A Journey of Self-Discovery at 67
As part of working towards my next diploma, I had to complete an exercise called Best Self.
Those who know me understand that I hate to focus on myself, so this was the most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever had to do.
I had to write to friends and family and ask them for a short story about when they saw me at my best.
At the age of 67, I thought, "I’m all good, thanks!" I even asked my tutor if I could use unsolicited feedback from clients instead. But the answer was no.
The purpose of this exercise was to go through the challenges and emotions it would bring.
You can only imagine how difficult it was to ask people to go out of their way and send me something about me. It felt so self-centred.
But the responses I got back from family and friends were humbling and emotional, and many brought me to tears.
I made the mistake of reading some of them during a break in a workshop I was running. It took lots of deep, slow breathing before I regained control of myself and could continue.
We often see ourselves in a different light; we think we never fit in, that we don’t care enough, that we are selfish, that we are... not enough.
Additionally, we never realise what an impact we have had on others until we ask for their feedback.
The truth is that we do fit in, that we do care enough, that we aren’t selfish, that we are... enough.
If you don’t believe that you are good enough, if you don’t believe that you fit in, if you don’t believe that you care, if you don’t believe that you are unselfish – ask your family or friends.
It will blow you away. And it will keep blowing you away for weeks afterwards.
Let’s talk!
A Journey Of Discovery!