What I am learning on my own Goals Journey

We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programming To Bring You This Update! 

Hi, Hi, Hi! …giving everyone a mini update on ME, not the Therapist/Life Coach version of me, but ME! 

Just so you know that I know, I’m well aware that any social media stuff you see “looks” like I have my sh** together (after all, that was my original plan) and that I have this perfect life (perfect ha). 

I won’t lie sometimes it feels like it’s getting there, like I finally have my shit together and then sometimes I’m wondering …”WHAT THE FUCK AM I DOING?!” 

(And by wondering I mean screaming “WHAT THE FUCK AM I DOING?!” with tears streaming down my face and a glass of wine in my hand…the truth isn’t always pretty). 

I’m writing you this from my kitchen counter, still in the same t-shirt from yesterday and I haven’t washed my hair in a couple of days (no clients for the day, essentially translates into “I don’t leave the house”). I’m drinking my first of many cups of coffee and sharing my breakfast and conversation with the dogs (they only talk back sometimes). 

When I decided to transition into private practice to pursue my dreams and really focus on my passion, I thought this transition was going to be a piece of cake! Please don’t laugh too loudly at my naivety. 

SOME BACKSTORY:

I‘ve been providing therapy to children, teens,  families and people in general in CRISIS (for 7 of those years in their homes) for over 10 years. Sooo…When I say I’ve seen some stuff…

I’VE SEEN SOME STUFF! 

I’ve also worked in corporate America (not sure which is scarier). Consisting of management, health insurance and recruiting for Big Pharma. 

Hence the thought process behind…”oh this will be nice and easy.” 

I made this transition for a million reasons, more than can fit into this email. As much as I HATE focusing on the negatives as reasons for any transition and I of course always tell my clients to focus on the positives and how “YOU CAN CREATE THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE.” 

Being honest, my reasons were mostly negative. I was absolutely miserable working for someone else, having to censor myself, my style and frankly how I feel that I can actually be helpful to others. You know, my whole point of choosing this career path in the first place… trust me it wasn’t for the money. 

I did not expect my transition to be a difficult one, especially not personally. I assumed it would be nice and easy, a little vacation away from constant crises. But, you know that thing they say about ASSumptions. 

And obviously, I had never run my own company. If anyone says that this shit is easy, they are LYING to you! 

But, it has allowed me to be ME and required me to get real. 

To share with you my struggles too, because I’m not a Robot. The good news is you’re not either.

Something that you don’t always realize, especially in my line of work is that seeing other people’s “stuff” and living your own “stuff” are Two Very Different things.

I’m a Therapist and a Life Coach. Depending who you talk to these two do not go together. 

I can say that I don’t care what people think, but… I’d be lying.

We all care! 

I recently had lunch with a Therapist that I admire very much. She has 25+ years of experience and mental health is her jam. However, her ideas of what a Therapist “should” do is a bit (okay, maybe more than a bit) different than mine. 

In our discussion of this, she told me that she will tell her clients early on that she may share stories “about herself,” but they will likely be fabricated. These stories are of course to help her clients and to build a rapport with them, but also to keep the boundaries of the Patient/Provider relationship clear ..My mouth only dropped a bit! 

Now, one thing I can tell you 110% is that I will not tell you fabricated stories. Buttt… I will be real with you. Sometimes, I’m not sure which people prefer. 

You may not want to hear my stories and if that’s the case you’re free to unsubscribe and/or ask me for a referral. No hard feelings. I promise. 

From career transitions to family struggles We Are All Going Through Something. And I personally feel that denying this just isn’t helping anyone. 

Since this transition, I’ve been in a phase of life that has been thrilling, challenging, and chaotic. And honestly, it’s been that way for about two years now, since I started my practice. 

When I first made this transition my commitment to business-building and impact creation was hardcore. Like turbo-charged, ride-or-die.

Because I love the work I get to do, I love being my own boss and creating my own roadmap to my success. I love getting to be creative, to truly connect with people, to learn how similar we are in our struggles (and our celebrations)…

Unfortunately, I love it all a little too much. Like…I-don’t-always-know-when-to-stop…it’s an all-consuming kind of love. 

I’d been working at a pace that was unsustainable, and I was relatively exhausted and creatively stalled.

I started getting colds and these random flu-bugs all the time. It became kind of a joke — “Oh my gosh you’re sick again?”

I was losing interest in things I normally loved…even spending time with good friends felt depleting.

All signs were pointing to: SLOW DOWN, SISTER. SHIFT GEARS. TAKE IT EASY.

But I couldn’t slow down.

Things were going in such a good direction. 

I was working with so many amazing clients.– it didn’t make sense to slow down.

So I powered through, and powered through, and yeah, kept powering through.

Until things came to a rather crashing halt recently with some very serious family stuff which has triggered some mental health issues of my own. 

In a number of areas, I was receiving a definitive wake-up call that if I did not figure out how to slow down and shift gears, I wouldn’t be doing much of anything.

As a result: I’m finally learning how to slooooow dooooown.

I decided to prioritize rest and healing, and practice what the fuck I preach:

Pay attention to your life. Put yourself first. Take care of yourself. Honor your needs.

And as I’m doing this, things are changing. I’m changing.

My old motivations and reasons for hustling hard are falling to the wayside.

I’m gaining new insights, and being given a new direction to take my business (and life) in.

And I’m letting go of anything and everything that doesn’t serve me, that doesn’t match the vision of who I want to be, and the life I want to lead.

It. Is. Real AF.

But it’s also amazing and extremely necessary.

I’ll be sharing more insights from this chapter of my life that I’m still finding my way through, but wanted to update you guys now because I think you need to know. Also, if your going through struggles right now and maybe feel somewhat similar to me, I think this may be helpful for you to hear. 

So that’s what I’ve been doing.

I greatly appreciate you being here. Thank you for being a part of this winding, wild, journey with me and I hope that I’ve been helpful as I’ve been a part of and hopefully continue to be a part of yours.

With appreciation, 

Me!