What Coaching Did For Me
If you've read anything on my site, you know I'm a life coach. In my own words, a life coach (or any coach worth their salt), is someone who is a non-judgmental support that can aid in helping their clients move forward in life. Super basic, yet so profound. Most people that I encounter have a stellar support system with amazing friends, family and colleagues, but don't truly have someone in their life that can give them the straight goods without judgment or attachment to the outcome.
One of the coaches I work alongside sums up coaching this way: coaching is personal training that helps people reach their goals, no matter where they are in life. Much like a personal trainer works your body, a coach works your mind, helping you develop the mental strength emotional intelligence and instinctive ability to problem solve and relate with others.
When I embarked on the journey to become a certified coach, I had no idea what I was in for. Everything resonated with me and I knew it felt right, but I didn't know if this was a career choice worth taking on, or what was required of me to be the most effective coach possible for me.
I left the first workshop knowing I was home. People truly saw me and heard me for the first time in what felt like forever. I saw people and communicated with people the way I've always wanted to - deeply and with quality. One of my most favourite and impactful exercises we took part in was where a group of fellow students gives you feedback on what they want to see more of from you (after only knowing you for about two days). They told me that I needed to show up, that I was hiding this "Warrior Princess" quality and that it was time for her to come out. They saw my soul. Which meant it was time to face my stuff.
Crap!
Vulnerability has never been super easy for me. Coaching required me to get real. To start to remove the masks that I have acquired and face my fears, my inadequacies, and the saboteur voices in my head that tell me I am not enough. It was (and still is) messy, uncomfortable and challenging (read: hot mess).
Yet that is why I love coaching. I was an extremely angry, protected, perfectionist who always thought I was right (and did not hesitate in letting you know it). That kept people at arms length and I cut many people out of my life because it was easier than actually having to be real. That had a voice of "you'll never be good enough" as the devil on my shoulder - I think I have a blackbelt in imposter syndrome (perfectionism and the need to be right are not qualities of someone who is confident in who they are). I have transformed into a person that values empathy and community, that is more comfortable in asking for what I want in the life I am designing for me and my family. I never thought I would ever leave corporate Canada, mainly because I didn't know that there was an option to do so. Empowerment is a word that doesn't even scratch the surface of what I've been able to access through coaching.
You may be in a place where you are not sure what you want. You may be tired of living like this (however you define that) and you recognize that if you don't make some changes soon that nagging feeling of disappointment, guilt and frustration is only going to bore a larger hole in your being. I can help you with that.
But know that this journey is not for the faint of heart. I look for people that are ready to show up and actually do the work. To embrace feedback that might be hard to hear. This work is a lifelong journey. Yes, I used the word WORK. Fulfillment does not come overnight, nor is it a final destination. It moves and shifts, fades and clarifies, comes and goes. It sometimes feels elusive. And worth every minute of searching. Why? Because the world needs what you have. More so than ever.
I have this crazy notion that the world should be full of people learning and doing better because people matter more than money. That we should be sitting in circles around campfires, sharing our stories. When you know better, you do better, AND the next generation gleans wisdom from our experiences. I hope that my view of the world is not in vain, and that my value of old school can be valued and embraced as a place to start living a life on purpose.
Want to join me on this crazy road to amazing? Come, Let's Talk!
