A Coach can work with a client to focus on the positives of the expat Lifestyle. They can help build a bridge between your “old” life and your ‘new’ life. With a coach you can discover ways to re-build your identity and self-esteem, re-build your feeling of security and plan ways to use your time effectively. While most spouses get there eventually, it can take time and impact on the relationships close to you.
One area that the spouses I interviewed all struggled with was the feeling of loss that came with leaving old friends and a familiar environment behind. To combat these feelings, a coach can use tools to re-direct their client’s energy and focus on positive feelings and help them to identify a sense of meaning and purpose. Recently a friend of mine from Kuala Lumpur was really struggling with finding her “purpose” in her new country, and wasn’t feeling settled, even though she had been there over a year. She decided to consult with a Life Coach and find a way out of her unhappiness. Through the coaching process she re-discovered her love of craft and organizing. Within a few months had managed to single handedly pull together a Market to cater to expat woman who had various craft skills, but nowhere to showcase them. The Market has been running for nearly 12months now and has grown so big, that it is impossible to get a stall. My friend is feeling complete, satisfied and energized. Her life now has a focus and a purpose. It took Coaching for her to look deeply inside herself and find a way forward.
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Maureen Morton
May 10, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Dear Karen
I found this article fascinating. I often wondered and marvelled at how you coped and were coping in those early years. To have remembered and written it down is so worth while and I hope it will go into the reading package of every new expat, wherever they are going.
I can also see a career blossoming for you, wherever you are, by introducing this concept, of providing a coach to expatriate spouses in the early days of their moves, to the Human resources manager of companies. You could certainly sell the idea on the basis of cost alone, when you think how much money they lose when an employee goes home early because the family cannot settle in a new country.
Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I really enjoyed reading it.
Nothing like the usual academic waffle
love and hugs
Maureen
Truth always
May 12, 2013 at 4:35 pm
Hey, Karen doesn’t mention here the really telling background story of how she came to be an expatriate, leaving her former policeman husband for her current one that’s a banker, with three kids under 10 at the time. Plenty of grey facts about whether it was adultry as well. Not sure I would recommend her services as a lifecoach. Amazing how some people re brand themselves so anyone needing marketing tips should follow her advice. Also one of her current family members seems to be leaving the positive notes. Karen as a lifecoach is the funniest thing I could ever imagine. Would be interesting to hear her guidance in ethics or family morals
e.curran
May 14, 2013 at 4:09 am
Truth always , isn’t it strange how people like you do not use their real name especially when they are leaving negative views, or just their side of a story.
vorameghana
May 30, 2013 at 2:55 am
Expatriate is very important, especially for those who travel to different countries for work purposes. Expatriate can be anyone which chooses to live in a country other than the motherland.http://www.whatisall.com/people/what-is-an-expatriate.html