Recently, I shared a post reflecting on my experience after completing the Co-Active life coaching course.
Some friends asked me: Why did you decide to study life coaching? How is it different from therapy? What do you actually learn in a life coaching class?
So I thought I’d start by sharing what led me to life coaching in the first place.
It all started with curiosity.
I first came across the term “life coaching” about a year ago—only after meeting a life coach did I realize such a profession even existed.
Before that, I was already deeply interested in psychology. As someone who started experiencing social anxiety in adolescence and went through depression during college, curiosity had always been my lifeline—it kept me mentally afloat through different stages of life. It pushed me to find ways to self-soothe and recover after being overwhelmed by emotions.
That included seeing school counselors, doctors outside of school, psychiatrists, reading psychology books, exercising regularly, joining Toastmasters to overcome my fear of public speaking, expressing emotions through art and calligraphy, and spending time in nature to reconnect with myself.
These paths weren’t easy, but they helped me learn how to coexist with my emotions—moving from fear, resistance, and rejection to acceptance. Now, I can sit with my feelings without being fully consumed by them. Still, every time strong emotions hit, my natural motivation and momentum are affected. When I’m in a clear and energized state, I can get so much done. But when negativity seeps in, self-doubt takes over and I lose sight of my original intention, falling into procrastination.
It took me a long time to find a therapist who truly fit me. She helped me recognize unhealthy thought patterns formed in my past, and guided me in understanding the roots of my inner critic. But I also noticed something: after each session, I often sank into a deep emotional state. It took tremendous effort and courage to make actual changes—and many times, I found myself returning to the same pain points in the next session.
While I was in a period of career confusion, I happened to meet a life coach. During dinner, I listened to her talk about her work, and it felt… fascinating. In my head, I imagined a wise elder offering life advice, someone who had seen it all. After all, the title life coach sounded like someone with a lot of wisdom and experience to pass on, right?
At the time, I didn’t think someone my own age could “teach me” about life, so I dismissed the idea pretty quickly.
But later, another friend mentioned she was considering learning life coaching too. Out of curiosity, I signed up for a free trial class with Co-Active—and that session completely opened the door to a new world for me.
I quickly realized that the relationship between coach and coachee is entirely equal. The image of a mentor handing down wisdom was turned upside down. In fact, Co-Active coaching believes that every person is naturally creative, resourceful, and whole. We don’t need anyone to give us solutions or answers. You are the one who knows yourself best. Everyone holds the key to their own truth—and the coach’s job is to help you find that key.
One of the most powerful realizations for me was: our bodies hold so many untold stories about our emotions and energy. As the book The Body Remembers explains, our physical body stores not only trauma and stress responses but also potential for positive emotional energy. That’s why we feel lighter and happier after running or doing yoga—dopamine gets released, and our energy starts to flow.
Good coaching helps us reconnect with our core values, but it also activates that energy inside us—bringing out a sense of being alive. In these sessions, you get to decide what matters. When you feel empowered and awake to your own potential, you begin to see that life is something you can shape. A great coach then supports you in taking small steps that’s actionable and aligned—so your dreams don’t just stay dreams.
Right before writing this, I had just finished a life coaching session of my own. And my coach helped me return to something I’ve always wanted to do: to create a space where people can pause. A space that reconnects us to nature, to our body’s wisdom, and to artistic expression—all the things that helped me return to myself. A space where we can regain our inner energy and begin focusing on what truly matters to us.
Also, thank you to my peer for seeing the strength in me and nudging me toward what I truly want. Yes—I finished this piece and shared it with the world.