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Making space for the invited inevitable

 

Make space in your life for the inevitable arrival of what you want.
~Danielle LaPorte

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that in addition to being a health coach, I also work a part-time  “side hustle” as a grants and reports contractor for a nonprofit. I started there the year it was founded and have worn numerous (and sometimes multiple) hats, moving between part-time contractor and full-time (overtime!) employee several times along the way over the last nine years.

As a tag-along spouse, tied to looking for work where my husband’s career took us, it’s the longest I’ve ever been with one organization, and while the work has had its ups and down, I’ve always been amazed by the incredible work environment: not many of us get to do meaningful work surrounded by colleagues we admire and respect and even count among our closest friends.

My contract ends this year, and while my health coaching practice is growing, it’s definitely not at a point where it could replace what most people would consider a sustainable income, especially not as we face down eight years straight of college tuition!

for not to

job applicationOne skill I introduce to my clients is how to flip their mindset about what they perceive as negative occurrences: I call this the practice of “for not to,” and as hokey as it sounds, it can be really life-changing as it rewires the brain to see the positive in anything—not in a spiritual bypass, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” sense, but in a way that helps to see a number of paths forward rather than a dead end.

I’ve practiced this skill so much in the past five years that when I learned my contract would not be renewed at a level that made sense for me to keep it, my gut reaction—the one I’ve learned to trust more than the (over)thinking that can follow—was one of delight and openness, a sense of boundless possibility rather than the panic it could have induced.

I had intended to stay with the organization while giving my practice the time it needed to grow into a thriving business. Learning the contract was ending could have been awful and dismaying and terrifying—and it wasn’t.

meaning making

Another skill I have developed as a health coach—and one of the primary skills I help my clients develop—is the ability to stand outside a situation and observe it with compassion rather than judgment.

In the coaching world, there’s a saying that there are two parts to every situation: there’s what happened and there’s what you make it mean. And what you make it mean comes from the story you tell yourself about your life, the accumulation of experience and beliefs that make up your narrative.

What meaning do I make out of all this?

It seems like the Universe is calling me out on my desire to make a sustainable income as a health coach, nudging me out of the nest a little sooner than my logical mind intended because she knows that I’m ready.

It may not look the way I had planned (because you know, if you want to make the Universe laugh, tell her your plans), and if you’re open to surprises, you might get where you want to go by a completely different route!

so now what?

dream jobGood question! I love the idea that the time opened up for new work will call in “the inevitable arrival of what I want.”

I’ve been amazed at the opportunities that have popped up since I learned my contract will end—from new clients to new speaking and writing opportunities (some including international travel!) to job opportunities that actually call for my very eclectic skill set, the future feels light and bright.

As I discover what it will look like in a more concrete fashion, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for being in my community and/or virtual village—and ask you for your help!

Please don’t skip over this request because you think you have nothing to offer: I’ve listed a few ways to help below, one of which is sure to feel doable, and you can feel free to come up with your own!

  • As an Integrative Nutrition® Health Coach focusing on holistic health, I offer everything from lunch ‘n’ learn style interactive workshops (“one and done” and series) to complete corporate wellness packages delivered on a contract basis. If you work in a company or organization that is interested in offering health and wellness programming, please connect me via email with the person in charge of these decisions—often an HR director or manager.
  • I love to speak and write and run retreats—and if travel is involved, so much the better! If you know of opportunities (paid and otherwise) to write or speak or run retreats on the topic of integrative/holistic health, please send me an email.
  • As a health coach specializing in wellness for women over 40, I offer 1:1 and group coaching that focuses on thriving in all areas of our lives as we navigate the overwhelm that can accompany the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual changes that crop up at this age. Health coaching need not take place in person—the phone, Skype, and Zoom have made it possible in the virtual space as well.
    • If you have ever considered hiring a coach, please sign up now for a free YOURstory consultation to see if it’s right for you.
    • If you know another woman who might benefit from health coaching, please forward her the YOURstory link or connect us via email.
    • If you’ve been a client of mine, I would be grateful for a testimonial—you can send me one via email or, if you’re unsure what to write, drop me a note and we’ll chat about it!
  • I run a membership site called the (Sorta) Secret Sisterhood that’s packed with information and inspiration for supporting women over 40 who have spent too many years taking care of everyone else and would like to reclaim their health and their agency over their own lives. The group is full of women who want to not just survive but thrive and support each other in the process.
    • If you’d like to join, you can do so by following this link and getting your first month’s membership FREE (a $50 value) by entering the coupon code TRIBE.
    • If you know someone else who would benefit, you can buy them an annual gift subscription by following this link. You will need to enter the recipient’s name and email and your payment information, so please let them know ahead of time that you’re gifting it.
  • If you are a health coach or healthcare provider of any type, I’d love to collaborate! I have a number of ways to do so listed on my site and am always open to others. Schedule a General or Affiliate inquiry on my booking page, and let’s talk!
  • If you work with underserved women or know reputable organizations that do, send me their information—just a name or website link will do!
  • donateI am passionate about social justice, and I would love to offer my services to those who cannot afford them. At this point, health coaching is not covered by insurance in most cases although it can be if it’s offered through a healthcare provider or a health savings account will reimburse for it. If you want to help and don’t know how else to do it, please consider becoming a sponsor. Because I am currently a for-profit business, you cannot receive a tax deduction for your donation, but do know that your funding will make it possible for me to help someone else. You can designate your amount—and any amount is welcome. Some guidelines below:
    • $300 covers the cost of a one-hour workshop at an organization that serves women in need
    • $550 covers the cost of a 12-month (Sorta) Secret Sisterhood membership to a woman who would benefit from it
    • $750 allows me to gift 3 months of 1:1 health coaching
    • $1,000 allows me to provide 1 group health coaching scholarship or 1 Quickstart program or 1 half-day retreat for up to 8 women
    • $1500 allows me to gift 6 months of 1:1 health coaching

BECOME A SPONSOR

As always, I’m grateful for your presence in my online village—and I invite you to stay tuned for the next chapter!