Why I'm a Life Coach

I used to believe I was simply doing what everyone does: pushing through stress, hiding cracks, letting life happen around me. Then something changed. I reached a moment where I realised that “just coping” wasn’t enough. Being 'content' wasn't enough. Working 'to make money' wasn't enough.

I had no idea of my purpose in life, stuck in habits that drained me, and unsure how to feel in control again.

That became the turning point.

That’s when I transformed. From someone quietly overwhelmed, to someone relentlessly curious about change.

Eventually, that led me into coaching. And now, I do more than help people just survive.

I help them reclaim their control, find purpose, and build small wins that stack up into big shifts.

My Journey into Coaching

• Like many others, I worked hard and the pressures piled up: work demands, personal expectations, not enough rest, and a creeping feeling that I was living someone else’s version of success.

• I felt disconnected from what mattered most to me: joy.

• I tried therapy, self-help books, workshops. And they all helped, but they took a long time.

• I came across coaching and realised the structured, accountability-based way to make change stick in real life - not just theory - was where the magic lay.

• I started the training, tested out coaching methods, used frameworks, experimented with tools. I saw that when people are supported well, real shifts happen fast.

• The REAL AF Method™ was born out of that experimentation. It’s my distillation of what worked for me and what clients tell me works for them.

What Is REAL AF Method™?

Each part represents something critical:

• Recognise & Reflect – see what’s really going on

• Express – say what you truly feel (even the messy bits)

• Accept – own your past so it stops owning you

• Love – put yourself first, no guilt, no fluff

• Act – because insight without action changes nothing

• Feel – deeply, instead of numbing or shutting down

  
  

It works because it combines honesty, emotional freedom, and practical action. It gives you clarity, confidence, and real change that lasts. And within a session, there is total transparency, radical honesty and no hiding. It is 'real'.

Some of my core practices / tools include:

• Marginal gains: identifying small, high-leverage changes that compound.

• 5-minute strategies: simple habits or mindset shifts you can do in minutes, not hours.

• Accountability + reflection: regular check-ins to stay on track, adjust, revise.

• Choice & mindset work: recognising the choices you already have; reframing mindset blocks.

  
  

Why Coaching Works: The Evidence & Stats

Finding	What it shows
85% of coaching practitioners report that clients are asking for help with mental well-being. ICF	This shows the demand is real — people want more than performance, they want emotional, psychological balance.
Workplace coaching reduces anxiety and stress more in coached groups vs control groups. explore.bps.org.uk	Coaching delivers results in measurable stress reduction.
Health coaching in the UK: has shown benefits in patient self-efficacy, motivation for behaviour change, and even cost savings. NHS England	It’s not just about feeling better; it translates into better health, less burden on services.
Global coaching industry stats: ~80% of people who receive coaching say their self-esteem or confidence improved; ~73% report improvement in relationships, work/life balance, wellness, and communication. Luisa Zhou	Coaching improves not just one area, but multiple dimensions of life.
Return on investment (ROI): many coaching clients/companies report that coaching pays off — sometimes many times over the time and money invested. Luisa Zhou	Investing in coaching isn’t a cost. It’s an investment.

These combine to tell a strong story: when done well, coaching helps people move from stress + 'stuckness' → clarity, purpose + action.

Stay tuned for more next week!