Being “Bold” & Betting on Myself
I was in a panel interview once, with my team, interviewing a candidate. The candidate asked us if we’d ever done something bold and what it was. As my teammates began readily answering the question, I got that chest-tightening feeling of insecurity. The heat of embarrassment rose in my body as the time for me to respond came closer and I didn’t have anything “bold” to share.
When it was my turn, I said I didn’t know.
Really, I didn’t believe I’d ever done anything bold. How bold is it to do all the things someone else wanted for you? To get good grades, participate in school sports, volunteer, go to college, graduate with a degree, and enter corporate america?
To me, that wasn’t bold at all.
That was the definition of conventional. Safe, good-on-paper decisions that only laid the foundation for my insecurity, fear, anxiety, and shame to flourish.
I couldn’t give myself approval because all that mattered was getting it from someone else: a parent, a boss, a peer.
In 2021, I managed the #1 consumer-facing global communications channel and team for one of the fastest-growing performance brands. From the outside, it looked like success. On the inside, I was burned out from running on adrenaline and felt like absolute shit.
Things only began to change when I sought out the support of a coach.
When I was tired of feeling so shitty, I made the decision to invest in myself.
Through coaching, I learned what it meant to show myself compassion. To nurture and nourish myself. To give myself grace. To acknowledge all that I was doing (and not doing) without shame. To notice what was already (and always) working in my favor.
These mindset shifts were powerful.
They changed my relationships, my career, how I showed up, what I valued, what I practiced, what environments I sought. They changed the trajectory of my life.
If I could answer the candidate’s question today, I’d say that the boldest thing I’ve ever done was to stop lying to myself.
Learning self-trust is powerful. It’s “bold”. It is the net that appeared as I leapt off a path that looked good from the outside and felt inauthentic on the inside. Listening to my intuition, and not these toxic systems, put me on a path of alignment.
Five years later, I’m still learning. I’m connecting dots, learning lessons, and developing skills from a place of integrity. Aligned with my values, I am building a practice that supports folks on similar paths that I was on.
If any of this resonates, or if you’re craving support as you navigate your own path toward alignment, I’m here. My sessions and workshops are safe spaces for compassion, clarity, transformation, and healing.
I’d love to connect, learn more, and answer any questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to book a discovery call or send me an email.
I’m here to use my super powers of tenderness and sensitivity to serve the collective. It’s my purpose.
Like it says on the homepage of this website:
When you discover and live as your most authentic and aligned self, it’s revolutionary - for you and for society.
The ripple effect is massive when you accept and embrace your authenticity, and it’s massive when you don’t.
I’m a testament to this work.
xx
Kaitlin