Many of you have heard me talk about the confusion I felt over my career and that the best thing I ever did was to admit I needed help and to hire a coach.
It was life-changing.
I’ve learned so many lessons along the way…
The big one…
Asking for help when you need it
I held the belief that asking for help was a sign of weakness. “I’m smart and motivated and should be able to figure out stuff on my own, right?” I couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Asking for help, hiring a coach, and finding a community of like-minded designers who are interested in exploring new perspectives has been the start of a whole new journey for me.
A second insight…
Self-awareness is key
Before I asked for help, I thought I needed coaching on leadership, or how to take more action. I thought I didn’t know what action to take.
That wasn’t really it at all.
I didn’t have an understanding of my thoughts and feelings and what was really going on for me. I didn’t know what my intentions were. I had so many stories and drama in my head about what was happening to me. (And, I was thinking some pretty disempowering thoughts!)
My first big a-ha moment was when I was complaining about something I needed to do for my job and my coach offered the suggestion that I didn’t have to do it. We all have free will and can choose what we want to do. “But I have to,” I said to her. What would happen if you didn’t? she asked. (I admit, my head exploded at the thought of not doing it!)
What’s the worse that could happen? Would I lose my job? No, probably not. I started to understand I often did what I thought other people wanted me to do. I was thinking one thing and doing another, I did things I didn’t want to do and then I acted like a victim.
The huge insight…
Taking responsibility for yourself
When I started setting healthy boundaries and taking care of myself rather than people pleasing, I created entirely new situations and experiences for myself. You can show up being the person you want to be rather than playing a victim and blaming others.
Three big lessons I learned during the very beginning of my journey were: asking for help when you need it, self-awareness is key, and taking responsibility for yourself. All three created dramatic changes in my life.
Do you need some help?
What are the thought patterns that are getting in your way? Let’s find out! Let’s work together on uncovering what’s going on for you. Schedule a mini session with me to talk over working together.
Talk to you soon!
