Why You Need a Life Coach for Growth: Lessons from Ki Tavo

Life coaches have become a trend over the last decade. Have you ever wondered why? This relatively new career path has gained traction in the past 20 years for good reason.

Why Life Coaches Are Essential

A life coach provides an outside perspective, enabling clients to see the bigger picture, guiding them toward their goals with greater clarity. With an objective lens, coaches offer better judgment on where to focus one’s efforts. Most importantly, a life coach acts as a cheerleader—someone who sees the good in you, anchored in positive bias and constructive thinking. For those who can afford a life coach, the question becomes: why wouldn’t you? We have coaches for running, swimming, and nearly every sport, so why not for the greatest “game” of all—life?

Coaches and mentors play an essential role in helping us free from our self-imposed limitations. Through their wisdom and insights, we gain the advantage of seeing beyond our narrow, often restrictive, beliefs. Through positive affirmations they help us view life through a clearer, more expansive lens.

The Torah’s Approach to Self-Affirmation

As we approach Rosh Hashanah, a climactic event in our spiritual calendar, the Torah has been guiding us toward this moment of introspection and growth. First, in Parsha Ki Teitzei, it introduces the inner battle we all face against our evil inclination. But in this week’s Parsha Ki Tavo, the focus shifts from the battle itself to the approach we are meant to take with ourselves. As we prepare to crown the King on Rosh Hashanah, the Torah teaches that the warrior within us must also become a cheerleader, a positive mentor cheering us on.

The parsha begins with the mitzvah of Bikurim—offering our first fruits in gratitude—and continues with the mitzvah of Viduy Ma’aserot (the Confession of Tithes), a declaration of our good deeds. This “confession” is not about acknowledging wrongdoing; rather, it is a proclamation of our righteousness. In Devarim 26:12-14, we declare: 

“I have removed the holy portion from the house, and I have also given it to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow… I have obeyed the Lord, my God; I did according to all that You commanded me.”

This powerful statement is, in essence, a declaration of our greatness. It reminds us that we have done what was asked of us, that we have risen to the occasion and fulfilled our obligations. Just as a life coach helps us recognize our achievements and strengths, the Torah encourages us to make space for acknowledging our spiritual accomplishments.

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, this is a crucial mindset to adopt. In this season of self-reflection and teshuvah (repentance), we tend to focus on our flaws and failures. While that’s an important part of growth, the Torah here invites us to also affirm our goodness and success. The act of declaring our virtues before God is a powerful practice, one that cultivates spiritual alignment and confidence.

Why Positive Affirmation Matters in Today’s World

By acknowledging the good we’ve done—much like in the Confession of Tithes—we cultivate a positive bias toward ourselves. We begin to see ourselves not just as works in progress but as individuals capable of greatness. This is especially important for today’s generation, which often grapples with the effects of trauma, the pressures of social media, and the constant drive to maintain a certain status. Many of us feel like we’re never enough. Our days are filled with the demands of providing for our families, fulfilling spiritual obligations, and, if we’re fortunate, contributing to our communities. It is more important than ever to become our own cheerleaders, lifting ourselves up with positivity. It’s possible, we can do it. We did the hard work, showed up, and strive. We are capable. Yes, we are great.

This is the mindset we should cultivate daily, and especially now, as we approach Rosh Hashanah: recognizing our potential, the good we’ve already accomplished, and the blessings that await when we align ourselves with divine will. By focusing on the good—the blessings—we can steer clear of negativity. As the Lubavitcher Rebbe said, “Think good, and it will be good.”