I have a bundle of wonderful coaching tips and tools in my tool bag. However, I sometimes forget to use the helpful tips I have faithfully filed away and by default I lean on the same old ones. So, in an effort to spice up my practice, I recently set a small goal to go through my material and review my coaching tips.

For example, take affirmations. This is a very handy tool–here are three interesting affirmation coaching tips I had tucked away in my journal that you may want to try too.

Affirmation Coaching Tips

1. Just speak to it

I read about a man who wanted to stop smoking. He started smoking when he was 13 and was smoking three packs a day by the time he was 28 years old. He lived in fear of dying of cancer, yet he had no luck in kicking the habit. He even visited many therapists and physicians who told him that he needed to just learn to live with it. His coach suggested using an affirmation, but because he was a Christian it was hard for him to accept this method at first. One day, he realized that he could talk to his nicotine addiction and tell it to go away. The idea came strongly to his heart to never again try to “quit” smoking, but rather he should talk to his nicotine addiction every time he smoked a cigarette. His affirmation was, “Father, I thank You that I am no longer addicted to cigarettes. I no longer smoke cigarettes, in Jesus’ name.” He repeated this affirmation every time he lit a cigarette for three months, and then suddenly one day he put a cigarette in his mouth and he no longer had the desire. He was transformed!
Even though in this man’s case it took three months and he obviously used a Christian affirmation, the thing I found fascinating was how he talked to his addiction. Sometimes it’s difficult for people to understand exactly how to use affirmations but this example has helped some clients get their head around it.

2. In the process

Another thing that clients sometimes feel uncomfortable with, and maybe you have found the same in your coaching practice, is saying their affirmations in the present tense. For example, “I weigh 110 pounds.” People sometimes feel it is not true and so it stops the positive flow of energy as the affirmation is associated with guilt feelings instead of positive feelings. I came across this great solution from Michael J. Losier who said to let your clients say that they are in the process of, and that seems to work just as well. For example, “I am in the process of weighing 110 pounds.”

3. Release it

The next thing I found written in my journal was something Bob Proctor said about losing weight. I didn’t write down the exact quote, but he said something to this effect. You can’t lose weight, because this implies you can find it again, instead you have to “release” it. Now I thought that was a great coaching tip and I have been “releasing” my extra weight as well as helping my clients to do the same with not only their extra weight but with other things as well.
Stay tuned for more coaching tips as I continue through my journal. Please share your affirmation coaching tips in the comments box below. I’m also interested in knowing what tip topics you’d be interested in me sharing next time.

Dana Bosley
Spiritual Growth Coach
Writing team, Coaches Training Blog Community