PRAISE
If I had to describe the coaching experience in 3 words, they would be, empowering, enlightening, intentional - Jess
When I first connected with Issie, I was feeling very stuck – I felt like lots of parts of my life were on hold, because I didn’t know what direction to go in, where to begin, and had low self-trust, meaning decisions were really hard to make. I found myself overthinking everything, which prevented me from making a decision or taking action.
In recent years I’d started a few creative practices, including sewing and embroidery, but had convinced myself I wasn’t good enough to do them, and had lost my confidence, so had stopped being creative all together.
I realised the ‘stuck’ feeling was getting more and more prevalent, and it was really starting to impact my overall wellbeing. I was getting more anxious about making the ‘wrong’ decision (for anything - not just big decisions), and I reached a point where I realised I didn’t want to be trapped in that cycle of thinking anymore. The decision to choose coaching had been brewing for a little while, until eventually I reached out to you for support!
I didn’t really know what to expect from coaching, having never worked with a coach before, but I was hoping to find some solutions to some of the problems I’d been feeling (particularly around the ‘stuck’ feeling and creativity), and was looking forward to having a support by my side during what I thought could be some tricky work.
Before the first session I remember feeling quite mixed. Our initial conversation (the discovery call) meant I had a much clearer idea of what we’d be covering in the first session, and I felt really excited about the prospect of identifying some key areas to focus on and create actions around, though I was also feeling quite nervous / a bit scared. The voice of my inner critic was quite strong, and I remember worrying when I was driving over to Issie’s house that maybe we wouldn’t be able to work together, because maybe I was just ‘stuck’ and I was a ‘failure’ and Issie would realise there was nothing I could do (which thankfully was not the case!).
By the end of the first session, I was SO relieved to have taken that first step! Oh my goodness I just remember feeling so excited and empowered already – like the cycle of being ‘stuck’ could actually be changed! I was looking forward to thinking about different creative activities I could try, and felt almost like my brain had been given permission to just be a beginner again and not get trapped in the overthinking cycle of “it’s not good enough, it’s too hard, there’s no point in starting”.
I think my partner has noticed the biggest difference, he’s commented that I seem to be more intentional about how I spend my time – I don’t default to busy-ness, and don’t get as stuck on my phone. He also said he’s seen a change in the time I spend creatively, commenting that I’m dedicating more time to creativity, and he’s noticed I’m choosing to carry on with something, even when it gets a bit hard and previously I might have given up, which he says he’s really proud of me for.
I think the word I’d use to describe the biggest change is ‘intentionality’. I feel like I’m not only being intentional with my time (e.g. choosing to spend time creatively, choosing to carve out part of my day to journal, choosing not to default to busy-ness), but also in the way I think and talk to myself (e.g. catching the ‘shoulds’, noticing when I’m getting caught in a negative overthinking spiral, and intentionally using kindness and compassion to bring myself back from those negative patterns). I think all of this is leading to more self-trust, and stronger ability to make decisions (and trust that they’re the right decisions for me).
I don’t think there’s anything in particular I wished we’d spent more time on or could have improved the coaching experience. I think I got far more out of the 1 month coaching course than I could have imagined, and recognise that the tools and approaches I learned throughout that month can be applied to different parts of my life.
If I had to describe the coaching experience in 3 words, they would be, empowering, enlightening, intentional
I’d just like to add a huge huge thank you Issie, for your guidance, support, kindness and motivation! I really do feel so grateful to have worked with you, and I’m excited to see where this initial coaching series takes me!
>>>Jess (1 month 1-1 coaching series)
The biggest change I have witnessed in myself is that I feel full up. Like I am bursting with ideas and energy and light. I feel whole, like I have found the thread and all the tears and learned to stitch. I am confident. I am more comfortable with chaos and unknown – aware that I am now equipped with a brimming toolbox to support me and bring me home - Kya
When first reached out for coaching with Issie I was challenged by a lack of self-trust which denied me the courage to pursue any goals, despite my desire for change and growth and exploration.
I was at a point where I needed to try something new. I needed to find a way to focus within the chaos and overwhelm. I knew that I needed someone kind and compassionate – and in fact, familiar – to guide me through and out of a difficult phase in my life.
When I started the coaching series I didn’t really know what to expect. With each session, each task, each call, I understood that not knowing what to expect was an advantage –with Issie’s guidance, I was given permission to flow with curiosity and with an open heart. What I thought I required from a coaching experience (support with career change, discovering my values and life plan) was wildly different on reflection – I travelled back to my roots, back home myself. I became familiar with these spaces and beautiful safe landscapes, from where I could begin trusting my feet and exploring new paths again with bravery and hope. This was something I didn’t know I needed, but is integral to a colourful, textured, content life.
Going into the first session I was nervous. I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to find words to express myself, my concerns, my hopes and dreams. I was worried I wouldn’t be understood, or that what I was struggling with wasn’t really a struggle (say, compared with others). Of course I didn’t expect this attitude from Issie, this was more a projection of my own lack of self-trust and self-courage at the time.
I learned early on that it was ok to feel how I feel, to experience what I was experiencing. And that simply showing up for myself was enough. Issie gave me the courage to explore and express, without judgement or hesitation.
My friends and family have really noticed a change in me since I started coaching. Even over the phone, a couple of weeks into coaching, my mum said I sounded different, happier, calmer, more myself, she said. Friends have commented on my energy, my empathy, my positivity, my boldness, my courage and resilience.
The biggest change I have witnessed in myself is that I feel full up. Like I am bursting with ideas and energy and light. I feel whole, like I have found the thread and all the tears and learned to stitch. I am confident. I am more comfortable with chaos and unknown – aware that I am now equipped with a brimming toolbox to support me and bring me home.
It feels like exactly what I needed at the time.
If I had to describe my coaching experience in 3 words they would be, Transformative. Empowering. Nurturing.
This experience will walk alongside me forever, like a new shadow friend. I have warmest love and gratitude for your time Issie.
>>> Kya, (1 month 1-1 coaching series)
‘As the session came to a close I felt I was finally on the pathway home’ - India
When I first connected with Issie, put simply, there was an absence of me.
I felt desperate. My life was uncontrollably shift shaping around fear, anger, and pain.
I was struggling deeply to connect with myself, even fleetingly, and the task of wading through the noise and obligations felt completely overwhelming.
A beautiful friend had described their short journey and experience with not just life coaching, but Issie Freeman Life Coaching, and I knew immediately that this was a path I wanted to explore.
My expectation about the experience of working with a coach was that it would be a holding space for everything I am.
Going into the first session I felt relieved and as the session came to a close I felt I was finally on the pathway home.
Life has grown so immeasurably since I began coaching. My friends and loved ones are proud of me for seeking what I needed and having the courage to commit to growth.
I feel I am connected. Not perfectly, but enough. I am in metamorphosis in every aspect of my life and am so full of hope for what is ahead.
If I had to describe the coaching experience in 3 words they would be; I am enough.
Truly, it was wonderful.
A very big, heartfelt, bursting – THANK YOU - for everything.
>>> India (6 month, 1-1 coaching series)
‘With Issie’s knowledge, kindness and reflection I was able to develop a personal self care toolbox that I could and can continue to delve into unashamedly, without guilt or judgement. I honestly cannot find the words to thank Issie enough.’ - Kim
When I first connected with Issie I was struggling with a sense of lost identity. As a new mother, in the midst of a global pandemic, I found myself labouring with the push and pull of motherhood and an accompanying feeling of guilt that it just wasn’t enough for me.
I desperately wanted to give my son the very best but felt depleted and knew deep down I had to nourish myself before I could hope to nurture a happy, confident and buoyant young child.
I was apprehensive at first, unsure what coaching would offer, and if it was right for me. However, I need not have been concerned as from my very first conversation with Issie I knew I had made the right choice to invest in myself.
Issie created a space of safety and support throughout all our sessions. She was the perfect cheerleader in my quest for a more balanced, nourished life, offering validation and unconditional encouragement to help me reach my goal.
With Issie’s knowledge, kindness and reflection I was able to develop a personal self care toolbox that I could and can continue to delve into unashamedly, without guilt or judgement. By gifting myself this opportunity for balance and restoration I feel I, in turn, gift to my son a healthy and happy role model.
I honestly cannot find the words to thank Issie enough. Yet if I had to find just three, to best describe this whole coaching experience, they would be – motivating, inspiring and transforming.
>>> Kim (1 month 1-1 coaching series)
Thank you so much for your coaching wonder and just being an absolute inspiration!! I just want to re-iterate how much you have helped me through your positivity and by showing me that by being kind to ourselves and getting to know ourselves isn’t scary, but wonderful and liberating. And I know that the more I love about myself, the kinder, wiser and better I will be to others and the universe. Its win-win-win.’ - Helouise
When I first connected with Issie I was struggling with being present. Had a lot of negative thoughts about myself. Tried to keep busy so I wouldn’t be alone with my own thoughts. Felt heartbroken and closed off to the idea of love and achieving any future goals or wishes I had. Was exhausted as I felt I never had time to myself.
I said yes to coaching because I felt so sad from heartbreak, comparing where I was in life as opposed to where my friends were and knew that I needed to change my thought process / perspective and really wanted to make these changes because I knew I was capable of being happy and confident in my own skin. I reached out to Issie because I knew that she had experienced similar periods of heartbreak. I thought coaching was a perfect opportunity to invest in myself and give me tools to improve my well-being.
I wasn't expecting coaching to be as effective or wonderful as it has been. I thought it might be more like counselling where I just talked about past hurts etc but I liked how from the get go it was like OK here are some tasks and tools. So it was more practice based than I thought.
Going into the first session I was looking forward to it because Issie had already made me feel at ease and she was so kind, open and warm. I maybe felt a bit reserved and not sure entirely what to expect.
At the end of the first session I remember feeling emotional, like “OK this is going to be challenging because I am not sure that I can be nice to myself, I don’t like a lot about myself” so I definitely felt vulnerable. But I was really looking forward to trying out all the different actions and was keen to just go for it.
My best friend has noticed I am more relaxed and lighter since I started coaching. A lot of friends have made comments about my baking (which was one of my actions).
Since my coaching experience with Issie I am much kinder to myself and able to reason with how I am feeling. I have realized that I actually quite like spending time with and on myself, and want to let that relationship blossom. I seem to have lost the focus and thought that I have to be in a relationship and be validated by someone else, because I don’t. It feels so lovely and liberating.
But if someone lovely came along of course, I wouldn’t close the door, whereas before I couldn’t even have imagined that such a thing would happen. I want to spend time investing in friends and family but am now aware that I also need to invest in myself too. I also feel more present and liberated from what I “should” be doing, because who says? Who cares?
If I had to describe my coaching experience in 3 words, I would say; finding yourself again.
Thank you Issie. It really has been a lovely process. I have learnt so many little things (such as just taking a moment to check in with myself and thinking OK breathe, how and why are you feeling that, what do you need) that have made a HUGE difference.
>>> Helouise (1 month 1-1 coaching series)
‘I felt Issie really heard me, understood my difficulties and what I wanted to change, and because of her support, encouragement and belief in me I’ve moved forward in life where I felt stuck for so long.’ - Gabrielle
I’m so, so glad to have had Issie as my coach. Issie is a fantastic coach who created a safe space for me to explore and work through issues. Her caring support and encouragement, her gentle, thought-provoking questions, the way she reflected my own words back to me, her belief in me – it all added up to a powerful, wonderful experience that has helped me so much. I felt Issie really heard me, understood my difficulties and what I wanted to change, and because of her support, encouragement and belief in me I’ve moved forward in life where I felt stuck for so long. My time spent coaching with Issie has been invaluable and is something I will continue to feel the benefits of for a very long time to come.
>>> Gabrielle (3 month 1-1 coaching series)
‘Issie, it’s like I come in with a ball of tangled wool (my thoughts) that we talk through, whilst you ask me questions that help me to untangle it all. When I leave, my mind is clearer and my wool is in a manageable ball and I know exactly what I want to knit with it." - Esme
It is difficult to put into words the momentous effect that this life coaching series has had on me and my life. Having completed the series and having had a couple of months living beyond it, I look back (in absolute awe) and see the vast difference in how I feel about myself and the huge changes that have actively occurred in my life because of it.
My life-coaching journey was a combination of creative rediscoveries, self-love and remembering how to have confidence in expressing my true self. Although I am a socially confident person, I felt a bit useless at times and believed my life had become slightly meaningless to the world. Issie supported me in accessing these thoughts to begin with and then helped me recognise why I felt this way. I had to see my worth, and stop measuring it. Through our revelatory discussions and daily targets to keep up over the following two weeks I learnt to look at myself in a different way. I noticed where I made people around me happier and this benefitted me in turn. I saw that the lack of appreciation in where I worked went both ways and made me feel lacklustre about what I was doing. I noticed that looking after myself was necessary in order to look after others. I learnt that our worth as human beings is incomparable to one another as we all have a purpose in the lives of those we love and also have purpose just as ourselves.
This powerful three-month journey unveiled the power and potential I held in myself. I had to let go of the restrictive negative judgements and predictions I had put on myself – through fear of failure or fear of success that I felt I did not deserve. Growing in confidence and self-assurance allowed me to shake these restraints away and go forward with the creative life and ambitions I was holding back from.
I had disregarded ambitions like writing professionally as ‘pie-in-the-sky’ until Issie showed me that the only person who was saying they were ‘unrealistic’ or ‘stupid’ was in fact me. I missed writing ever since I left my English degree many years ago, however I felt like it was not a feasible option as a career and would not fit around my current full time career either. But through bi-weekly sessions and targets, Issie taught me to use a bite-sized approach of looking into things like journalism/novel writing. Tasks to research around it a few minutes a day were not difficult but enjoyable. I was learning about authors I had always loved and admired and where they began and recognised that being a writer really stemmed from the desire to put one’s thoughts into words on a page - and I already had it there inside me the whole time!
I am grateful for the time and energy Issie spent on coaching me, but I am more grateful for what I am left with. The patience with myself and my development and the confidence to be proud of formerly seemingly unimportant things. The change in my attitude and outlook has completely changed my life and I am in a new job that I am successful in and really enjoy. Additionally, I have been published in a magazine and continue to write articles for them alongside my full time work. I have a motivation for writing and am allowed to share it with others too. I know I am doing just fine and am incredibly useful in many ways and I look forward to what I can and will achieve in my future. Three months is not a long time but the monumental developments in my life feel like it could and should have taken years.
>>> Esme (3 month 1-1 coaching series)
‘To describe my coaching experience in 3 words I would say; inspirational, enlightening and an achievement.’ - Annie
When I think back to September last year when I had my first session with Issie, I was in a pretty negative space feeling pretty bored and frustrated with life. I was struggling with self-care, not being active and uninspired by my work.
I decided to say yes to coaching with Issie because I felt so excited about doing something for myself, to help myself. I had no idea what to expect, all I thought was if I was fully committed something amazing could come from the process. Going into our first session together I felt excited but also very calm, and just really eager to get going.
By the end of our first session I realised what was really important in my life and what could make me happy. I realised it was instantly achievable by breaking these big goals down. For example playing around with some paint, writing a journal and getting on my bike again. These small things created a massive change for me.
My husband has definitely noticed a positive change in me, above all he just loves how I paint in the evenings, he can see how happy it makes me!!
The biggest change I’ve witnessed in myself is that I feel less anxious, through doing my self-care, exercise and painting; I know these tools help me feel positive and enable me to cope with stressful situations. They also give me confidence to do more than I thought I could and I feel inspired by future work ideas.
I wish the coaching experience could have continued for longer as I enjoyed it so much.
To describe my coaching experience in 3 words I would say; inspirational, enlightening and an achievement.
It was such wonderful experience, I loved every moment!! Thank you Issie!!
>>> Annie (3 month 1-1 coaching series)
‘I feel so much lighter, my head and heart clearer and so ready to navigate my next steps – so thank you – from the bottom of my heart.’ - Clare
When I first connected with Issie I had been in the process of working out ‘what next’ for a few years. I'd been reading various books on self-development and self-discovery, trying to figure out who I am and what it is I have to offer the world.
My home life is a happy one and I generally feel very blessed with everything I have but some things were not sitting right. I had moved to Bristol and thought I had found the perfect job – but over the years it has transpired that this was not the case. A mixture of toxic relationships in a complex organisation had left me feeling incredibly confused about where I fitted in and whether I wanted to be there. I had started the job six years ago a much more confident and passionate employee but slowly descended into a pit of self-doubt and lack of spark.
I was aware of life coaching but felt I couldn’t afford it and I wasn’t really sure exactly what it was. However after speaking to Issie and understanding what coaching was I decided to say “YES!” to a 3 month coaching series; I realised I'd been edging towards it for a very long time – through literature, people / accounts on Instagram, my yoga classes and the kind of people I am generally drawn to I would say I have been on a bit of a spiritual journey over the last few years.
When working with a coach I expected to have an accountability partner to ask me some questions which would guide me through a tough journey of self-discovery to help me unfurl my thoughts and feelings and hopefully allow me to clarify some ideas and set some intentions for my next steps in life. I hoped for a sense of clarity and confidence in my decisions.
Going into our first session I was a bit nervous and unsure of exactly what the format would be but Issie made me feel very comfortable and at ease, she led the sessions with a sense of care, familiarity and professionalism. I was not really sure where to start as much of my self-doubt seemed to be tangled up in many aspects of my life and some of the areas I wanted to address were pretty big things, things I was convinced could not be changed. I could see I was stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviours and really could not see a way out. But Issie helped me break everything down into manageable pieces with a series of mini actions and goals to work on each week which made everything seem much less overwhelming.
The first session was about setting some intentions and establishing what I wanted to focus on – having some time to focus on some goals and visions was really exciting. I had gone in feeling very overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start but setting those goals knowing I had someone to help and support me was really exciting but also quite daunting.
My close friends have really noticed a difference in me since I started coaching. I have always been quite an open person and have shared my experience with some of my closest friends and I feel it has bought us even closer together. They have commented on how I seem much more aware of my behaviours/reactions/thought processes and far more objective when looking at different situations that have recently come up.
It feels like I am learning a new language, a new way of thinking and a new way of approaching things, and when I share this with others it can create the most beautiful moments of connection. I now feel like I have a set of tools and techniques to address other areas of my life and maybe some of those other complex relationships which can still be a problem. Often I now say “old Clare would have said this, done that, but new Clare decided to do this.’ Game changer.
The biggest change I’ve witnessed in myself first and foremost is understanding my triggers and why I respond to things in the way I do. I was stuck in a series of negative emotional responses and learning where those came from was truly transformative and has made me realise the importance of how you respond to things can really affect the outcome of the situation that you originally thought was out of your control.
Putting space between my initial emotional reaction and my actual response to someone has become much easier. Taking a moment to pause and reflect on something before responding is key a creating positive relationships and I now feel empowered to do that in all aspects of my life.
Understanding when I am resisting something and why – then clearing that block. Learning to understand why I might be struggling with something or someone and how to then navigate that is pretty great.
Before the life coaching sessions, I would often feel I was being an ineffective friend or colleague because I felt like I needed answers from people. But I have realised - sometimes the most powerful thing is acknowledgement of someone’s situation or perspective, taking time to sit with a difficult thought or emotion has been transformative in how I respond to things and this has been quite a change for me. Now I feel much better equipped at listening to others and knowing sometimes they just need to be heard. I genuinely feel like my communication with others has been transformed - having looked at some of my inner narratives (and where they came from) I feel like I now have a much better understanding of myself and in turn, more empathy for other people –remembering they are probably struggling with their ‘stuff’ too.
We covered so much – the 1 hour sessions felt sufficient to give enough time for questions and guidance and knowing I could always contact Issie in-between sessions was very valuable. I always felt supported and listened to and loved how the sessions were framed and held with a clear aim with time to wander into different areas of enquiry when they came up.
If I had to describe my coaching experience in 3 words, I'd say it was transformative, cultivating and empowering.
I will be forever grateful for this experience with Issie. It is hard to write any of this stuff without sound super cheesy, but Issie has given me the tools to continue my life journey with an inner confidence and ability to listen to myself and others in a way I could never have imagined.
Having spent a lot of time on me recently I now look forward to putting that to good use - being there for others. I had felt so caught up in my web of emotional baggage that I feel like I was not being present for others in their times of need (not in a way I would like anyway)– often projecting my story into theirs.
I feel so much lighter, my head and heart clearer and so ready to navigate my next steps – so thank you – from the bottom of my heart.
Life-coaching – everyone should have it! Who doesn’t want to understand themselves better and be able to navigate life with a set of tools to help achieve some of their life goals?
Learning to become your own therapist is pretty awesome.
