In this episode of the Flourishing Flame podcast, host Leah Brown interviews Megan Nilsen, a Kingdom Life Coach, who shares her personal journey from school counseling to coaching. Megan discusses the importance of counseling in her growth, the transition to coaching, and how to find the right coach. She emphasizes the value of accountability in coaching and offers practical tips for those interested in pursuing a coaching career. The conversation highlights the diverse experiences in coaching and the significance of personal development through faith-based practices.

You can learn more about Megan and her coaching, podcasts, and books at meganbnilsen.com.

Takeaways

• Counseling can provide essential support for personal growth.
• Investing in coaching can signify belief in oneself.
• Finding a coach requires trust and a personal connection.
• Coaching is unregulated; seek recommendations from trusted sources.
• Accountability is a key benefit of working with a coach.
• Coaching can help navigate transitions in life and career.
• Coaching offers real-world education without formal schooling.
• Life experience is valuable in the coaching profession.

Keywords

coaching, personal growth, counseling, life coach, spiritual coaching, mentorship, accountability, career transition

In this episode of the Flourishing Flame Podcast, Leah Brown explores the concept of coaching, its various forms, and its significance in personal development. She discusses the differences between coaching, mentoring, and counseling, emphasizing the unique strengths and weaknesses of coaching. Leah also provides insights on how to effectively work with a coach, identify personal coaching needs, and the transformative impact coaching can have on individuals and teams.

Takeaways

• Only about 9% of people who make goals actually achieve them.
• Coaching is primarily a present to future orientation.
• The client holds the power in a coaching relationship.
• Coaching is an unregulated industry, offering many choices.
• You can work with a coach as an individual or in a group.
• Identify your goals before seeking a coach.
• Different coaches offer different types of support.
• Coaching can challenge your thinking and assumptions.
• Coaching helps you experience transformation.
• Working with a coach can help you grow as an individual.

Keywords: coaching, personal development, life coaching, executive coaching, mentorship, goal achievement, self-improvement, coaching relationships, coaching strengths, coaching weaknesses

In continuation with the topic of meaningful connections and specifically mentorship, Leah interviews friend and fellow counselor, Thomas Delaney and shares his career experience as a priest and as a counselor.

As the two discuss mentorship, they start with the origin of the word mentor and how there are two sides of mentorship, being the mentor and being the mentee. Thomas explains what it takes to be a good mentor as well as a good mentee, and they discuss the overlap and parallel between discipleship and mentorship.

Since there were many opportunities for mentorship within priesthood and counseling, Leah asks Thomas about one of his greatest experiences with mentorship. He shares about being under supervision while becoming a counselor and how his supervisor turned mistakes into learning experiences.

In a more personal mentorship outside of the professional world, Thomas shares about his experience mentoring a youth in a church where he was a youth pastor and how important having a good relationship is within mentorship.

Leah and Thomas then reminisce on how they have both been mentors to each other over the years and how they’ve gone to each other for advice. They discuss the benefits of mentorship and define more of what mentorship is.

If you’re interested in learning more on how to pick a counselor or therapist and how to maximize your results in counseling or therapy, Leah and Thomas discuss these topics in some special episodes that you can request through this link.

February 4, 2025

Flourishing Flame: From Burning Out to Burning Bright

Ep 52: Supportive Relationships: Mentorship

What is a mentor? Where do I find one? What do I look for? How long should I have a mentor? Leah answers all these questions and more as she continues with the next type of relationship of the five types of relationships that help us reach our goals.

In this episode, Leah discusses mentorship and what sets it apart from other relationships. Mentors are beneficial to bringing you closer to your goals, and they provide personalized guidance and accountability in reaching them.

Leah shares insight on when and where to find a mentor, whether that be in your professional or personal life. She explains what the timetable might look like, whether the mentorship is short term or long term, as well as what the cost is, meaning what you need to put into that relationship account. As mentioned in this episode, you can go back to episode 32 to review relationship accounts.

For mentors, Leah shares advice on how to be a mentor and foster that relationship by providing support, wisdom, and encouragement.

And finally, she discusses joint mentorship relationships, which is where both individuals offer some sort of mentorship to the other.

In the next episode, Leah will continue with the mentorship topic and interview a friend, Thomas Delaney, who has been on all over the mentorship spectrum.

Referenced Article: https://www.scienceofpeople.com/mentorship/

Referenced Episode: Introduction to Relating to Others: Relationship Accounts Ep. 32

January 21, 2025

Flourishing Flame: From Burning Out to Burning Bright

Ep 51: Encouragement in Friendships with Guest, Laura Carr

Welcome back! This week, Leah continues on the topic of friendships that help us move forward in life with guest and friend, Laura Carr! The two met years ago at a playground when their oldest kids were toddlers, and they connected and have maintained that friendship over the years supporting and encouraging one another. Leah introduces Laura and shares a little bit about their history together.

In continuing with the topic of friendship and how friends can help propel us forward in our goals, Leah asks Laura about a time where she reached out to a friend and was encouraged and supported by that friendship. Laura shares about a situation where she started a nonprofit and how a connection with her best friend from high school greatly encouraged and supported her through conversations and helping her plan. This support led Laura to become the US director of the Children of the Father’s House orphanage in Uganda. The encouragement and push from her friend helped her to actualize this endeavor and help get all those kids sponsored.

Laura’s friendship with her Ugandan co-direct is integral in the organization’s success. She is sought out to support other international nonprofits. Laura explains how vital friendship and connection are within partnerships and businesses.

If you’re interested in learning more about Laura’s organization, Children of the Father’s House, you can go to www.childrenofthefathershouse.org and you can also find them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/childrenofthefathershouse/) which has more up to date information.

Thanks for listening, and tune in next time!

January 13, 2025

Flourishing Flame: From Burning Out to Burning Bright

Ep 50: Supportive Relationships: Peer Friendships

Welcome back to another episode with Leah! This week’s focus is on friendship, more specifically, peer friendships and how they support us.

What are peer relationships? Leah describes peer relationships as relationships with anyone who is your peer in some capacity whether that be age, job, place in life, etc.

If you’re finding yourself lacking in good peer friendships, Leah suggests evaluating your current relationships and seeing which acquaintances fall into the peer category. She explains that in some of those relationships, you might be able to strengthen them and build those peer relationships. Or you might find some new friendships by joining a class or a group or even through an online support group.

Leah then shares how to foster and strengthen those relationships. Some of her tips are being proactive and reaching out first, working with them, and inviting them to fun things.

These friendships can also help you reach your goals, so ask yourself what are those types of goals you might want support with and who are the friends I have who can encourage and support me in this? Having that support can help hold you accountable in reaching your goals. Leah also shares how important mutuality is in those friendships and how it keeps the relationship healthy.

Next week, Leah will be talking about mentor relationships and friendships, so be sure to tune it!

As we approach a new year, many of us set goals, dream of changes, and resolve to make progress. Yet, studies show that while 30% of people make New Year’s resolutions, only 9% actually achieve them. Often, the missing piece is support—the right kind of help to keep us moving forward.

If you’re someone who’s always supporting others, you might find it hard to focus on your own needs. But the truth is, even the most supportive people need a strong network to lean on.

In today's episode Leag is diving into the five types of relationships that can help you achieve your goals without burning out.

This isn’t about leaning on others for everything—it’s about building intentional relationships that help you thrive. As we move into 2025, think about where these types of support fit into your life. This series will guide you through understanding and buidling these connections so you can feel empowered, supported, and ready to tackle your goals.

Because sometimes, even the helper needs help.

Welcome back! In this episode, Leah talks about how the holidays, specifically Christmas time, can magnify and intensify the things going on in our lives, including the good, the bad, and the ugly.

As our lives and circumstances change, the things we enjoy about the holidays evolve. We can move into more gratitude and celebration and enjoy the time we have with our loved ones. Leah explains how the holidays can also magnify the bad, like loss and those we miss, as well as the ugly, like conflict among our families.

In the midst of these, Leah offers practical encouragement for what you can do to support yourself and others. In noticing the good, take the time to slow down, and cherish and treasure the time you have with your loved ones. When handling the bad, Leah encourages taking the time to mourn and reaching out for support, or in other cases, be the one to support a loved one dealing with loss. And finally with the ugly, which is likely the hardest of the three, Leah advises to walk with wisdom and grace and to be a peacemaker among the conflict.

Have a great Christmas and holiday season, and be sure to tune in next time!