I recently reconnected with Joanna, a client I coached about six months ago. When we first met, she was in a dark place—stuck in a toxic work environment with an abusive boss. Despite her best efforts to make it work, she saw no way forward—only a way out.
Sometimes we can feel motivated to make a big change, we just need some guidance in how to take the next steps that can seem overwhelming to sort out ourselves. I relish the opportunity to work with passionate people at this stage in their career. After a mutual friend introduced us, I offered Joanna a free coaching session.
In our session, she finally had the space to confront her self-doubt and judgments. She recognized the Saboteurs* running the show—her Pleaser*, her Hyper-Achiever*—and saw how unhelpful those old narratives were. Long story short, she took action. She left that toxic job and is now thriving in a new company where she’s supported and empowered to lead her team as she sees fit.
When I saw Joanna again, she was radiant—filled with inspiration and gratitude. She had shed the weight of her past experience and stepped fully into her potential. This is why I love this work: I get to witness transformation, simply providing the space for people to discover what may be holding them back. In Joanna’s case, she did the work—she climbed out of that hole herself, challenging her limiting beliefs, rewriting her truth into one that truly serves her. Now, she’s bringing her brilliance and unique energy to an environment that allows her to thrive.
Here’s the lesson:
We always have a choice, even when it doesn’t feel like we do. The first choice? The thoughts we choose to believe. Ask yourself—does your narrative come from fear or from love? What choices can you make that will take you down a new path? You can choose what thoughts to choose and in doing so, choose your journey forward.
If you’re curious to learn more, check out Positive Intelligence , a powerful framework for self-awareness created by Shirzad Chamine that helps us understand how we judge ourselves, others, and circumstances with our inner “saboteurs.” It also focuses on teaching you how to shift to more helpful thoughts that can help you reach your goals more effectively and happily.
Ready to take a leap in your professional life? Book a free coaching consultation today!
