On Quick Fixes & Radical Change
Why is it that we often yearn for something different in our lives— more fulfilling, more aligned with our values— but can’t seem to get out of our own way when it comes to making real, lasting change?
In my experience two key issues usually rise to the top of the list.
First, we live in a culture that is obsessed with defining people by what they “do.” When we’re longing to change the direction of our lives, it can be easy to get hung up on the idea that if we stop “doing” that we’ll stop “being.” In the absence of an externally driven definition of self, maybe we’re nothing. Or— at the very least—not much.
The prospect of being untethered from external definitions can be scary and hold us back. It can feel safer to maintain the status quo, despite personal unhappiness. Making the shift from basing your identity on who you are, rather than what you do, requires time and significant introspection.
This ties in directly to a second hurdle— figuring out where to start. Yes, we want to change. Yes, we’re open to exploring what an identity based on who we are looks like. But where do we start? It can feel utterly overwhelming.
Figuring out where to start is one of the hardest parts of affecting change. It is easy to get seduced by advice that promises to hold the secret to radical transformation.
But let’s be honest. No one or two people are the same, and for each of us the work is to uncover what personally give us meaning. Helping you to find your right path to transformation is my specialty.
When Sarah started working with me her eldest child had just left for college. For years her identity had been deeply intertwined with her role as a mother. With her child entering adulthood and finding independence, she struggled to find her footing. If she wasn’t her son’s mother, then who was she? “I feel like I’ve lost my purpose,” she said.
Through our work together, Sarah came to realize that the answers to her questions about purpose and identity could be found when she turned her focus towards identifying her own hopes and dreams, when she gave voice to her fears, and when she allowed herself to think differently about her place was in the world.
Answers don’t present themselves overnight. Meaningful change takes time, and it is worth the effort you put into it.
My clients often report that they feel powerless to make radical change on their own, and that working with me has given them new insights, confidence, tools, and a path forward. The work we do together supports them to consciously consider where they are in their lives, identify what they want to achieve, and address aspects of their lives that are no longer fulfilling.
I invite you to open a conversation with yourself. I invite you to explore your hopes and dreams, to consider what life could look like with more intentional choices.
I currently have openings in my coaching practice. Coaching with me is an opportunity for you to embark on a journey of self-exploration with extensive one-on-one support. Curious to learn more? A free Discovery Call is available to see if the fit feels right.