Grab a cuppa, let's get to know each other a little better
Hello, it's lovely to meet you
I'm Carys, free spirited, curious, and compassionate. Lover of adventures, kindness and freedom.
And a big believer in living our lives according to who we are and what’s important to us.
It sounds so simple and obvious right? So why are so many of us not doing that?
Maybe it's because:
- We don't ask ourselves the important questions - Who am I? What am I good at? What kind of life do I want?
- Chances are, no one else asked us those questions when we were growing up, or through education, either
- We're only looking at one shelf in the "career shop" - we don't know what our options are
- We think that some jobs are off-limits for us, we don't believe we have the ability, or the right, to pursue some career paths
- It's safe, and we're scared to make changes in case they don't work out either
- We're crippled by self-doubt, imposter syndrome and overwhelm
I was definitely not one of those people who knew what I was destined for or wanted to do, in fact I never had a clue.
EXCEPT, looking back, I had many clues, I just didn't have the tools or knowledge to tap into those, identify my strengths or know where my interests could take me. And the result was me drifting around various jobs for a while, frustration, confusion and a total lack of any understanding about how I could use my natural talents to improve my own happiness and contribute in a bigger, more satisfying way.
But now I do have the tools & knowledge, and I'm passionate about helping others, who are right where I used to be.
I've been coaching since summer 2017. I have a Certificate in Life Coaching from Newcastle College, and a Diploma in Coaching from Warwick University. I also hold a certificate in Performance Coaching and have had the pleasure of coaching secondary school pupils and Uni leavers through to mums, career changers and fellow freedom seekers. I have a thirst for learning - seriously, I'd spend my life (and life savings!) on courses if I could - & have most recently taken a Positive Psychology Foundation Course.
Before I moved in to coaching, I spent 10 years in HR & Recruitment, so I also know all about great interviews & CV's that stand out, and I've seen how people flourish in jobs that actually suit them!
I receive regular coaching supervision and attend many coaching forums because I want to be able to offer the very best coaching experience to my clients and ensure I stay up to date with coaching developments.
Oh, and I LOVE what I do!
I know the difference between doing a job just for the wonga, and doing something that really brings happiness (yes, work can and does do that!). And that's why I'm here doing this, because I'm passionate about helping others find & develop fulfilling careers too.
But it wasn't always like this. To get here I had to face up to what wasn't working. It took some difficult times, some tears, and some help, to accept that I needed to step off of the conveyor belt of life. And it took some courage to walk a different path. Above all I wanted to spend more time with my then young son, and I didn't want to rush around like a blue arsed fly, in a constant state of anxiety. It took burnout to propel me to do something about that.
So, to cut a (very) long story short, I trained to become a coach, quit the office job, and thoroughly enjoyed spending more time with my son, whilst slowly building my coaching business (with allllll the imposter syndrome along for the ride). And not long after that myself & my partner decided to try something less conventional at home too, and in summer 2018 we swapped the house & mortgage for a narrowboat (and a much more affordable way of life)! And what a wonderful 3 year adventure that was! You can read about it here. But it wasn't just the big stuff that changed, there have been so many other little things too. I got clear on my values (and continue to do so, because it's not a one time thing) and swapped conformity & convention for freedom, fulfilment & connection.
Last year we welcomed our daughter to the world, and so I'm on to the next part of my adventure - navigating life and work with 2 small people in the mix! Recently I received some counselling, and my therapist said some words which seem to have been tattooed on my mind; "with everything comes a loss". You can rarely have everything you want at one time can you? When you are lucky enough to have other people in your life, and resources are not infinite, there are certainly compromises and difficult decisions to be made. The question really, is what's most important to you? And this is why understanding your own values is so important. Knowing what brings you joy, and feeling that deeper sense of happiness which comes with living your life with intention, rather than being a passenger.
And then when you bring strengths into the picture too, you have the recipe for finding fulfilling work, or for finding your current work more fulfilling! I'm completely obsessed with people and work/jobs/careers/vocations! I LOVE to hear what people do and how they got there, why they do it and how it impacts their lives and the lives of others. And my goodness I love to support people in recognising their own talents, and doing this whole work thing in a way that works for them.
A few fun facts about me:
- I recently spent 3 years on a narrowboat, having the best adventure & learning many lessons!
- I'm in a period of transition, reassessing values, reflecting & aligning my next steps
- My top values are freedom, adventure and connection & I doubt that will ever change
- I've moved house a lot - there's gypsy in my blood somewhere I'm sure
- I'm big into wellbeing, both human and planetary
- I have a creative side which hasn't had much airtime, I'm working on letting it out to play now
- I love watching squirrels, they're funny little f**kers aren't they!
