I've written and talked a lot about the ugly experience of burning out in my corporate job, recovering, and building myself up from the inside out. I've talked about how I've repeated the dynamic of burnout even as I run my own business with all the freedom to do things the way I want (ugh).
I keep being reminded, "Wherever you go, there you are."
Can you relate? Do you wish you could finally make changes so you're not repeating the same pattern again and again? I am committed to ending this pattern of overwork, stress and burnout this year. I'm so done with it.
I bet you are, too. So was a woman named, Mary (names changed to protect the innocent). Here's a real client story. I hear you love those.
Ready? See where you see yourself in this story.
Over the years as the chair of various boards, Mary was a natural leader, often turning chaos into calm. While she delivered more than what was expected, even when expectations were high, she often felt like a fraud. The dissonance between how others saw her, and how she felt internally, bothered her.
Mary had just left a position as a president of a non-profit, and was craving balance between her own needs and that of her family, which consisted of three children and a husband with a demanding job. She often felt guilty, assuming that if something went wrong, it was her fault. In both her professional and personal life, Mary gave her all to others, at the cost of herself. Because she didn't know how to "fill her well," she was exhausted. Mary felt like a victim of her circumstances. She had been in therapy--a lot. It had helped, especially in dealing with past trauma, but she still had trouble setting boundaries. Mary was afraid of her own power. She thought that if she asked for what she really wanted, she would get shut down.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Faced with being an empty-nester, in a marriage that suffered from deferred maintenance, and holding onto friendships that were based on convenience rather than shared values, Mary struggled to find her place in the world. That's when she heard the call to see beyond the roles she played with others, to something more real. She wanted more joy and play in her life. She wanted to stop apologizing for being herself and own her choices.
So, she made the decision to enroll in the Live Your Great Story program. (I'm going to pause here. This is the point when I usually delete an email. Yes. This program exists. Yes, I'm assisting it. And yes, it is available to you if you're interested. And, this story and the webinar I'm inviting you to has value whether you are interested in a program or not. So, keep reading. OK?)
Over the course of four months, Mary noticed big and small improvements. She began to recognize and feel more of her emotions. She started to feel more connected to her own values and what she wanted. She gave herself permission to trust herself. She created more authentic connections to the people she loved.
Today, Mary makes better decisions, puts her energy toward the people and activities that bring her joy, and has the confidence to show up as who she is. She has created intimacy and authenticity in her relationships, including with her children. She took on another important non-profit board role, no longer feeling like an imposter. Mary now owns who she is, feels more in charge of her life, and has created a presence that others notice.
Are you intrigued? Even a little bit? If you are, join me and Corporate Rebel favorite, Carol Ross for a webinar THIS FRIDAY February 2nd at noon Central Time. It's free and open to everyone. To join, simply click here.
As a coach, I'm starting to see how Great Story Coaching has helped me and people like you to resolve the patterns that have gotten in our way for years. Like I said above, I'm so over stress and overwork. I'm ready to embrace my business and life with ease and certainty. Are you?
Join me and Carol on Friday. Can't wait to see you there. Join here.
Christina
