Well, actually my goal is to help you live from your strengths and change the world. I’m an Empowerment Coach, and this is my story. I used to describe myself as an empty cereal box… all bright colors on the outside and nothing of any substance on the inside. Because that’s exactly how I felt, and the feeling got worse every year. For most of my life, I blamed myself. After all, that was the messa
ge I was getting from the people close to me at home, at school, at work, in my love life. That I was wrong, too much, not enough, and if I wanted to fit in and belong then I would need to change. Get rid of a piece here, pretend to be this part over here, smile and be grateful, don’t talk too much, don’t be too smart, don’t dream too big or aim too high, and for heaven’s sake don’t ever question anyone else. Don’t flaunt yourself, your talents, your abilities, they’ll just single you out and make others feel bad, and you can’t EVER do that. Over time the pieces of myself that made me ME were buried under the fear of disappointing others, of being judged, and of being rejected. It got so bad that I felt like I didn’t even exist anymore without someone else there to tell me who to be, how to feel, and how to act. In every area of my life, from my work to my relationships, I had retreated into that little box. Trying so hard to be what people wanted me to be so that I could get the love, support, and connection that every person needs. And the ironic thing is, all that effort I put in only ever got me exactly what I showed everyone else. That little box, bright on the outside and empty on the inside. And the pain of that loss, of feeling like I was living a life where I didn’t even exist, got worse with every passing day. I struggled with emotional eating, depression, constant anxiety, and a slew of stress related health problems. There were even nights I went to bed filled with so much pain and fear that I hoped tomorrow would never come; I couldn’t bear the thought of one more day that was like every other day. I felt like nothing would ever get better. I had tried for more than 20 years to make a life worth living, and it was only getting worse. I was swiftly approaching my breaking point when I asked myself one question. The question that would ultimately bring all of that pain and fear to an end.
“What do I want?”
This was a radical, revolutionary question for me, because I had only ever asked myself what the people around me wanted. Asking myself this question meant that I was finally learning to believe that I deserved… anything. I deserved to have needs and wants of my own. And maybe, just maybe, I deserved to be myself and be happy. At 29 I couldn’t bear it anymore. I knew I couldn’t live another 29 years or even one more year the way I was, so I made the choice to change. I quit my job, ended the toxic relationship I was in, and threw myself into a process of self discovery that would ultimately change my whole world and everything I felt and believed about myself. It was painful and terrifying. In many ways I had never felt more alone in my life, but at the same time I could finally breathe. And I knew that no matter what happened, succeed or fail, my life would finally be on my terms. It was a long, hard process that got a lot quicker and easier once I decided to become a coach. Partly because coaching is the right path for me, my calling, but also because as a coach in training I was able to benefit from coaching myself. And that was a game changer. Having someone there to help me, someone who wasn’t stuck in that box, made a huge difference. My coach saw things that I couldn’t see. She had an unbiased view of my strengths and a clear view of where I was getting stuck. The beliefs and thought patterns I didn’t even realize I had that were keeping me from moving forward and embracing myself and my calling were apparent to her. Now I live the life I could never have even dreamed of just a few short years ago. I make a living doing something where all of my strengths are exactly the things that make me good at what I do, where who I am is my biggest asset instead of a “liability”. I am building strong, loving, supportive connections with people who genuinely care about me. I am happy. And I am certainly not a cereal box. I love helping my clients reach this stage for themselves. Seriously, there aren’t very many things in this world that make me happier. You deserve to be happy, and you have something amazing to share with the world. I would love to be there to help it happen. So, if you think I can help, please don’t hesitate to contact me for your free, no obligation, sales-pitch free 30 minute mini session today. I look forward to hearing from you! XOXOX
Elizabeth B.
