The hard but necessary inner work
The past few years have felt like a drastic, yet long-coming evolution of how I show up in the world. I can confidently say that I feel more authentic and honest than any other point in my life. I think it is no coincidence that I also feel more ease, joy, confidence, and connection than ever before, too.
For a long time I have had a hunch that in order to radiate outward - show up with compassion, care, support, and purpose - I had to start with the inner work. I will admit that this work at many times has felt selfish, self-absorbed, silly, even a waste of time. But a core part of me didn’t let those doubts totally derail the train. A part of me knew that my search for self-understanding was rooted in some important truth.
I recognize this may feel abstract and in the clouds, and sometimes it feels that way to me, too. There are things in life that we only understand and learn through direct experience. And I largely think that is true with the work it takes to feel more authentic and whole in your life. Luckily, there are key concepts and practices that can bring the experience alive and help you on the journey.
As a coach, my main objective is to support and partner with folks like you to grow in self-understanding and develop or evolve your capacity to trust in yourself, what you want, and how you want to get there. Yes, coaches have techniques and processes to help the work move forward, but I find many physicians are good at making goals, getting things done. Often the harder work is figuring out what you really want, and what's actually most important to you. I know this has been true in my own life, as well.
An anchor for this work of self understanding has been connecting with my values. Interestingly, I no longer like to start this process by inviting people to look at a list of values and identify which resonate with them. I find that this method can be overwhelming and confusing - how do we narrow when there are so many ‘good’ values?!? I also find that relying only on our logical processes (making lists, trimming them down) limits our ability to really connect to what's most important to us.
Considering this, I’ve created a Values Reflection guide that I’d like to share with all of you. I hope using this process opens up more curiosity and possibility within you. I suspect it will allow you to connect to parts of yourself that don’t always get as much air time. And mostly, I hope this is a tool in supporting you in living in an authentic and meaningful way.