Coach Approach Blog

I was 17 years old. My hand was on the doorknob of Dr. Miles' office at Wheaton College. I was about to have a conversation that would end in me being expelled, and my life was about to be ruined. 

To understand the stakes, you'd have to know more of my backstory.

I was raised in the kind of utopian/dystopian household you could learn about if you watch the documentary "Shiny, Happy People" - a home in which punishment was swift and early, and rewards were meted out based on accomplishment and…

Nearly twenty years ago, I was introduced to "The Five A's." A simple but powerful framework in emotional healing: Attention, Acceptance, Appreciation, Affection, and Allowing.

These are the deep emotional nutrients we long for as human beings. It was so touching to me to find this framework, that I spent hours drawing the five A's, journaling with them, and committing to offering them to others.

They are what we all hope to receive from parents, friends, partners, and communities. And sometim…

I have the honor of offering regular Coaching Supervision sessions, often one-on-one, and regularly in groups. Supervision is a time of deep, sacred reflection - one I believe it's important to engage in throughout a coach's career. 

The types of questions I like to bring to coaching supervision are those that bring me more deeply to myself, and bring more awareness of how my subconscious instincts might be coming into play.

If you're a coach or another helping professional, or just a person w…

Earlier today, my computer went dark.

I’d been working quietly, deep in something that mattered to me. My laptop was plugged in, or so I thought. But the screen went black—no big drama, just quietly off.

After a moment of confusion, I checked the cord. It was snug in the laptop. Everything seemed right. But when I looked a little further, I noticed the plug had come loose from the wall. Not far—just a small shift—but enough to cut the connection.

Plugged in - but not at the source.

And someh…

When I first founded Awaken Coach Institute, I had a clear vision for what we could become—a place where people grow as coaches and as human beings. But I secretly worried about one thing—the only thing that truly matters to me: could I really co-create a space of love and belonging in a community (without starting a cult)?

It felt too big, too mysterious. Love in community felt like a gift other people knew how to give—charismatic leaders, social geniuses, the spiritual teachers of the world.

Guess how long people listen before jumping in? They might ask a question, start telling their own story, or start saying, "Yeah, uh-huh!"

Would you guess thirty seconds? A full minute?

Nope. Try 18 seconds.

Which of us has ever been listened to for a full minute? What about 5 full minutes? What breakthroughs might be possible if you heard yourself think and feel in that kind of loving presence?

George T. Wolff, MD, teaches family medicine. Speaking of the doctor/patient relationship, he say…

Ron Pratt, a recent Awaken graduate, empowers LGBTQ+ professionals to overcome burnout (which is something I've experienced more than once.)

That's why I'm thrilled that Ron can help so many others, after learning the keys for himself. At Awaken, we're all about alignment at every level - our behaviors, and how we carry them out, come from a deep place of spiritual and identity alignment, bolstered by supportive beliefs.

Ron writes:

"Working in Corporate America, I burned out twice and teeter…

I struggle with rejection sensitivity. It crops up when people I know are getting together, having fun, and posting their togetherness pictures on social media, while I'm feeling far away, lonely, and scared. 

My first instinct is to get them to notice and remember me, maybe feel sorry for me, maybe remember just how much fun and amazing I am. 

My second instinct, if I'm particularly mindful, is to tolerate my own discomfort a little longer, get in touch with my sadness, and remember that all …

I'm a plant-lover. I get incredible joy from seeing the deep, rich greens of my house plants when they're thriving, and I love watching them for signs of being too dry, too wet, or in too much sun. I make subtle changes to their environment so they can delight in just what they need to grow luscious and bloom. 

Time takes on a new dimension with plants. For example, when we lived in Kenya, we had a meager, nearly see-through privacy hedge. When people drove by on the road, billows of dust would…

Our values shape the way we live, guiding decisions and fueling motivation. The sneaky thing is that while we might say we value one thing, it's our actions that tell the truth. Most of us say we value certain things, yet we're so confused when we find ourselves living according to a different set of values. How to get them to line up?

It can be so energizing to create a life that feels congruent and aligned, so that your professed values and your actual decisions are one and the same.

What is…