The Magic Of Coaching
Sweet Relief From My Self-Employment Blues
Recently, I've been struggling with self-employment doubts - but there is one thing that keeps lighting me up - my coaching.
Let me share with you the heart-lifted feeling of wonder I get when I’m doing the work I love.
And a bit of context.
Recently I’ve been finding things a bit challenging.
Obviously there are a whole variety of reasons for that (world events etc), but I’m just going to focus on one element here.
3 years ago, I chose to become self-employed so that I could focus on building my coaching practice. It’s been an exciting, delightful, and challenging ride.
And lately I’ve been facing some peaks and troughs of questioning and angst - is this the right choice?
And that’s not because of the coaching work - no way!
It’s because of what’s involved in the mysterious (or at least, mysterious to those of us with public sector mentality coursing through our veins) world of ‘drumming up work’.
Marketing, sales, and business strategy (not to mention tax returns) were not a big feature in my motivation to become self-employed.
And yet here I am, sharing my story with you online! (Which actually has been such a delight - getting to connect with friends and colleagues, new and old, about experiences we share but hadn’t voiced before).
When the algorithm realises you’re a coach, you get flooded with a LOT of content and targeted ads from people telling you what you’re doing wrong, and how their method or product is THE magic pill to lead you to a fully-booked and fulfilled business. Woohoo! 😑
(To be fair, I seem to have trained the algorithm back to a higher proportion of ‘unlikely inter-species animal friendships’, which is helpful).
Anyway, all that to say that there are moments when things don’t seem to be working and the anxiety starts to kick in. I had a moment like that recently.
And the thing that really transformed that for me was actually doing the work that I love.
Sitting with people, deeply listening to their experiences. Using the magic of coaching to help them unlock new possibilities, come back from despair and overwhelm and start to feel glowy and excited about what they want to do next.
It’s not a coincidence that I’m using the word magic. It’s a word that a previous client used to describe what was happening in these moments of transformation in our sessions - when things suddenly become clearer.
When something palpable, but difficult to name, shifts, and everything feels different.
It’s liberating.
And being able to facilitate that, well that is my happy place.
And how apt (and delightful) that these moments of breakthrough, freedom and hope create something similar in me, as the facilitator, as they do for my clients.
I come away from those sessions feeling like my feet are lighter, my heart is full of glowy energy, feeling filled up with possibility and good vibes.
There is something so powerful in the connections that happen between us when we engage in deep listening. It fills me with wonder.
The things we can do when we come together and create space for each other - to hold emotion with warmth and care. To allow for the thoughts and feelings to emerge, unfold, form and reform.
A kind of alchemy.
Something so deeply human and ancient that its power reaches back through our history, way beyond the unfortunately ‘corporate-y’ badge of ‘coaching’, into something that is known across all cultures and traditions.
Human connection is magical.
So when I feel filled up again, with this wonder, this golden glow, all the marketing and the business blah-de-blah feel so worth it.
In fact, I see them for what they are - just modes of transport on which I travel in order to reach those people that are seeking these moments of clarity, these shifts and releases that enable big change in their lives.
So here I am, working to get my stories out into the world, so that the people who need this work can find it.
The teachers, tired of counting down the days til the next holiday, the physician associates (😉special mention - are you guys alright? ♥️) sick of being undermined, and all the health and social care workers fed up with struggling against the tide, feeling forced to provide care in a way that doesn't feel right, and being thanked with anger and frustration.
The people I serve are the ones who are here because they care, who are tired of being a punching bag for all of society’s problems, tired of dealing with workplace dysfunction and tensions, tired of how it’s draining their personal lives. And just tired.
And who, despite all that, know that there is a spark within them, or an ember perhaps - the potential for a passion to be reignited, for that glow of possibility and drive to come back into full force, and for life to look more like they imagined when coming into this work - fulfilling, nourishing, connecting.
So, despite all the ‘glurg!’ of grappling with the business side of things, I am eternally grateful for having found this work, and being able to share in these beautiful, vulnerable, transformational moments with people.
And if you're someone seeking that spark again, I'd love to work with you.
Ways To Work With Me
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Feeling burned out, stuck, or like you’re running on empty?
I’m currently offering a handful of free 1:1 coaching sessions in exchange for some market research for my next coaching programme. If you're dealing with stress, disillusionment, or general “what am I doing with my life?” energy… I’d love to hear from you.
Your experience will help shape something meaningful and as a THANK YOU, you'll get a free 1:1 coaching session with me to focus on YOU.
You’ll walk away feeling
Lighter, less burdened, less isolated, more connected.
Relief, less self-doubting, more self-belief.
Energised and excited to take action, having lifted the fog of overwhelm.
Spots are limited, so click here to book now.
And in other news…
One more thing that brought me joy during this recent heatwave was……
…Spooky learnt to get in the hammock with me!
Wishing you all a lovely weekend, toodleoo xxx
What sparks you up in the work that you do?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.