My journey into coaching began with a crisis… I had spent the first 10 years of my adult life trying to win at the ‘Game of Life’ following what had been handed down to me as a ‘successful life’. Getting a good job (well-paid with prospects) a girlfriend, buying a house and car. I had everything in place for a ‘successful life’.
…and then my engagement broke up.
It was a challenging time and I had a lot of unanswered questions but fortunately someone gave me a book on co-dependent relationships which helped me to face the truth of my life.
That truth was that I wasn’t really that excited at the prospect of settling down and getting married in my 20s without exploring the world. I didn’t see the sense in leaving the possibility for real adventure until I retired. I wanted to explore and challenge myself while I was young and hungry to see what new possibilities and experiences were out there.
And I wasn’t fulfilled in my well-paid job at JP Morgan or inspired by the corporate future stretching out before me. My values of fun, creativity and sustainability were often out of alignment with working at an investment bank and there was no real purpose to my work other than adding a zero to the company’s profits.
I realised that the only thing standing between me and what I really wanted to do was fear and I didn’t want to live a life rooted in fear. So I renovated my flat to rent out, quit my job and flew to Argentina to take a course in teaching English and begin the next chapter in my life.
I spent the next few years living abroad, teaching and going on an incredible learning journey, discovering new ways of thinking and perspectives on life that were far beyond my expectations.
I discovered the martial art of aikido and lived in Japan for two years, which challenged many of the assumptions I had about myself and the world. More truth to face – not easy, but I was learning that truth is the fuel to empower change.
I reconnected to my creative self – able to express myself in teaching and aikido in ways I hadn’t done since childhood and thought wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to inspire others to go on their own journey, turn their ideas into reality.
Then I discovered coaching…
I began my coach training and in 2013, gained my ACC coaching accreditation with the International Coaching Federation.
Since then I have been inspiring others to question what it is they really want, challenge themselves to act and embrace the unknown. I love helping clients discover what energises them, face their fears and create a life that is in flow with who they are.
