Shelter | Architecture + Design
Making space for what’s important, having fun, and smiling again
“Walking around with a permanent frown was wearing me out. I was finding myself being so angry and unsatisfied with my life and how I was spending my time. I was stuck and I needed to make a change…but couldn’t see a different future for myself. The first thing I did was take a week off work to spend time at home and think about my situation. During that time, I realized that it was one thing about my life that was unfulfilling: A lack of purpose and direction. I reached out to Michelle – could she help me get unstuck?
As we began our work together, I felt very excited to be focusing on ‘me’ and what ‘I’ wanted out of life. About six weeks in, my life would change forever following the death of my father. I was so happy that I was already into this coaching process because it allowed me to listen to my inner voices to accept the feelings that I was having. I was able to know that in this relationship, I had no regrets – I had loved and had been loved by my father and soon there was a peace and joy in my heart over a relationship that was successful in every aspect. This spread into the work that Michelle and I were already doing. I told her that I felt as if I was a ‘tourist’ in my own life, and she encouraged me to be that tourist. I learned a great deal about myself during that time.
Soon I was having fun again and people were taking notice. At my office, now I am able to handle stressful situations more successfully, I am more present and giving in my relationships with friends and family, and I am smiling again. Just recently I filled out Michelle’s ‘Following Your Joy’ worksheet and realized that over the summer I had incorporated the activities that I truly enjoyed back into my daily life, because with her help – I had made space in my schedule for myself and things that are important to me. Simple things, but meaningful things.
We’re still working together, and the process has already shown me the value of meaningful and purposeful coaching. I have definitely gotten ‘unstuck’ and am now moving toward a fun future and becoming ‘me’ again.”
