Life coaching is about closing the gap between where you are now and what you want. To do this, there are many tools life coaches use. Some of the tools are activities, others are ways of thinking/behaving. I've listed a few below.

**Self-Assessment Questionnaires/Strength-Weakness Inventories

**Goal setting

**Journaling

**Law of Attraction

**Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)

**To-Do Lists/Planning/Schedules

**Affirmations

Are any of these tools part of your every day life in term os activities or personal life philosophy? I use all but NLP, which I need to learn more about. It's the basis of many life coaching programs.

I have to add another tool, which is similiar to "Affirmations" which is Self-Talk. Life coaches teach you to listen to your "Inner Voice." That's another tool of the trade.

Thank you for sharing such a valuable thoughts with us "Leahmullen".

Life Coaching is a profession that is profoundly different from consulting, mentoring, advice, therapy, or counseling. There are many benefits of having certification.. I am also looking forward to the certification..

Dear Leah -

What a fantastic list to work with! We should all print this and look for ways to use each one.

Let's see how I'm doing.

**Self-Assessment Questionnaires/Strength-Weakness Inventories
I don't think I do these enough. If you posted one every month or so I'll watch the forum and keep an eye out for them. I think they can be really helpful.

**Goal setting
I'm a strong believer in goal setting, on a 5 year, 1 year, and short term basis. I think aiming for goals helps greatly.

**Journaling
I'm also a strong fan of journaling. I both try to journal at night, as a summary, and I also try to journal in the morning to get my tasks organized. I'm not very good at all at the morning ones. Usually I just plow into my to-do list.

**Law of Attraction
I'm not sure about this one. How could I implement this?

**Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)
OK completely lost on this

**To-Do Lists/Planning/Schedules
Yes I absolutely believe in these and they help me greatly. I keep a daily list as well as a 3-month running calendar.

**Affirmations
I have "weight milestones" that I hang on my mirror to focus on the 5 pound goal I am currently aiming for. That does help. I affirm that I can reach it. I should add affirmations into more areas of my life.

Okay, my turn -
**Self-Assessment Questionnaires/Strength-Weakness Inventories
I do these frequently due to my self esteem classes and counseling. They help me see where i am at from various times.

**Goal setting
I am working on seasonal goals right now. That is as far as i can mentally see things happening. Even one year off is too wacky - my life changes so frequently.

**Journaling
I don't like journaling, but i do use this forum and facebook as my journals, essentially.

**Law of Attraction
I do try to draw to me positive things to me in my thoughts. I could do much better here.

**Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)
WTF?

**To-Do Lists/Planning/Schedules
I am a huge to do list person. I can't keep my head on straight without some kind of short term and long term list. It makes me feel both overwhelmed, and safer. Weird combo.

**Affirmations
Not a huge affirmations person. It feels goofy.

Dear Jill -

I'll ask Leah to come lend us a hand

Hi All,

My apologies for the confusion.

This is from the Association for NLP's website:

"NLP stands for 'Neuro Lingusitic Programming' and NLP is frequently known as the "instruction manual for your mind".

NLP looks at the way in which we think and process our thoughts (Neuro), the language patterns we use (Linguistic) and our behaviours (Programming) and how these interact to have a positive (or negative) effect on us as individuals. It is a collection of a wide range of methods and models which create an understanding of thought process and behaviour..."

The Association for NLP

Here is an article I wrote about NLP a few years ago.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Dear Leah -

Thank you for the links! I'm afraid that I'm still confused about exactly what NLP entails. I don't have a strong sense about how to implement NLP in my own daily life. It has something to do with the things we say and how they affect our behavior. But I don't know what.

Is there a book you recommend to learn more about how NLP can be applied in an individual's growth?

Lisa,

I�ve read many books like Curly Martin�s The Life Coaching Handbook: Everything You Need To Be An Effective Life Coach, which touch on NLP. However, I have to admit, I haven�t read an entire book devoted to the practice as of yet.

Now that the subject has come up, I see it�s time to dig deeper. Here are two books I�m going to order from the library.

Unstoppable confidence! : how to use the power of NLP to be more dynamic and successful / Kent Sayre.

Law of connection : the science of using NLP to create ideal personal and professional relationships / Michael J. Losier.

Michael Losier also wrote Law of attraction : the science of attracting more of what you want and less of what you don't , one of my favorite books!

I�ll read these NLP books and once I�ve digested the information, I�ll post again�and of course write an article!

Also I noticed that there was a question about implementing the Law of Attraction. LOA is about matching your vibrational energy with the things that you want in your life. One LOA concept I use (and which came from Michael J. Losier�s book) is the �desire statement.�

It�s simple, write a sentence declaring what it is that you want. For example I want to be a best selling romance author. I won�t say �I am a best selling romance author� as that causes all kinds of doubts to creep in. If I am doubting, I�m putting up resistance and I�m blocking the good things that are on their way. So instead I say �I love how it feels when I think of becoming a best selling romance author.�

These statements are true! They don�t permit doubt to enter my mind and they allow me to pay attention to my desire�which is the ultimate goal of the exercise.

Hmm, I like that Leah! You are right; nothing in the latter statement is untrue or questionable.

How can i use that for my goals? I want to have food stamps and be on disability, and I want to fix up my home to be habitable and off-the-grid.

Hi Jilly,

You just restate your wants saying something like "I love the idea of having x,y and z." Or "it makes me feel wonderful when I imagine myself being a,b and c," etc.

And of course you must take action toward your goals. Some things just come to you withou effort, but most things you must put effort into achieving them.