Find Your Authentic Voice

I help women discover and trust their authentic voices, a passion born from my own transformative journey. My life changed drastically for the better once I found my own voice.

For much of my life, I let others define me. Like many women, I was raised to believe my value lay in what I could do for others. I was taught that taking care of my own needs, or even acknowledging them, was selfish and immoral. I didn’t even know what I liked or was interested in because I constantly molded my personality to fit those around me. Unsurprisingly, this left me feeling depressed and unfulfilled.

After my divorce, I found myself without anyone to dictate who I should be. It was a frightening and disorienting experience. Do you know the song “The Logical Song” by Supertramp? Its lyrics perfectly captured my state: “I know this sounds absurd, please tell me who I am.” It was in that moment I realized I had an opportunity to discover my authentic self. But…

I had no idea what my authentic self even was.

Fortunately, a presentation at work sparked my interest in life coaching. I began life coach training, which proved to be life-changing. My very first instructor guided us through writing a personal mission statement using the same exercises I now share with my clients. Step by step, I uncovered what was truly important to me.

I learned to evaluate my decisions and actions based on my own standards. For instance, when decorating my new living room, I used to focus on making it appealing for guests. However, entertaining isn’t actually a priority for me. I prefer a cozy, eclectic space filled with light, plants, and animals. Embracing this realization allowed me to create a living room that genuinely reflects who I am, and it finally feels like home.

I now have a clearer understanding of what I truly enjoy—romance novels, glitter, small gatherings with friends, walking in the woods, and the color pink—versus what I once thought I should like but don’t, such as classic literature, tailored clothing, big parties, and muted colors. By presenting a more authentic version of myself, social interactions have become much more effortless, allowing me to form deeper connections with others.

Being authentic has significantly boosted both my self-confidence and self-respect. I can set boundaries more easily and advocate for myself more effectively, which is particularly important given my invisible disability—Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), a connective tissue disorder that depletes my energy and necessitates saying no to many things. Since I appear healthy, I must be vocal about my limitations.

My life experiences have deeply underscored the importance of listening to people and accepting them as they are. It’s easy to judge those who are different from ourselves, but our assumptions rarely reflect their true realities. You can never fully walk in someone else’s shoes, so it’s essential to believe them when they say their shoes pinch. Growing up as a diplomat’s daughter, I learned that there is no single “right” way to do things. What’s acceptable in one culture might be deemed rude in another. How can we claim one approach is right and another wrong? Because of this, I am committed to respecting my clients’ identities, perspectives, priorities, and goals.

These experiences uniquely position me to help you uncover your authentic self, enabling you to embrace your unique identity, make choices that truly reflect who you are, and lead a life of genuine fulfillment and meaningful connections.