It's likely I've spent thousands of hours on and around soccer fields. Some of my happiest memories include "the beautiful game," both as a player and spectator.

I'll never forget the full-body joy of my high school soccer team coalescing to uplift our tiny Upstate NY school to state level tournaments. We were well conditioned, strong, fast, and talented and we had multiple winning seasons.

I also remember fondly watching the 1999 US Women's Soccer Team defeat China in the World Cup final. {Will anyone ever forget Brandi Chastain's celebration after scoring the winning penalty kick?!}

As a mom, I have had the pleasure of watching my athletic kids play multiple sports, but it's soccer that excites me most. It's a game of grace and grit, effort and ease, pure beauty. My son Jude loves the game and touches a soccer ball almost daily. Watching him and his teammates play brings me immense joy!

Other than my obvious passion for the game, why am I talking about soccer? Because my earliest memories of being coached take me back to the grassy pitch of Sharon Springs Central School. I was not a natural soccer chick and until the 8th grade had never played the game. I was terrified to attend the first practice because my gremlins held on to early childhood playground taunts that I "sucked at sports" and shouldn't bother. I had to work really hard to catch up to the girls who were born with more talent and who had played the game for years.

Because I wanted to become a stronger, more versatile player I allowed myself to be receptive to help (not an easy feat for a first-born, fiercely independent kid). At one practice, our coach worked with me 1-on-1 to evaluate the angle at which I was striking the ball as my shots were arcing just wide of the goal posts. I listened, practiced under her watchful eye, came at the ball a little straighter, practiced a TON on my own, and BAM! Success!

When I wasn't at practice with coach and the team, I'd kick around with a friend. The accountability of having someone to train with--along with me having to show up for her--helped me cement the skills from formal workouts.

I learned so many valuable lessons as a young athlete. One of the biggest is this: real change happens in the spaces BETWEEN coaching sessions. That's when the insights and action steps percolate into our being and take hold.

I scored 13 goals my junior year, every one of them the result of committed action, learning how to step into the right space at just the right time, and fire away!

Sometimes in life, just as in soccer, we need help identifying what little tweaks will help us put the ball in the net. It could be as simple as exploring how we might alter our approach in small increments to help us get where we want to go.

At other times, we may need support as we let go of soccer so that we can go swimming instead!

Whether it's a series of small changes or one biggie, a good coach listens, is attentive, supportive, and encouraging. A good coach doesn't tell you what to do, but helps guide you to choice. They celebrate your success and invite you to celebrate yourself!

In recent months, I've been a cheerleader for all kinds of women who have said "yes" to themselves and hired me as their coach.

• I've helped several holistic healers clarify their offerings, value their time and their worth, and get paid for all their greatness so that they can support their families from a place of abundance rather than depletion.

• I've supported women as they identify their core values and shore up boundaries to align with what matters to them the most.

• I've guided numerous people to prioritize pleasure in their lives by bringing them into deeper presence of their bodies, their senses, and their sensuality.

I'm not gonna sugar coat it--working with a coach is a big deal. It is a financial, time, and energetic investment. But man, it sure beats sitting on the bench!

Ready to erupt in a full-body "YES" as you prioritize yourself and what YOU want? Let's see if we're a good fit to work together and meet on a Coaching Discovery Call. The call is free and together we'll explore if the position you're playing today is really allowing you to score!

Love from my corner of the field to yours,

Jennifer