You are very accomplished

Think about what you have invested and accomplished in education and work, in relationships, friendships, and family life, in yourself. Amazing in many ways, and yet …

Strange and paradoxical isn't it? There is so much that's good in you, but that thing throws you so off-balance. It might be a person, or a circumstance, or one of your own traits or behaviors. All of us have several somethings that unbalance us – defy our intelligence, defeat our resolve, poke at our vulnerabilities, give us pain.

It might be something you can clearly identify, or vaguely identify, or not identify at all. It might seem huge or tiny on its face, but its impact is big, which is why it's on your mind. What it has done to you, and is doing to you now, matters.

Coaching Focused on Today and Tomorrow

Whatever is hurting or getting in the way, I help people find perspective and practical next steps.

The past matters immensely, but not as much as how we respond to it today, and to everything else happening now, and how what we do now prepares the way (or doesn't) for what we want next. That present-moment focus is the Zen in Zen-ish Coaching.

The -ish is deliberate. Zen is the most prominent flavoring in my blend, but not my entire perspective. I admire and apply Zen principles extensively in my life and in my coaching and writing because Zen is psychologically astute and philosophically productive while avoiding dogmatism. Even some prominent Zen priests say it is more psychology and philosophy than religion. Even Buddha said this about his own teachings. Other key ingredients in my blend include Stoicism (which has startlingly much in common with Zen), modern psychological thought, and contemporary sociological factors. Frankly, you won't care about any of that. We will just be talking.

Set up a free introductory call

Is one of these you?

People come to coaching for all kinds of reasons. See whether one of these sounds like where you are right now.

Circumstances

• You are having relationship problems – romantic, family, friend, co-worker – and need someone to talk to.
• You have lost a loved one through breakup, divorce, profound disability, or death, and don't know how you will find your way through it.
• You have gained a loved one through pregnancy, adoption, marriage, or other change.
• You have lost your former self to an illness, an accident, a disability, or a slow drift you did not choose.
• You have lost a job, or have recurring trouble at work.
• A transition – even a welcome one – has pulled you away from the familiar and left you disoriented.
• Something is wrong, or simply not going well, and you feel unconfident, confused, bad.
• Something is missing, and you don't even know what it is.

Relationships

• An important relationship is changing, and it is taking you off your center.
• An important relationship is not changing, and that is no longer acceptable.
• Why do I always …, why does my partner …, why doesn't my partner … ? Something has to change for you to navigate it more skillfully.

Self

• You want to understand your own beliefs, values, and actions more clearly.
• You want to replace a habit with something better and can't seem to make it stick.
• You are trying to change something about how you live, and not progressing at a pace you can live with.
• Something about you is not right, or at least not clear, and you need to figure it out.

If you saw yourself anywhere above, that is reason enough to talk.

Why this is different

Most coaching stops at a surface goal and then hands you someone else's method – do it the way the coach does it, the way the testimonials did it. My work is to help you find the why that actually moves you, the feeling underneath the goal, and a how built from the way you get things done. My focus is to help you find more you.

More on how the coaching works and what it costs, and on my background and what happens in a session.

Bennett has helped me with both personal and work issues. He has seen me through some pretty ugly times, and has also taught me how to handle things better on my own. I've learned a lot from working with him. E.V.

Prefer to start by reading? My book Eat The Strawberries lays out the foundation of this practice, and readers have found it useful on its own.

Let's talk

The introductory call is free, and there is no sales pressure – just a short conversation to see whether we are a good fit. You can contact me here.