I have to admit; the thought of working with a life coach, had me sceptical. I mean, why do I need one? We have our friends, right? Yes, friends. We are there for each other through thick and thin, lending an ear, for one thing, or another, giving constructive advice and cheering on those grand plans! I have a great circle of friends, but it’s knowing when to seek help from a professional.
Enter a life coach; who by definition is, a person who counsels and motivates clients on matters having to do with their careers or personal challenges. Not unlike a friend, right? A couple of years ago, I decided I needed a little direction with my evolving life. I was separated, and my nest was newly empty. Travel was a great escape, but it didn’t solve my dilemma: who was I, and where does one go from here? My story isn’t much different from most. I’m guilty of being stuck in a rut and putting off “XYZ” because I didn’t have the tools to achieve my goals or ambitions. Not knowing my full potential, I let fear get in the way of my success.
“There are people less qualified than you, doing the things you want to do, simply because they decided to believe in themselves. Period.”
I was out of the workforce for years, the kids were gone, and I was suddenly irrelevant, I needed a solid plan. I probably needed a map and a compass too! Not knowing where to start; I connected with Susan Wheeler, a behavioural change expert, or better known as an executive coach. She has a long list of credentials and is committed to helping people realize their full potential and live their best authentic lives. She brings twenty years of strategic HR experience with global organizations, working with leaders and CEOs and mentoring women. Susan is a certified practitioner in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Striving Styles Personality System (SSPS). Her most recent endeavours are her Striving Styles “This Is You” eight-week webinar workshops, helping you discover your personality type, and coaching you on how it affects your relationships, career and life. Sign me up!
I’m not going to lie, I was slightly apprehensive and wasn’t sure what to expect. All I could think about were those crazy mind control workshops of the ’70s. A lot of Kumbaya comes to mind. Forget about those stigmas; there’s no mind control here. LOL. “This is You” workshops are about being open-minded to improvements and developing a mindset that lets you feel more confident, strengthen your relationships, and get more out of life. Susan led a small group of us, in a step-by-step journey of self-discovery, we uncovered our behaviour patterns, and she helped us tap into our true potential. Once we determined our Striving Styles, we were well on our way to the next phase, becoming the best version of ourselves! Honestly, this eight-week webinar was just what I needed, discovering my strengths and weaknesses, and leaving me more confident, focused, and best of all, I had a plan!
“DREAM. PLAN. DO.”
I recently struggled with preparing a business plan, overwhelmed by my thoughts and ideas; I didn’t have a clear direction. Susan was instrumental in helping me get back on track and put those ideas into action. BTW, getting help is not a sign of weakness; in fact, I’ve had a few touchpoints with Susan on related issues since my workshop. I recognize I tend to undermine myself, often getting frustrated and forgetting, “why am I doing this?” Before you know it, I’ve played an entire conversation in my head about “failing” and “it will never happen,” I succumb to my negativity and do nothing. Sound familiar?
“REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED”
Dream big, I always say! Susan suggested I create a vision board; it’s an excellent tool, giving me clarity of those dreams and reminding me of the”why.” This new chapter of mine also includes my handsome leading man; we just hit our two-year mark! I took the idea of creating a vision board one step further and decided my guy, and I should do ours together. Loaded with magazines and Pinterest, (wine of course too!) we were well on our way to envisioning our visions. Fun to do, and it was a great creative outlet, not to mention, good quality time together as a couple.
Most importantly, my new relationship is my redo—this time, learning from my past and improving on going forward. The classic saying, “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is insanity.” While I have learned a lot about myself, I am continually learning more. I would be naive to think I didn’t need a little tweaking along the way. I can’t wait for life to get back to something resembling normal, it’s been a while. As for those plans and dreams? I’m ready and excited to tackle!
“Im known for balancing pragmatism, openness, and integrity with warmth, compassion, and humour.”
I COVET 