Hixson life coach works to help women better themselves

Among the activities Michelle Rigling organizes are nature hikes for women. The peace of the outdoors, she said, is an excellent setting for the internal reflection she tries to foster.
Among the activities Michelle Rigling organizes are nature hikes for women. The peace of the outdoors, she said, is an excellent setting for the internal reflection she tries to foster.

What’s in a name?

The origin of the name of Rigling’s business is a quote from 18th century author and poet William Blake. “Celebrate your existence” is the main goal of everything Rigling does.“It’s all about adding joy, wonder and adventure to your life,” she said. “Everything we do should be, at least in some way, creating a life that’s a little more joyful than it was before.”

photo Michelle Rigling says making something can help the women she works with get more comfortable with one another during their meet-ups.
photo Michelle Rigling has been in the Hixson area for around nine years. She briefly spent some time in New Orleans several years ago before returning.

With the new year comes resolutions for self-improvement, but the path to improvement isn't always easy to find or follow. In situations where people feel lost or uncertain, a life coach like Michelle Rigling from Celebrate Your Existence in Hixson could provide guidance.

What Rigling offers is different from therapy. Whereas the psychologist is the expert in such sessions, Rigling said, when someone comes to her, she approaches the discussion as if the client is the expert. Her role is simply to guide her clients and provide the assistance they need to get themselves to a better place.

"We all have the tools and resources to find our own strength, but we often forget about them or lose sight of them," she said. "I talk and work with people so they can rediscover what they already have."

Despite the difference in her title, Rigling said she has several certifications and experience in behavioral health that took her around six years to get. That knowledge and experience have definitely given her an advantage in understanding, listening and empathizing with her clients, she added.

Rigling provides life coaching specifically for women, something for which she said she has had extensive training. Her work isn't just life coaching, though. In addition to one-on-one coaching sessions, Rigling hosts group events for local women to discuss their goals and have reflective discussion. She said around 15 women usually attend, and they routinely come back for more meet-ups.

The greatest feedback she's gotten from attendees has been how non-judgmental the group sessions are, she said.

"I think safe spaces for women to explore themselves with authentic expression is sometimes lacking," said Rigling.

The next group meeting is Friday, Jan. 27, and the focus will be on creating time and space for the goals attendees want to accomplish and understanding what they need to let go of in order to make what they want possible.

Rigling said one of the most common concerns she hears is that her clients aren't happy, but they don't know what's wrong. She recalled one in particular whose very full life, brimming with hobbies and a vibrant social network, had over time dwindled down to almost nothing.

"She'd moved and changed jobs, and she hadn't really self-reflected on how those changes would impact her inwardly," Rigling said. "She felt disconnected, and didn't know how to reincorporate those things back into her life."

Ultimately, Rigling was able to show the woman how to self-motivate and connect more with Chattanooga, she said, adding that the woman is now a regular at Rigling's social events and group meetings.

Rigling also occasionally hosts larger events beyond the meet-ups. For February she is organizing a women's retreat at Fort Mountain State Park in Georgia. Attendees will camp in cabins, meditate in nature and write intentionally about their thoughts to reflect on in a group setting. Rigling's goal is to help the women learn to express themselves in an authentic manner without censoring based on people's expectations of them.

"We usually have at least a few first-timers on our groups," Rigling said. "They're really brave, and I admire that. Talking about yourself to a group isn't always easy."

For more information about Rigling, her life coaching and the meet-ups, visit celebrateyourexistence.com.

Email Shane Foley at sfoley@timesfreepress.com.

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