Happy New Year!
So, this is my first blog post ever! I love being a coach and I love my clients. I love people in general, and have always been good at sharing my words and thoughts verbally, but I have never considered myself a writer. I fear the idea of writing! Everybody keeps telling me, I gotta blog. So after some, ok, a lot of nudging from my friends and coaching colleagues, I am stepping way out of my comfort zone by slapping some tape over the mouth of my inner critic and not only putting my words in writing, but by also sharing these written words with you. My stomach hurts a little just by writing that last part.
I spent today finishing up some last minute tasks before I get ready to ring in the New Year this evening. I also spent today thinking a lot about this past year. I don’t know about you, but my past year was a doozey. Earlier this year, I quit my financially stable job at a private equity firm because the environment was toxic and the work was extremely unfulfilling, and began working at a global bank. The environment was much better but I once again took another financially stable job, which left me feeling completely unfulfilled and like I should be doing something more worthwhile with my time. To top that off I signed up for a very rigorous coaching certification program at the exact same time I started with the bank. And then I left the security of the bank job to focus on growing my coaching business, aka I entered the world of being an entrepreneur – holy cow! All of this while life was happening around me – good stuff, bad stuff, exciting stuff, hum drum everyday stuff, births, deaths, marriages, divorces…
When I look back at the major stuff, the stuff I took on by choice to create a more fulfilling life – quitting my job (twice), completing the coaching certification, becoming an entrepreneur, I automatically think about how hard it’s been; how scared I was quitting my job – how will I pay rent? Where will I find my self worth? What will others think of my decision? Am I freaking crazy?!?!? I started to feel very heavy and anxious and fearful of all of the unknowns, of the things I haven’t figured out yet. I had to stop myself. I don’t want to end my year stressed out! I decided I wanted to shift my thinking so I didn’t wake up and begin 2015 feeling anxious and fearful. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and I started to think of what I can be grateful for in each situation.
- Quitting the private equity firm– I stepped into my power and took control over my life by leaving an unhealthy situation that was leaving me feeling sick and depressed every day.
- Completing the coaching certification program – I was reminded of my strength and my resilience of being able to complete a demanding program while transitioning into a new job in order to make myself a better coach.
- Leaving the bank to grow my coaching business – I saw my courage and how I’m honoring my values of growth and adventure and freedom and living a fulfilling life!
So my dear friends, while I don’t have all of the answers, I can tell you this – change, even if by choice, can be tough. But rather than be held back by doubt, fear and the unknown, let’s be driven by possibility, opportunity and discovery. We never know how amazing it can be if we don’t make the leap, do the work, tough it out through the difficult times to get to the good stuff – the juicy stuff – what it’s all about. I’m in the thick of it now. I took that leap into entrepreneurship and it sure as heck isn’t easy, but it IS rewarding. As they say, the best is yet to come!
Hugs and love,
Katie
Leave a Reply