April seems to be a month of milestones for us this year. My son turned nine years old – his last year of single digits. My daughter began her experience with the ‘tween right of passage known as braces. Our flock of chickens turned one year old, and their soon-to-be flock-mates were born and arrived by Express Mail. And not to be out-done – I am posting my first blog entry!
This feels like the official launch of my newest rendering of my professional self. I am still growing into my newly claimed identity as Life Coach. To be honest, for every positive response I get (“that is so awesome!” “that is totally what you do for me already!”), I get two more dubious ones. These range from a simple, “huh,” to the more elaborate, “Oh, I know someone who does that and she’s [fill in derogatory comment here].” I’ve never heard someone respond to my husband when he tells them he used to be a school principal with a comment like, “Oh, I knew someone who was a principal. She was a bit out there.” Or “A friend of mine is a principal – or, at least, that’s what she calls herself.” Whenever I tell someone that I am coaching, I notice myself starting to bristle, gearing up for an insensitive comment. I even recently noticed myself offering up the derogatory commentary so that the person I was talking to knew that I was aware of the “Southern California, self-enhancement, flavor of the week” perception.
“What’s wrong with this picture?” I ask myself now. I love being a life coach. I love the coaches I have met through my training and professional development. What an inspiring group of creative, caring, beautiful human beings who desire to help others find fulfillment and live meaningful lives. Of course I want to be associated with these people!
I guess there is something esoteric about the field of coaching. We talk a lot about things that don’t get much air time in today’s Western society: fulfillment, purpose, clarity, heart’s desires. These require a level of awareness and “being” that is largely ignored in our culture. (For the record, coaches also spend a fair amount of time focusing in the more familiar territory of “doing.”) I love that I get to help people uncover what they already have inside and bear witness as they tap into creativity, find clarity or explore new perspectives.
I do not want to be the The Apologetic Life Coach. “Hi. My name is Jessica. I am a life coach…and, yes, I know that’s really esoteric and floofy-sounding…” You get the idea.
So, instead, I am going to be unapologetic about it. How’s this: “Hi. I’m Jessica. Let me be your life coach!”
There, I said it. I want to be your life coach. I am a coach in-training, and I am still learning about being a coach - just like I’m still learning about being the best person that I can be. I’ll be posting here about making meaning in my life, about how coaching informs my life choices and inspires me toward growth. I hope you will continue with me on this journey.
For today, I have another milestone to celebrate – my switch in perspective – from apologetic to empowered. Cue Katy Perry’s Roar.
Thanks for stopping by!
This feels like the official launch of my newest rendering of my professional self. I am still growing into my newly claimed identity as Life Coach. To be honest, for every positive response I get (“that is so awesome!” “that is totally what you do for me already!”), I get two more dubious ones. These range from a simple, “huh,” to the more elaborate, “Oh, I know someone who does that and she’s [fill in derogatory comment here].” I’ve never heard someone respond to my husband when he tells them he used to be a school principal with a comment like, “Oh, I knew someone who was a principal. She was a bit out there.” Or “A friend of mine is a principal – or, at least, that’s what she calls herself.” Whenever I tell someone that I am coaching, I notice myself starting to bristle, gearing up for an insensitive comment. I even recently noticed myself offering up the derogatory commentary so that the person I was talking to knew that I was aware of the “Southern California, self-enhancement, flavor of the week” perception.
“What’s wrong with this picture?” I ask myself now. I love being a life coach. I love the coaches I have met through my training and professional development. What an inspiring group of creative, caring, beautiful human beings who desire to help others find fulfillment and live meaningful lives. Of course I want to be associated with these people!
I guess there is something esoteric about the field of coaching. We talk a lot about things that don’t get much air time in today’s Western society: fulfillment, purpose, clarity, heart’s desires. These require a level of awareness and “being” that is largely ignored in our culture. (For the record, coaches also spend a fair amount of time focusing in the more familiar territory of “doing.”) I love that I get to help people uncover what they already have inside and bear witness as they tap into creativity, find clarity or explore new perspectives.
I do not want to be the The Apologetic Life Coach. “Hi. My name is Jessica. I am a life coach…and, yes, I know that’s really esoteric and floofy-sounding…” You get the idea.
So, instead, I am going to be unapologetic about it. How’s this: “Hi. I’m Jessica. Let me be your life coach!”
There, I said it. I want to be your life coach. I am a coach in-training, and I am still learning about being a coach - just like I’m still learning about being the best person that I can be. I’ll be posting here about making meaning in my life, about how coaching informs my life choices and inspires me toward growth. I hope you will continue with me on this journey.
For today, I have another milestone to celebrate – my switch in perspective – from apologetic to empowered. Cue Katy Perry’s Roar.
Thanks for stopping by!
RSS Feed
