MY PHILOSOPHY 

 

This is about philosophy – if you’re not into that, don’t read this. You don’t have to understand where I’m coming from for us to work effectively together. But I’d want to know, so I’m choosing to share..

 

We all have archetypal ways of being in the world – “themes” that run through our existence, our lives, and our work. I believe it is helpful to identify our own themes. It helps us recognize what is ours to do. And it helps us identify who “our people” are – our “tribe”, as it were.

 

I have several distinct skill sets. There  is a common thread and common theme that runs through all of them, however, and that is that I am interested in how we get more of who people really are on the inside out into the world.

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The following are some of the principles that guide me as I live and work:

 

Authenticity and Perception

The word authenticity gets thrown around a lot these days. I’m using it in its purest form. Who am I at my

deep center, my core, my soul/spirit, my Self with a capital S? Getting to the essence of who we are at our Self level can be hard. We are socialized so we can function well in society and be good citizens – we learn to play well with others and to behave well – and this is important. I would never tell someone to discard their social self! But I believe who we are at our core, what defines us as individuals, is vital to our experiencing deep joy in our lives.

 

And then there’s perception...

What I am interested in is how we get our true Selves into the outside world. It is vitally important to me that who I really, truly AM is evident in the way I appear in the world. And that who you really, truly ARE is evident in the way you appear in the world. Only if we bring our true Selves can we do our true work in the world.

 

This is where all my interests lie:

Who am I and how do I get the inside of me outside of me?

Who are you and how can I help you get the inside of you outside of you?

 

All of what I do is about that.

 

Growth and Change

I believe we are here to grow.

And everything is always changing – it seems to be one of the laws of the universe – so I acknowledge that and try to facilitate change in helpful directions as much as possible.

 

Beauty

Years ago a spiritual teacher told me I am a soul in search of Beauty.

I thought she meant I was trying to be pretty, and was initially concerned.

But then she and the rest of the group helped me see what she meant and she was right.

 

Full Definition from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Beauty:

     1:  the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses and

          pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit :  loveliness

     2:  a beautiful person or thing; especially :  a beautiful woman

     3:  a particularly graceful, ornamental, or excellent quality

     4:  a brilliant, extreme, or egregious example or instance <that mistake was a beauty>

 

I am interested in the aesthetics of Beauty, yes. But the definition that excites me is #3 - I am always on the lookout for the excellent qualities in other people and things. And then I want to help bring more of that into the world.

 

You have many excellent qualities – I’d like to help you get more of them into the world.

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Structure allows for Freedom

I am a big fan of freedom.

And in my life I have found that structure allows for greater freedom.

If there is a strong rail I can lean over the edge and look into the Grand Canyon or at the waves crashing on the rocks below...

If there are good mats on the floor, I can try to stand on my head and not hurt myself if I fall...

If I know which is the salad fork is the one on the outside I can enjoy the company of the people I’m eating with and just eat my salad...

If I know I look good in particular types of colors and styles, I can combine them in wildly experimental waysand still look good...

                                  and I can also shop WAY faster...

If I know my body can do this and this and this safely, then I will DO those things in my life...

If I know a particular person truly loves me and has my best interests at heart, I will be able to trust him or her with my secrets and

                                  my moods and myself when I am not at my best and he or she will still love me...

If I know particular foods are good for my body, then I will eat them and combine them in interesting ways because I have no energy

                                 or thought going toward whether they will harm me.

 

Those are examples of how this principle works in my life. Determining structures that work and allow me to experience more freedom is part of what defines me as a person. Helping you do that so you can experience greater freedon in your life is part of what defines me as a coach.

 

These are guiding principles in my work:

     Who are you and what do you want?

     How do we help you get more of that?

     What do you do now that is serving you?

     What is not serving you?

     How do we identify habits that are not serving you so you can live the life you want?

     How can I help you continue to practice habits that are serving you?

     How can I help you learn and practice new habits that will also serve you? 

 

These are the things I am thinking about as we work together.

 

And as we begin our work together, always feel free to express your views and ask questions. We are collaborating on how to help you create the life and work you want. This is your process, after all.

 

I look forward to working with you!

 

~Elizabeth