Start by Healing Yourself - episode 84
Jen was not feeling fully well the day we recorded and yet she was a trooper giving it her all. I am grateful because she did me a solid which you will hear about. As a self-love coach she is committed to doing the healing work herself and then she can better help clients with the insight and experience she has gained.
Her nugget of wisdom, “Want to heal the world, then heal yourself first” is excellent, practical and sound advice. We need to make sure our cup is full of goodness before we can share it with someone else. Plus that’s really all we can do, work on ourselves, show up as our best selves and keep showing up. Thanks, Jen. That’s a keeper.
You can find Jen at Self-love Yogi.
Authentic. Brave. Kind.
— Jen Haddix
Heading into a New Thing - Coaching
Thoughts from Start by Healing Yourself
It will surprise no one who knows me, along with those of you who have listened to the podcast, that I am heading into a new thing: coaching. I know! There are a gazillion coaches out there. I’m okay with that because the words of my brother-in-law, John, ring in my ears, There is an audience for everything. If I don’t try the new thing how will I know? I do not want to live in regret or in the wonder of What if I’d done that? No thank you. I’d rather fall flat on my face and never have one client then let fear stop this next step.
So let’s ask some questions:
Why?
Some of the spark resides in my friend KB who has shared with me on repeated occasions, You’d make a great counselor. While I’m not feeling the nudge to go back and get a masters, what I am feeling is the, How can I encourage more people thing. I love people. I love relationships. I love words. I love helping people. I love putting that all together. I love collaborating. How can I do MORE of that?
How?
The word coach can mean so many things and bring forward many connotations. The synonyms speak to me: teacher, mentor, trainer, educator, etc. I also like the idea of facilitator: organizer, coordinator, designer, developer. All of these words work for me. And when I think about it I am inspired, excited, and feel like I might burst. I love creating content. I love speaking life into people. I love making a difference, however small.
I am currently taking an online course in coaching. Cue the Rocky music. Learning a ton and figuring out how best to move into this new arena. So I have the coach to teach me how to be a coach, I have a coach to instruct me more about Instagram, and I also have a coach to school me in podcasting.
What’s your experience?
Well, I did major in psychology. I realize this is not a free pass but it’s a great building block. I also was a classroom teacher for 11 years, and was the director of a performing arts program for youth for 15 years wherein I hired and mentored teaching artists. This was one of my favorite parts! Truth is I still keep in touch with many of them today. Ask one of them if this would be a good fit for me. I believe they would say yes.
I am naturally intuitive, aware, sensitive and good at seeing the big picture. I am an excellent communicator because I love words, and am intentional (mostly) in how I use them. In addition I have learned how to set boundaries the hard way. (Is that part ever easy?) In my life I’ve had experience in single parenthood, blending families, infant loss, adoption, kids with challenging issues and how to be their advocate, empty-nesting, and what to do with my third act (reaching 60-years old), to highlight a few.
What kind of coach?
I’ve had fun playing around with this. The thing that comes most to mind for me is Self-discovery & fulfillment. I want each person to feel that expanse of being fully themselves (without apology, see what I did there?). There will definitely be slices of that moving forward with different offerings: one-time events, ongoing content, 1:1 personalized coaching.
What about Unabashed You?
I’m glad you asked. UY is a HUGE part of why I want to take what I’ve learned through it, and share it in a different, intentional way. The episodes and blog will continue. I see the coaching services as falling under the umbrella of Unabashed You. It fits rather nicely. Once again I am encouraged by you. You are one of a kind without equal. Yep, that sums it up. I want to help you do that. Be that. Let me know how I can…
The distance between your dreams and reality is called action.
— Ben Francia
