It was odd, yet comforting. It made me nervous, but it gave me confidence. I was confused, but I felt like I could finally start to make sense of things.
“So, you want to be a Coach.”
“Have you thought about being a Life Coach?”
“What you are describing sounds like you want to coach people.”
I began to hear the same things from a handful of people. These people weren’t in the same room or involved with similar aspects of my life. Each voice was different and came from a unique perspective. The important thing was that I trusted each of these voices.
I was in the middle of a life transition. I wasn’t entirely sure of the next step to take, but I knew God was doing something. I felt the internal nudge to leave my job as a Christian Camp Director and pursue something new. God already began to speak to me, and I realized it was time to also listen to the other Trusted Voices in my life. As I wrestled with God’s nudging and the impending life transition, I knew that I needed to talk it out with people who knew me well. The people I needed to speak with knew the real me, and we had spent years living life together. These people knew how I ticked. They knew me for the good and the bad. They saw my highs and lows. They knew who the real Joe was.
I shared with each of them what I was learning about myself and the new burdens beginning to consume me. As I unpacked what was happening inside me, they listened closely, and each shared what they thought they heard me say, yet I never said it exactly. They all heard me saying that my unique purpose was to coach people. It was written throughout the story of my life up to this point, yet I never knew it was there and had no idea how to name it. But these trusted people in my life saw things I couldn’t and shared the truth that I needed to hear. The words my Trusted Voices shared with me increased my confidence and pushed me to start the transition towards a new career and life purpose.
When you find yourself needing help to determine the next step to take in life or work, your Trusted Voices will be a valuable resource. Learning about yourself and working towards next steps can’t be done in one sitting, and surely can’t be done alone. I encourage you to determine your Trusted Voices and lean into what they are saying. Learn to speak with and listen to God, and also reach out to the people in your life that you trust. Bring in trusted family, friends, and colleagues to help you dig deep and start meaningful conversations. Look for consistencies in the words you begin to hear from these outside sources, especially if what they are saying resonates with the core of who you are.
Asking others to speak into your life can be a vulnerable task that you may want to avoid altogether. However, it’s vital to seek help from the Trusted Voices in your life and gain understanding from their vantage point.
So how do you determine who your Trusted Voices are?
Start with the people you explicitly trust. Who has proven themselves to be trustworthy over time? Who has been through the ups and downs of life with you? These people have probably seen you at your best and at your worst. They know the real you. God has strategically placed these people in your life.
Here is an exercise straight from The Purpose Plan to help you name your Trusted Voices and gain insight from them.
Exercise:Discover Yourself – Your Trusted Voices
Who in your life is trusted? Who are you willing to share your findings and burdens with? Take a moment and jot down the names of these people. We will call these people your Trusted Voices.
I challenge you to spend time with Trusted Voices and openly share how you feel about your life, what you are learning about yourself, and the burdens you feel deep inside. Watch closely and listen intently to how these Trusted Voices respond to you. Receive their feedback with an open mind and a humble heart. Take notes and look for trend lines.
If you are trying to figure out the next step to take in your life or work journey, here are three great questions to ask your Trusted Voices:
1) What are the topics or dreams I often talk about?
2) When do you see me most excited about life or work?
3) What unique gifts or talents do I possess?
Send these questions to your Trusted Voices and schedule a time to discuss their answers in person or over the phone. The conversations you have with your Trusted Voices will help you to gain clarity and confidence in what next steps to take in your life or work.
You can find this exercise and many others in The Purpose Plan, a coaching program created to help you understand and fulfill the unique purpose God has for your work and life. Learn more about it here:
The Purpose Plan
A simple coaching program to help you confidently fulfill the unique purpose God has for your work and life.
Living life and working with purpose can be challenging. Oftentimes, we don’t know where to start or where we should be going. I have learned that God strategically places Trusted Voices in each of our lives. We are not supposed to live and work alone. We are relational beings that need others to support us throughout our lives. If you feel like you are stuck and need help moving to the next step in your life, find your Trusted Voices.
