How I found my way to coaching
Spoiler: the path is rarely how you pictured it.
2014, right before I started therapy. I also thought I was a fashion blogger.
In early 2020, I stepped away from therapy knowing that I would most likely not return. To be honest, this was a step I never thought I would take. I couldn’t picture my life without that hour each week to ground myself and reflect in the presence of a professional. While in lockdown, sessions moved to the virtual space which presented its own unique set of challenges. The benefits of therapy started to wear off, and with each session I started to feel more and more stuck. I felt this knowing deep in my core that it was time to leave. I tried to ignore it, but the more I tried, the louder this feeling became. It finally reached a point where I knew I had to take the leap. It was difficult to say goodbye to my therapist. She was somewhat surprised by my decision and even tried to convince me to stay. I wavered a bit, the people pleaser in me wanted her validation that I was making the right choice, and it was scary to leave after almost 7 years of regular sessions. Ultimately, I knew staying would mean betraying this feeling I had, and that went against all the work I had put in. I had to trust myself and this feeling I had and see what was down this path.
It took me a few more months to completely let go, and I had no idea what was waiting for me. After that decision, I would embark on some of the most challenging times of my adult life. In fall of 2020, I decided to close my jewelry company that I had started from nothing and grew over the last decade. This company meant everything to me. It’s how I identified myself, how I found worth and purpose, and how I had built a community in Seattle. Closing my business meant losing everything. Once again, I felt this deep knowing, and I knew I had to keep going no matter the cost.
I thought I would find more clarity after I made the decision to close, but I felt more lost than ever. I decided I would take some time off to focus on healing and explore topics that felt interesting to me in hopes that a new shiny career path would fall into lap. While working my way through training to become an Inner Voice Facilitator, I also joined a group coaching program that helped women build confidence. I also completed an online yoga teacher training as one of my quarantine hobbies and then launched myself into Reiki certification. One day, a new friend from my coaching program connected me to a friend of hers who was a coach. Initially, we met just to connect and network, but then I felt that deep knowing once more. I knew I was meant to work with her. We started one-on-one sessions, and that's when my life really started to change.
She held space for me as I explored what needed to be healed, and she gently helped me set intentions, always meeting me where I was at. It felt like the exact space I had been searching for. A container similar to therapy, but one that looks toward the future instead of the past. You see, I spent years uncovering and understanding my story and all the wounds that came with it. When I decided to leave therapy, I had reached a point where I craved forward momentum, and finally I had found it.
During this time, I also realized that my own inner knowing, my Inner Voice, led me right to this spot. Each step was intentional, shaping me and guiding me to get to this place. There were times in my life where I had felt its guidance before, but for the most part I had buried that voice deep inside, preferring to let my mind lead the way. Reconnecting with this part of myself has been one of the most healing and invaluable experiences of my life. I’ve learned to accept myself more, to slow down and focus on what is directly in front of me. Now, I completely trust in my path, and wholeheartedly believe in the magic of the unknown.
If you feel like you are stuck, or are looking for a gentle container to explore and connect with your own inner knowing, I invite you to fill out my coaching interest form or book a Deep Dive session with me.