"As a white woman, how can you help professionals of color retake control of our personal and professional lives?"
This was recently posed to me in an email from a reader that stopped me in my tracks. But then it made me curious, and so I opened up a dialogue with her (that gave both of us much to think about).
What I told her I'm telling you now...
Taking control is about controlling the things you CAN control, such as:
- How you think.
- How you process your thoughts + emotions.
- How you choose to respond.
And it's also about helping you to identify your internal narratives - those stories that you tell yourself about what you're capable of, how you might be perceived and so on (that hold you back from even trying).Often, there's a kernel of truth in these stories because they come from real-life experiences. But your brain takes these experiences and makes them into truths (as if that's
always the case).
Yet that's often not reality. And it holds you back.
My role as a coach is to help you identify these narratives and decide what's true/not true so that you can change them into something that empowers you to live the life YOU want. Aligned to your values.
THAT'S the answer to her question.
That doesn't mean that there aren't societal inequities or that some people don't have it harder. It's just that my role is to help you take control of what you DO have control over.
This conversation prompted me to record a podcast episode around how your internal narratives create an inner glass ceiling that holds you back. Go >>> here to listen to it.
We ALL have narratives that hold us back. And it's up to you to identify and challenge yours.
It just might empower you to become a true change-maker who decreases societal inequity. Wouldn't that be something, Friend?
XO,
Heather
P.P.S. I'm not the right coach for everyone. The good news is that there are plenty of great coaches who do this type of work. Find that someone for you.
