Who’s Writing Your Adventure Story?
Photo by Erik Odiin on Unsplash
During a recent conversation with someone I’d just met, I mentioned to her that I was a life coach. She said in response, “To be honest, I find the idea of a life coach a bit intimidating.”
I had two thoughts:
Bonus points to this person for her authenticity.
I think this woman imagines me in a power suit chanting affirmations, telling everyone to “level up,” and encouraging people to dig deep and hustle for greatness.
She breathed out a sigh and laughed with relief when I told her I’m not that kind of coach.
My clients aren’t on the hustle train. They’re not striving for external markers of greatness or rushing to tackle every item on their bucket lists. Right now they’re doing things like:
Setting boundaries in their workplace and feeling free at their jobs for the first time in years
Practicing courage and putting themselves out there in the world of online dating
Moving their health to the top of their lists (Scheduling those overdue doctor appointments - check! Moving and eating in ways that feel like gifts to themselves - check!)
Figuring out what really matters to them, and saying no the things that don’t
Making more space in their lives for creativity, and creating simply for the joy of it
Identifying unhelpful patterns that are on repeat in their lives - and finding ways to chart a new path
Finding beauty in the everyday and learning how to treasure the good things in their lives
Practicing boatloads of self-compassion - and noticing how this changes how they move through their days
Sometimes the work that we do isn’t just bold action on the outside - it’s about changing how we experience ourselves and the world on the inside.
And that, my friends, can change everything. One of my clients recently put it this way:
“Jenn has taught me amazing skills of awareness and an idea of my own worth and value. I’ve learned that there is beauty in every single day, and that it’s okay to be silly! My life feels like an adventure and not so BLAH.”
Tell me - does your life feel like an adventure? Are you writing your own story, clear in who you are and what matters to you, or have you let someone (or something) else start writing it for you along the way?
Sometimes living our own adventure means letting ourselves be seen, choosing rest in a culture of hustle, telling ourselves the truth about what doesn’t feel right in our lives, and showing ourselves exquisite kindness and compassion.
That’s my kind of coaching.
Are you curious about how life might feel differently if you could experience it differently? If you understood who you are and knew your own worth? If you could practice courage by choosing to do the things that feel most true to you?
It’s a daunting thing, writing your own adventure story, but you don’t have to go it alone. As another one of my clients has said, “The experience of coaching reminded me that my struggles don't have to be just on my shoulders.”
Click here to schedule a free discovery call (no strings, no pressure!) to see if coaching might be right for you.
Cheers to your own adventure, whatever that looks like for you, and to knowing your worth and showing yourself kindness every step of the way.
