Wow! My very first blog! It’s been a long time coming but I am finally dipping my toe into the big scary pond of online articles. For almost a year, I have been building a ubiquitous list of ideas and topics designed to inspire and motivate readers towards a life and career authentic to who you really are and where your true desires lie.
Part of the reason I became attracted to coaching is the lure of living in authenticity. And one of the primary components of authenticity is to be completely honest about yourself. So it is in that spirit that I tentatively yet courageously divulge the main reason I have procrastinated in writing and publishing my thoughts ---- I am terrified of writing. More accurately, I am petrified of sharing what I write with the world. Yep, that’s the honest truth, the BIG BAD SECRET. I have spent these past few months reading a slew of articles and books, building up my knowledge capacity, listening to all types of podcasts and the like, all in the name of becoming “edu-ma-cated” so I can share top-notch, cutting-edge knowledge (see, already I’m repeating words which is a literary no-no) with an audience. But let’s face it - it’s been more like an exercise in the highest form of procrastination meant to avoid the fears and self doubt that dwell within me.
Here is how those fears and doubts look:
- What if no one likes what I have to say?
- What if I don’t have anything to add to the conversation? No one wants to read a stale point of view.
- There is already so much commentary posted everywhere. What if no one reads anything I write?
- Is this the right time to start?
- Am I qualified to write anything with all of these run-on sentences, poor thought structure, and whatever else comes to mind?
- Will I bring shame to my family? to my friends? to my colleagues and/or clients? Perhaps that is a bit of a stretch but you get my point.
Oddly enough, it’s this topic of fear that I address with almost every coaching client. Typically it’s fear of something that stops us from pursuing the very thing we want so badly, whether it’s a new career, relationship, more money, education, a promotion, and on and on. So I share this not because I selfishly need to get out of my own way. Okay, that’s actually part of it. But also it’s freeing and hopefully contagious to admit that perfection is not required to take necessary steps to move forward in life. In other words, being an expert is not a requirement for full engagement in certain aspects of your life. What is required is showing up, staying present, and maintaining accountability for your own dreams and desires.
What is the worst that could happen? I could be ignored, or judged, or made fun of, or even ridiculed - probably the appropriate word is “vulnerability.” Being ignored or open to criticism - who on earth wants to deal with that??? Actually, the worst that can happen is to allow these thoughts stand in the way of living my mission and my true calling - partnering with women and men, especially corporate professionals, to purposefully pursue a career and life in alignment with their true desires. What if my words resonate with someone enough to think about living differently, more in line with their own personal vision? Would this soul-baring experiment be worth it? I imagine the answer is yes. Therefore, I am holding faithful to the belief that by publicly confronting my own private terror, you too will take bold, brave steps towards whatever it is you want for your own life, knowing that at least one person will cheer you on from the sidelines (that’s me, by the way). So I am going to stop worrying about all of that other stuff. It serves no one else to stay in that small spot, and it certainly is not serving me! The reality is, someone needs to hear what I have to say, even if it’s just me.
How will this work? About once every 2-3 weeks, I will post an article on various life and career interests that are specifically designed to get you thinking about your own circumstances, especially if you are looking to “upgrade” in those areas. These articles will be part of a series called “kee-licious indulgence.” (Explanation is below...) I will also invite you to share with me either by emailing directly to kioka@kiokacoaching.com, or responding to the article in the box below. I am looking to spark an interest in what REALLY matters to most people, instead of focusing on what you think you should be doing with your life and career. To further support and inspire, I intend to use my own life lessons and bravely expose my own wins, successes, failures and setbacks so you will understand that we are not alone. By doing this, hopefully we can join as a community to explore facets of life that we may not get much opportunity to reflect on. I look forward to sharing things I have learned throughout my forty-some years of life education, and I trust that you will feel comfortable enough to do the same. Some topics may resonate with you; others may float right on by. Regardless, kee-licious indulgence is now open for your review and comment.
So feel free to leave me a message below if anything about fear resonates with you. How is it holding you back in your life? What is one small step you can take to address this fear and move forward? I look forward to hearing from you.
Namaste ya’ll,
Kioka
kiokacoaching
Visit me at www.kiokacoaching.com.
P.S. “kee-licious indulgence” was the name of my personal chef service from a few years back. God inspired my mom to come up with that name and I don’t want to let it go. So instead of serving nourishment for your body, I now transition into serving nourishment for your mind and your soul. Sweet.
