the most unusual feeling to have. Life gets so routine sometimes, and we pass over most of the dreams that we have. Let's talk about that just a bit. What does your ideal life look like?
Maya was silent for a moment, as if heating bars before she proceeded. "I have always wanted to travel, write something, maybe even start a blog about my experiences. But I continually postpone it, thinking it is already late or that I just am not good enough for this.
Ben listened intently, taking notes. "What if I were to tell you it is never too late? The one thing blocking your way is the perception of what you can do. Let's make a detailed plan to start turning those dreams into reality.
Over the next few weeks, Maya was also seeing Ben on a pretty regular basis. He worked with her to establish attainable goals, encouraged her to focus on and develop her creativity, and helped her to reevaluate negative thinking. He taught her mindfulness techniques, seeing the necessity of living day by day.
Maya started small-just a few blog entries about her life in the city, including hilarious stories about Oliver and her quirky job as a graphic designer. Surprisingly, her friends loved them and asked for more. The more she wrote, the deeper into it she got.
Meanwhile, under Ben's tutelage, she also started to make plans for her solo trip to Italy-a dream she had shoved aside for many years. "Imagine the stories you could tell and the inspiration you could find," Ben had said with a twinkle in his eye.
Closer the days of her trip arrived, the excitement did a jig inside of her. Meandering the cobblestone streets of Florence, indulging in cold gelato on the hot sunbaked streets, and drinking in the ages of history was the freedom she had not known in ages.
This was the morning of her leaving, and she woke up with that stimulating feeling of a mix of nerves and allure. She packed a bag, including a journal to carry on the journey. Before heading to the airport, she took some time to reflect in her apartment. The walls that once felt constrictive now felt like a cocoon from which she was finally emerging.
In Italy, Maya seized every moment. She trolled through the busy markets, sketched the grand architecture, and wrote in her journal while sipping espresso at a sun-drenched café. The people she met were locals and fellow travelers alike, fueling her inspiration. She returned home with stories in her heart and a new sense of purpose.
When she got back home, Maya didn't stop writing, eventually creating her blog "Life Is Good." Most who felt as stuck as she once did could find common ground with her. The honesty of her voice flowed through humor and vulnerability. As her readership continued to grow, so did the speaking opportunities she began to receive for local events about her journey and how life coaching affected her.
Over the next few weeks, Maya was also seeing Ben on a pretty regular basis. He worked with her to establish attainable goals, encouraged her to focus on and develop her creativity, and helped her to reevaluate negative thinking. He taught her mindfulness techniques, seeing the necessity of living day by day.
Maya started small-just a few blog entries about her life in the city, including hilarious stories about Oliver and her quirky job as a graphic designer. Surprisingly, her friends loved them and asked for more. The more she wrote, the deeper into it she got.
Meanwhile, under Ben's tutelage, she also started to make plans for her solo trip to Italy-a dream she had shoved aside for many years. "Imagine the stories you could tell and the inspiration you could find," Ben had said with a twinkle in his eye.
Closer the days of her trip arrived, the excitement did a jig inside of her. Meandering the cobblestone streets of Florence, indulging in cold gelato on the hot sunbaked streets, and drinking in the ages of history was the freedom she had not known in ages.
This was the morning of her leaving, and she woke up with that stimulating feeling of a mix of nerves and allure. She packed a bag, including a journal to carry on the journey. Before heading to the airport, she took some time to reflect in her apartment. The walls that once felt constrictive now felt like a cocoon from which she was finally emerging.
In Italy, Maya seized every moment. She trolled through the busy markets, sketched the grand architecture, and wrote in her journal while sipping espresso at a sun-drenched café. The people she met were locals and fellow travelers alike, fueling her inspiration. She returned home with stories in her heart and a new sense of purpose.
When she got back home, Maya didn't stop writing, eventually creating her blog "Life Is Good." Most who felt as stuck as she once did could find common ground with her. The honesty of her voice flowed through humor and vulnerability. As her readership continued to grow, so did the speaking opportunities she began to receive for local events about her journey and how life coaching affected her.
Several months later, Maya sat again in Ben's office but this time to relate her successes. "I cannot believe how much has changed," she said, shining, "I'm finally living the life I wanted. Thank you for helping me see what was possible.".
A smile beamed across Ben's face, his eyes gleaming with pride. "You did the hard work Maya-little specific help was needed to uncover the potential that had already been there within you.
Maya does not leave the office the same day as a changed man but is anointed with the conviction that life is good and full of endless possibilities.
