VANNESSA MISSO-VENESS, a coach in Hong Kong and founder of Cascade Train Teach Learn, on how to know when you could benefit from personal development or life coaching.
Do you find yourself hesitating to seek guidance because you wonder if your challenges are “big enough” to warrant support? My experiences as a parent, educator and coach have taught me something important: most of the time, it’s the small, niggly uncertainty, stress or triggers inside that invite us to change – not the dramatic, urgent shouts we sometimes expect.
You might notice that your body feels out of sync, even in subtle ways, before it becomes “a problem”. These signals, like a persistent headache, a backache, jaw clenching or irritability, are ways our bodies send signals to our subconscious mind.
Sometimes, in our busy lives, we tune out these signals, feeling we should just carry on by ourselves.
So what can these inner nudges look or feel like?
- A sense of going through the motions, even when things seem “fine” from the outside.
- Coming up against the same patterns in our parenting or relationships, never quite moving forward.
- Noticing your spark, focus or sense of joy isn’t what it once was.
- Feeling a gap between what looks like outward success
and how you really feel inside.
In my life coaching work, I watch women and mothers experience gentle shifts when they allow themselves to pause and listen to these signals – long before big alarms start ringing. Think about the way you’d take your car in for a regular check, rather than waiting until there’s smoke coming from the engine! We deserve that same care for ourselves.
Find out more about Vannessa’s coaching sessions and events at cascadetrainteachlearn.com/coaching.
This article on life coaching first appeared in the June 2025 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
