Are you at a crossroads?

As a life coach, I often pull from my background as an acupuncturist.

The further I steep myself in coaching, the more I recognize a kinship with Chinese medicine that allows me to offer my clients a unique lens for handling challenges and improving performance.

Recently, I made a new discovery about how coaching and Five Element acupuncture intersect.

Chinese texts predicted our existential angst

“Five Element” is a translation of the Chinese term wuxing. Wu means “five” and xing is usually translated as “elements.” However, many authorities say there may be some more accurate translations.

Japanese acupuncturist Kiiko Matsumoto, an instructor of mine in acupuncture school, writes, “The Chinese character we translate as ‘elements’ is sometimes rendered as ‘phases’ or ‘movements.’ In the ancient writings, it meant ‘crossroads.’”

Commenting on Kiiko’s insight, another instructor of mine, Lorie Dechar, writes, “Whether we choose to translate xing as ‘element,’ ‘phase,’ or ‘movement,’ it is crucial to understand that the character implies a passage and a passing through.”

Phases? Crossroads? Passing through? This is what life coaching is alllll about.

Crossroads moments are prime time for coaching

This discovery kind of blew my mind because it confirmed my intuition about the intersection between coaching and the ancient wisdom of Five Element acupuncture.

Most people seek coaching when they are going through or looking to make a transition of some kind. They may be wanting a change in their career, relationships, health, financial status, identity, you name it.

Coaching is the best modality for navigating these crossroads moments of life.

Coaching helps you transition from where you are now to where you want to go next. It helps you process your options, choose a direction at the metaphorical fork in the road, and take the actions required to walk that path.