Confession: I’m a life coach.

Sure, those words sparkle. They are in blogs and interviews everywhere these days, but there’s still a ton of confusion about what they actually mean.

There are professional life coaches that specialize in every area you can imagine, from business to love. And although I love a green juice and vision board as much as the next person, that’s not the defining characteristic of a life coach. I happen to be a serious feminist with a bit of a nerdy penchant for Game of Thrones, and I’m an incredible coach for women who love honesty and irreverent humor. The one characteristic we all have in common is that we’re here to help you transition from a place of fear, insecurity and overwhelm to a place of clear goals and forward momentum.

Everyone is held back in some way or another by fear. That’s a normal part of the human experience, but one that limits your joy and success. If you’re in the middle of overwhelm right now and considering looking for a life coach, but not sure if it’s right for you, read on. If you’re not ready to hire a coach but still want some recommendations for mindful living, the list below is a great place to start. Below, I’m sharing my 5 favorite ways that an amazing life coach can kick your booty out of fear and into gear.

1. Your coach hears you. When was the last time that you had a conversation in which you felt really heard? For an hour every week, your coach is there to understand you, your circumstances, and your biggest dreams. No phone scrolling allowed.

2. You’ll prioritize your own development. It’s really easy to buy self-development books and let them pile up beside your bed. In our hyper connected culture, you always have something to do that takes precedent over working on yourself. When you have a coach waiting on you for your next appointment, you can’t shirk the conversation. You also won’t feel guilty about working on yourself when you have that accountability to someone else!

3. You’ll get crystal clear. How often in your life have you been asked what you really, truly want with your life? I’ll bet it doesn’t happen as often as you get asked about your responsibilities at work. If you don’t know what you want yet, that’s okay. Through working with your coach you will get crystal clear on what you want for your life now, and what you want for your future. You set the bar, and your coach will hold you to it.

4. You’ll get to pick their brain. Two brains really are better than one. In addition to being a coach, your life coach has had years of their own experience to draw from.  Don’t hesitate to ask them questions about their experience, to request resources that might be helpful for you, or even to ask for introductions to someone they may know. When you hire a coach, they’re looking to share everything they can to help you achieve your dreams.

5. Your coach will call you out. This is my favorite thing about working with my own coach. Once you get through the honeymoon phase of creating your goals, it’s time to start working on them. That’s when the fear comes in, and you start to worry that you aren’t doing things correctly, well enough, fast enough. Your coach is an impartial external sounding board, there to remind you that the fear is all in your head.

Looking for more ways a coach can help you define your path and achieve some serious success? Download the full list of 15 (!) ways a life coach can help you create the future you desire, here.