Finding Authentic Joy - A KaptivateMe Client Story
By Anna M., KaptivateMe Career Coaching Cornerstone Client
My experience working with Kate has been so life-changing and has allowed me to express my true authentic self again. Since graduating college in 2010 I only had one mantra for life: "always have a job, live independently and pay the bills." So this is what I did without much thought into what I actually wanted to do, always just taking the next opportunity in front of me. I became pretty successful doing this and I would fit in fun, travel, friendships/relationships outside of the typical 9-5 schedule. I resigned to this way of life for a while until things started to shift in my late 20s - I didn't see the point of the grind anymore.
I knew something really important was missing and I started going down every single self-discovery path: personality typing, career researching (the endless google searches), books on finding your authentic self. It was so great at first! I felt like I was on the path to finding some meaning and I was able to learn a lot about myself. But after about 2 years of that...I kept ending up in the same place. I gained lots of new "knowledge" but no application to my actual life. I started to think that anyone who says they love what they do is just lying! My brain kept pulling me back into the same story that I can't make money and enjoy what I do.
That's when Kate came into the picture. I knew I finally needed some outside help with all my self-discovery as I've exhausted every part of my own mind at that point. I didn't know what I was looking for other than "being myself." So I googled creativity/authentic coaching and Kate popped up. Her message about uncovering your passions really spoke to me - so I booked an intro call with her right away. I could also immediately tell that she was a warm and genuine person, no gimmicks or overly happy self-help stuff!
Within the first few minutes of our call, I knew I made the right decision. Kate asked thoughtful questions that no one has ever asked me before, and she immediately pinpointed that "art" was a flow state for me (all I told her was that I was obsessed with looking at art and conceptualizing it, I wasn't even making art at this point!). I signed up for the 3 month program and decided to fully commit myself to diving deeper with Kate.
“Throughout the program I learned so much about myself that I could not have without Kate’s guidance - and had fun in the process! Self-discovery was an exciting experience instead of something frustrating.”
Before I started coaching with Kate, I had so many thoughts, interests, and desires that they were all loud in my head at the same time. So I was never able to silence my mind to just pick "one" thing. For example, I was equally excited about becoming an artist, a designer, an academic researcher, a travel blogger, a psychologist, a naturalist, an animal trainer, a small business owner, an airbnb property owner, and a stay at home mom with a big family, pets and house. This was very overwhelming and I didn't know how to reconcile all of these different interests. I also had the limiting belief that some of these thoughts were "silly" for me and I can never pay off student debt or own a home if I pick any of these things.
Through Kate's brainstorming methodology, I was able to get every single thought out of my head. I spent weeks digging deep and organizing everything that interested me in life, and any goals I already had. It turned out this was exactly what I needed! After emptying my brain of hundreds of interests (from careers, to education, to visual concepts, to what my future balcony will look like) it was much easier to listen to my inner voice on what I wanted to do next. Kate helped guide me on how to organize and develop themes around my many interests and start plugging things into an ideal timeline. She also put together potential careers based on our discussions, and spent time talking through every single one with me. This was SO much better than endless hours on Google!
Before working with Kate, I had no idea what my core values and strengths were, even though I took countless online tests. Kate actually asks contextual and thought-provoking questions to really pull them out, and then reflects back to you what she heard and observed. For example, I found out that some of my greatest strengths revolve around appreciating beauty & excellence, having perspective and creativity. I also found out that I really value harmonious connections and exploration. Throughout our coaching sessions, we would always revisit my list of values and strengths and see how any new direction I would take would align with them. A big aha moment for me was finding out that I spent almost all my time in an analytical state and providing lots of direction to others - something I developed skill in but would exhaust me over time.
Because of these exercises I now look at my strengths and values in everything I do. Before agreeing to do something now, I do a quick check against them to see if this is something that will fuel me in the long term. This new approach to life has helped me so much already. I have found a new perspective on my current work and have been able to ask for those opportunities which are more in alignment with me. I have also been able to confirm that my values align really well with my current organization.
After the 3 months working with Kate I decided to pursue becoming an artist. It took a few weeks to decide and not actually flip flop back to something "safer", but once I knew in my heart, I just knew I had to try! And Kate was there and helped me work through those tough thoughts. As soon as I decided, an online art program popped up on my newsfeed - it was affordable, convenient with my schedule, and exactly the type of art I wanted to learn - I knew that I had to apply and I did right away.
Six months after my first phone call with Kate, I'm so happy with my decision and have never felt more alive. Kate was correct about art - it absolutely IS a flow state for me, and I've spent countless hours in blissful flow creating oil paintings and graphite drawings. I have also found more peace at work as I've partially shifted into a role better aligned for me, where I can be more of my authentic self and really connect with my clients.
“In the end, Kate helped me feel brave and confident to pick a path that felt the most true to me, even though it didn’t seem “practical” on paper. She didn’t try to push anything on me, or force me to pick something too soon - a fear I had coming into coaching. She is a beautiful and patient guide who goes at your speed but prods you gently and ensures you stay accountable to yourself. ”
I have continued coaching sessions with Kate and I am now seeing improvements in my relationships and my health as well. I'm learning how to incorporate small, actionable steps towards what I want - whether that's starting an art business or improving my diet. It's too easy to overlook the important parts of your life and get caught up in your daily responsibilities. With coaching I feel like I can finally shine a light on my own life and take small steps for significant improvements.
“For me, the biggest win from coaching is knowing that I have the tools to keep crafting a life that works for me. ”
*Some of the information contained herein is based on content derived by Inner Compass Coach, LLC. Reproduction of this material without express permission of ICC and Kaptivate, LLC is strictly prohibited.