We all know some of the famous mentor-mentee relationships. There’s Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, Michelle Obama and Barack Obama (yup, when he was a summer associate), and I’d be remiss not to include Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter.

Over the past twenty years, I have seen the power of what working with a mentor does for people. I’ve also experienced it myself as a mentee. I believe that with guidance each one of us can more easily and gracefully unlock the true calling that is within us. While we may not be lining up for the presidency, or saving Hogwarts (although I’d be willing to bet between the two of us we could come up with quite a few fantastic spells!), in our own lives we use mentors to empower the journey and help us lean into our soul’s deepest longings.

Below I discuss five benefits of mentorship that I consistently witness as I work with my clients.

Expand Your Way of Thinking

Everything we experience starts as a thought in our mind. When we give ourselves permission to think big thoughts literally anything becomes possible! Working with a mentor helps give us the confidence to step into a greater way of being and to become more aware of the thoughts that are working for us and those that are working against us. In so doing we can create the reality we really want, by expanding our thoughts to match our truest desires!

Gain Courage

Once we start moving into the unknown and creating a new life for ourselves that is exactly what we want, all sorts of feelings can arise. Including fear! If we are on this journey alone this is often a time where it becomes easy to turn around, to convince ourselves we can’t do it, to let our inner critic take us down for the count. With a mentor reminding you that all is possible you not only conjure up the courage to make a quantum leap, you also sustain it.

Learn to Trust

Learning to trust is a big part of the healing journey. Many of us have felt betrayed in the past (read about how to overcome betrayal here) and are longing to believe that there are people out in this world who have our backs. Mentorship assists with a strong and steady flow of encouragement and support, and great mentorship (in my humble opinion!) also means constructing the foundation and scaffolding for inner trust so that you can build your most magnificent dreams from a firmly rooted place inside.

Get Results

When you hire a mentor and consistently meet with them, you expect results and so do they! Noticeable outcomes become indicators of your soul’s own blossoming. As you become more happy and satisfied with life, life becomes more happy and satisfied with you…and it shows!

Have More Fun on the Journey!

Two is better than one. Period.

Celebrations are sweeter. Accomplishments are more joyous. Even accountability is something to look forward to when working side by side with a mentor! I believe we are meant to have a good time while we are doing the work. With someone else lending a helping hand, it can be just that.