What a difference a year makes! I want to start this post by saying I apologize for the long absence. To say I’ve been busy would be only a half truth. Yes I have been busy and it’s been as much about being busy as it has been about change. This has been a year of transformation, in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. I am traveling more than I ever have in my life and the work I’ve been doing is new so I have had to learn it as I go along. My intention starting out this year was to expand my capacity in every area of my life: money, relationship, energy, focus, organization, professionalism, and leadership. For the first time in a long time I can say I’ve been measurably successful in each or those areas and that feels great!
The key to this transformation for me was facing my fears and working through them. I have known in my heart that I had potential for more than I was doing and if I’m going to tell the truth, then a truth is that over the years I’ve passed up opportunities because of my fear. To be more specific, I have had an almost debilitating fear of flying for the past 20 years. I don’t know how it developed or where it came from but it’s true. When I’ve looked at job opportunities, or even investor opportunities with my business, I’ve not taken chances when it’s involved flying. The irony to this is I was born with an innate love of travel. I love seeing new places, going on adventures, and I’ve always imagined my life in motion.
Last fall was a turning point for me. I had known of a company called Skillpath, for many years. It is a training company and I even attended some of their training classes when I was younger. I had thought even then that I would like to work for them one day, but I never pursued it because of the travel involved. My children were still young and the thought of being gone so much, coupled with flying was too much for me. I didn’t pursue it until last year.
An ad popped up on my LinkedIn page for Onsite Corporate Trainers which is something I love doing. I inquired and the next thing I knew, I was on a plane to Kansas City to audition for this opportunity. I made it and a year later I am traveling around conducting training sessions for different companies all over the U.S. I fly 3-4 times a month now, sometimes even weekly, and while it challenges me, I cannot ignore the fact that as I continue to embrace my fears and act in spite of them, my capacity for growth, change, and possibility has been expanding. I also love what I’m doing. Even as I’m sitting on an airplane I’ve asked myself would I trade this opportunity for something less scary and the answer in my heart is a resounding NO!
As a coach I cannot help but answer the question to “What am I learning?” I am learning that the path to fulfillment and happiness for me is embracing change and fear, and acting in spite of it. That living a whole life means taking it all on. For years I’ve helped clients see their gremlins, blind spots and hidden, or not so hidden, fears. By facing them we truly free ourselves of the hold they have on our lives. It is liberating and yes, scary.
In addition to my new role as a Skillpath Trainer, I’ve continued my coaching practice and some other amazing things have happened. The Living Forward Foundation is officially a recognized non-profit with tax exempt status and we even received a grant (more on that in another post). My MobileCoach App is being reviewed by itunes developers and will be available for purchase in itunes in less than a month. When one area of life is expanded, other areas expand as well.
So this Holiday Season I am again feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for my life, my husband and children, my family and friends, colleagues, and every person who has been a part of this journey with me. There are not words for what the support and love has meant. My heart continues to expand and my capacity to love gets bigger even when I think it cannot. That is my other big learning. The more vulnerable I feel, the more powerful I am. It is true.
Please send me notes on how you are doing, what is new for you, and any other information you want to share. What amazing things have happened to you this year? What have you learned? I look forward to hearing from you.
Happy Holidays!