Angela (not her real name), a coaching client, says she wants to be an advertising executive. She felt this was what she should be doing, but always said so with a little but not much enthusiasm. I tell her that she talks about this in a manner so flat and so lifeless that no one would hire her. She nods knowing this is true, even though I know she does not like to hear the truth spoken out loud.
When Angela talked about doing art work with children and her voice became energized. She feels authentic. Her voice, her body language and her words all match from a place deep inside her. Her eyes sparkled and her body became animated. When I pointed this out to Angela, her shoulder caved in. I can’t. I’m not trained. I wouldn’t know what to do.
The next story she tells me is of doing art projects with three young kids. Again she is beaming. Again she tells me she wants to be a graphic designed and that she can’t work with kids.
Sometimes our bodies tell us clearly what we want to do. Sometimes we know exactly what we want to do but we deny it to ourselves. Sometimes we have old beliefs that what we want is not acceptable. Sometimes we try to please others but doing what we think they see as the best past for us.
In Angela’s world she went to school to be in advertising. She feels that is what she must do. She feels tied for life to being something and is afraid to see that this no longer fits her.
Are you tied to a career or lifestyle that no longer fits you but is based on old beliefs or other people’s expectations of you???
What is it you most want? What makes your eyes sparkle and puts a smile on your face? Are you willing to trust yourself and just do it?
Until next time,
Amy Barnes, MBA, LMHC and Life Coach