How to know if you're ready
to work with a coach, be with someone, or do that other thing you're not sure of
PS. I like you is a weekly letter for creatives, business owners, and people in transition… who want to make a change; in their work, or life, or both.
How do you know you are ready?
How do you know you are ready to work with a coach, or be in a relationship with someone, or do that other thing you’re afraid to do?
*Answer: You want to do it.
(* Another answer is, “I don’t know.” Completely legitimate and valid answer. But, if you want an alternative to “I don’t know,” here’s a suggestion for you to consider.)
Sometimes people ask me if they’re ready to work with a coach.
My suggestion (not usually put as blunt as this): Find out.
Go ask them. Go talk to them.
Tell them how you feel and what you want, and ask if they can help you.
Tell them you’re not entirely sure (which is okay!), but here’s your best guess; in how you feel and what you want — and maybe asking for help is awkward or uncomfortable, but here you are, doing it anyway.
You don’t need to know if you’re a hundred percent ready.
You just need to follow your curiosity.
Here’s what I mean:
— How do you know you’re ready for a relationship?
— You want to be in that relationship.
Now, you might have doubts. There might be plenty of worries or fears to work through.
But that doesn’t have to mean you’re not ready.
That doesn’t mean you need to walk away, and give up, just because you’re afraid.
To be sure, you don’t ignore those fears. You don’t pretend they’re not there.
But having doubts, is not the same as you’re not ready.
Here’s another thing:
You don’t even need to get over your doubts.
You just need to acknowledge they’re there.
And then you can start having a conversation. With yourself — and with the other person.
You can create a dialogue. An opening. You can make space to address the doubts and the worries — and you can start, imperfectly.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t need to think twelve steps in advance in order to know if you’re ready.
You just need to start. And keep going — with eyes open. With a willingness to talk, and listen, and be curious.
The only way to know you’re ready is to try. And try wholeheartedly.
And I bet if you do this, you will surprise yourself.
Love, Kathryn 💛🌿
PS. I like you
You can work with me, when you’re ready, by signing up for a consultation call here. And if you’re not sure if you’re ready, come along and ask me. Let’s have a conversation. You can also find out more information (and book a consult call) via my coaching page.