Stuck, Stretched, or Starting Fresh? How Coaching Helps You Grow
I don’t have much of a green thumb. In full transparency, gardening isn’t something I particularly enjoy. But cultivating growth? That’s something I love. It’s at the heart of coaching—and it’s the reason garden metaphors keep coming to mind when I think about the work I do.
But I’ve been reflecting on how often people tell me they’re not exactly sure what coaching is. Or they assume it’s something fancy—maybe even a little indulgent. But the truth is, coaching is simply a powerful tool for personal growth. It helps everyday people navigate real-life challenges with more clarity, confidence, and intention.
Most often, when someone reaches out to me for coaching, they’re in one of three places:
They’re stuck, they’re stretched, or they’re starting something new.
Each of these experiences comes with its own set of frustrations—and each one has its own invitation for growth. So if you’re wondering what coaching might actually do for someone, these three gardening metaphors might give you a clearer picture.
Stuck? Maybe it’s time to turn the compost.
Compost starts with scraps—stuff from everyday life that seems like waste. It’s hard to believe that anything good could come of it. It just looks like a heavy pile of yuck.
Sometimes life feels that way. Especially if you’re:
Emotionally or mentally blocked
Trapped in a job or relationship that’s no longer life-giving
Caught in old patterns or beliefs that keep you in a rut
But compost isn’t “stuck.” Underneath the surface, something is breaking down and transforming. It just needs to be stirred now and then.
The compost pile needs two things to do its work: sitting and turning. Sitting gives things time to break down. Turning brings in the oxygen, the movement, the change. If it just sits? It becomes a stinking mess. If it’s constantly turned? Nothing gets time to decompose and transform.
When you feel stuck in a heavy pile of the yuck of everyday life, coaching can be just like a composting process. It offers a safe space to sit with what’s there—and a thoughtful process to turn things over. Together, we examine what’s been tossed into the pile: the doubts, disappointments, decisions that didn’t go the way you hoped. We stir it gently. Ask better questions. Look again.
Some of the work happens in the stirring during a session; a lot of work happens in between sessions as you think differently and more deeply, practice new beliefs and actions.
And in time, you start to see that coaching can help the messy, heavy stuff of everyday life can become fertile ground for something new.
Stretched? You might need a trellis.
Some plants need something to lean on. Without a structure, they sprawl everywhere—tangled and heavy, vulnerable to snapping in a strong wind.
That’s what life can feel like when we’re stretched too thin:
Caught between caring for kids and aging parents
Pulled in ten directions at work—by your boss, your team, your responsibilities
Trying to meet growing needs with shrinking resources
You’re managing lots of things, caring for lots of people, and balancing lots of priorities. But without a clear sense of your own needs and priorities, life can feel out of control – like that sprawling plant.
That’s where a trellis comes in. It doesn’t stop the plant from growing—it just gives it support and focus. It helps the growth go up instead of out in every direction.
Coaching can help you build the trellis for your life by clarifying your needs, values, and priorities. That work offers structure when life feels scattered. It helps you focus your energy and stay grounded in the midst of life’s storms. It helps you hold your shape, stay steady in the wind, and grow with intention—not overwhelm.
And sometimes, when we’re overstretched or overcommitted, the growth we most need doesn’t come from adding anything new—but from pruning. Letting go of what’s no longer necessary. Cutting back what’s taking energy away from where it really matters.
That might mean scaling back a commitment, setting clearer boundaries, or simply choosing to rest. Pruning can feel harsh at first, but it’s a kindness in disguise. It helps us grow stronger, fuller, and more in line with who we really are.
Coaching can help you cut through the overwhelm of the demands on you, and give you space to discern what might need some pruning to help you grow.
Starting something new? Get in the greenhouse.
New beginnings are tender things.
When conditions outside are harsh, seedlings need shelter. A greenhouse provides warmth, structure, and protection so they can take root and grow strong before being planted out in the world.
Starting something new can feel exciting—and overwhelming:
A new job with more responsibility
Stepping into adulthood or a new life stage
Launching kids or launching a business
Entering retirement and asking, “What’s next?”
Every new beginning starts small – and often needs shelter before it can thrive. In those tender early days of a transition, it’s easy to doubt yourself. The outside world can feel too uncertain, too exposed.
Coaching becomes that greenhouse—a protected space to explore, experiment, and build confidence. It’s not about hiding from the world; it’s about preparing for it. Strengthening your roots. Clarifying your purpose. Practicing new ways of being before you bring them into full bloom.
Coaching can provide an opportunity to identify your strengths and learn to leverage them for more effective work and more fruitful relationships. Just like a young plant developing strong roots, growing your strengths is essential for surviving and thriving in a changing environment.
Need a safe place to prepare for a challenging conversation? Coaching allows you to process your emotions, think through possibilities, and consider options.
Is This a Growing Season for You?
In the natural world, the growing season is upon us.
Is it a growing season in your world?
Do you need some composting, a trellis, or a greenhouse to help you grow?
(That’s not entirely a rhetorical question. I’d actually really love to know.)
Whether you’re stuck, stretched, or starting something new, growth is possible. And you don’t have to do it alone.
I’d love to offer you the kind of space that helps you grow—whether that’s stirring what feels stuck, building support where you’re stretched, or helping something new take root.
If you’re wondering whether coaching might help in this growing season of life, just reach out. I’d be honored to walk with you in this season.
Let’s see what might bloom.
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