Hello...Is that really you?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could always show up as your true self? The one that’s tired, joyful, energized, scared, confused, hurt, excited, celebratory, accomplished, curious, bored, slow, fast, hungry or any other human condition feel at any time on any day.

I was reading an interview with David Letterman today as I sipped my morning tea. I drink strong black tea with lots of sugar and coconut milk. I talk a lot about healthy eating, but the truth is, I love caffeine, raw sugar, and tortilla chips. That even sounds like a meal to me.

Back to Letterman. If you remember, he was always self-deprecating on his show. His “What do I know and what does it matter” routine served his TV persona well. In this interview, and now that he’s retired, he’s still the same way. There’s a crabby old guy, but with humility now. He still made me laugh. And he wasn’t even trying. Letterman is real and vulnerable.

In my job as a coach, I am always looking for that person. That’s who I want to share space with...the person that is really there.  So, please:

  1. Be Honest. I won’t judge you. Not my job description.You can learn to speak freely. You will be safe just tell me what’s going on right now.

  2. Pay attention to your assumptions. Phrases like, “This is what is going to happen,” are for fortune tellers.

  3. And then there are interpretations. “When this happened before, I lost my job, so, I know that I am going to lose this one, too.”

  4. Stop judging yourself for feeling this way. Popeye says, “I am what I am.” You are who you are. I want to know you.

  5. Be vulnerable and courageous. Show up as your authentic, tired, joyful, energized, scared, confused, hurt, excited, celebratory, accomplished, curious, bored, slow, fast, hungry or any other human condition and don't allow anything to prevent you from showing up.

You don’t have anything to prove...you are fine just the way you are.