At the age of 30, Meagan O’Nan is living her dream. And, in a quiet office built on serenity, she’s working to help others live theirs.
Having grown up in Starkville, she traveled around the world and lived in Colorado and Florida for three years each, before returning to Mississippi.
She moved to Columbus three months ago and now is offering life coaching, through North Mississippi Acupuncture, located at 413 4th Ave. S., No. 17.
“In my opinion, life coaching is threefold,” she explained. “Through life coaching, I give people easy-to-use tools that empower them to acknowledge and create what it is they truly want, practical ways to help them become a confident decision-maker and let go of past setbacks and disappointments (and) a clear plan of action to achieve their wants and desires.”
Her dream
O’Nan earned a master’s degree in counseling from Mississippi State University and the experience led her to life coaching, which she has been practicing since 2009.
“I wanted to help people and make a difference,” she said of her desire to pursue a career in counseling. “It seemed like the right fit for me at the time. Plus, when I was on my way to getting my master’s degree in counseling, I was going through something very tough and counseling got me through it. I found support in counseling that I wasn’t able to find anywhere else and so I wanted to be able to give that to people.”
The challenges of her profession are great, but so are the rewards.
“In any helping profession, I think the biggest challenge is your own personal growth (and) being open to change and changing as you grow,” she explained. “If I don’t grow and take care of myself and what I know I need, then I will not be the best life coach I can be.
“(The rewards include) being in a position where I get to see people change their lives for the better,” she added. “My job is to believe in them at all times and be their support system. The rest is up to them and I love watching their dreams unfold in front of their eyes. It is very rewarding and I can’t imagine doing anything else in the world.”
O’Nan began her dream in counseling, but moved to life coaching, a difference in professions she is quick to note.
“The way I approach life coaching is to help people identify what they want and help them get what they are looking for,” she said. “I do this through the development of a clear plan of action and we take steps forward. I am a guide and mentor, more than a counselor.
“Life coaching fits my personality better (than counseling), because of my athletic background,” she continued. “I have always pictured myself as a motivator and encourager. I like to cheer people on and I feel like I have a gift of being able to look at people’s entire life and know how to guide their steps.”
And when she needs guidance herself?
“I often turn to silence, first,” she said. “I believe all answers are inside of us, if we just take the time to listen. But, if I need guidance or mentoring of my own, I have my own personal life coach that I work with. I also have my own business coach that helps me in developing my business.”
Who needs a life coach?
O’Nan offers free consultations in life coaching; subsequent appointments are $75 each.
“Anyone can benefit from having a life coach in their life to help them make tough decisions, lose weight, make more money, work out relationships, get their life in shape, achieve hopes and dreams, etc.,” she said. “Everyone needs someone to process their life with; there is no one better than an objective person like a life coach, who has extensive training and experience. I have my own life coach, so that should tell you how important it is.”
But, she also offers a word of caution.
“Anyone can call themselves a coach,” she noted. “There are no regulations around who can’t and who can be one. Be sure and do your research on a coach’s training and background to make sure that you can trust their expertise.”
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 44 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
