It is almost Spring and keeping with the spirit of growth and rebirth a vision on how to achieve an old goal presented itself to me. My goal has always been to find a way to use my particular knowledge, experience, and training to serve others.
Initially, I thought the best way to do this would be to become certified as an N.L.P. practitioner and Life coach so I could open my own coaching business.
I received my certifications and opened a small coaching and consulting business. I called it Novum Prospectu. It seemed appropriate since developing a new perspective on my experiences and circumstances was how I learned to turn my struggles into strengths.
Sadly, not many people share my fascination with Latin, so no one had any idea how to pronounce it or what it meant. I changed the name to Fuller Living Seminars and Coaching after the first year to market to a broader and more diverse audience.
Despite minimal marketing and networking, clients managed to find me. The relationships I developed with those clients gave me the opportunity to use my training and gain invaluable professional experience. However, the more experience I got working with clients one on one, the more I realized what I did not enjoy it.
The dissatisfaction had nothing to do with my clients or their challenges. I simply realized that the people I most want to work with could not afford luxuries like a Life Coach or N.L.P. Practitioner.
One night a few years ago while I was watching random YouTube videos I saw Dr. Nadine Burke Harris give a Ted talk about ACES. Listening to this Ted talk was my Aha moment, and suddenly my focus completely shifted, and I felt energized. I knew I had a lot of research ahead of me, but I was looking forward to doing it.
For more information on Dr. Harris’ Ted Talk follow the link provided. (https://www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_trauma_affects_health_across_a_lifetime?language=en).
I started a business with the intention of using my talents and skills to help serve others, but I quickly learned that goal was not specific enough to be achieved realistically. So, I closed my for-profit business so I could start a non-profit organization.
Life does not often go as planned, and that is okay. It is okay to change your mind, to try new things to see if you like them or not. Life provides us with a never-ending series of lessons, and we get to decide how to learn them, trial and error is often equal parts exciting, terrifying, and rewarding.
Goals are not often easy to achieve and sometimes what we think we need to do is counterproductive. Sometimes our goals will change while we are working to achieve them. Flexibility and perseverance are necessary for manifesting your goals and optimizing success. Be patient with yourself and remember sometimes you need to fall so you can learn to pick yourself back up.
Resources for Healing Trauma 