Sue Blanchet Coaching

10/02/2024

01/25/2024

Self Kindness Challenge

I've coached many amazing individuals who truly value kindness, compassion, and empathy. I often observe that these same individuals who honor those values in their interactions with the world don't apply the same values when it comes to themselves. They often tend to be self-critical, judgmental, and impatient. We've often been conditioned to be our own worst critics. If this message resonates with you, my challenge is to spend one week treating and speaking to yourself as if you were you own best friend and giving yourself the compassion you would give to others. For example, if you didn't complete something on your to-do list or made a mistake at work, what would you say to your best friend? Pay close attention to how that response differs from your initial self-talk. What would be different for you if kindness started with yourself?

08/22/2023

"Consonance is when what you do matches who you are (or who you want to be). You achieve consonance when your work has purpose and meaning for you."
It's not surprising that so many of us struggle with not knowing what our own unique formula for reaching consonance is. We're told what we should be doing and what success should look like from such a young age. And when we express ideas or thoughts that don't necessarily fall in line with the mainstream or with what our culture (family, friends, peers) believes, we often receive negative responses. This can result in a lack of confidence in our own ideas or thoughts, resulting in not having the courage to pursue our own dreams but rather pursue someone else's. If you're not sure what your formula for consonance is or where to begin, let's talk.

Across each generation, the realization that success hasn’t brought with it the expected happiness has created a zeitgeist moment where conversations about purpose, fulfillment, and satisfaction reign supreme. If you’ve determined that your dream job is not really all that dreamy, it may be that...

06/12/2023

I remember a time I was sitting in a meeting and my boss made a statement referencing something about people who want to have their own business but lack the courage to go out on their own. That statement landed so hard on me as it's always been a dream of mine to have something of my own. I visualized my future self and how regretful that person would be to not follow that dream and to also ignore the calling I've always had to deeply connect and help others. It was a calling I felt since I was a teenager in high school but somehow was always drowned out by my peers, family, and culture was telling me to take the "practical" career path. Over the years when I thought of pursuing those dreams I would start hearing the negative voices in my head telling me it's too late or what will people think or things are fine the way they are. In spite of so many years passing by that calling never went away. As a matter of fact in continued to grow louder. So loud that I had no choice but to finally step out of my comfort zone. I pursued a mid life career change as a life coach. Looking back the scariest part was in taking that first step to just decide to do it. What's something that you've been dreaming of pursuing in your personal life or career where fear or discomfort is holding you back? Just imagine what's possible for you outside of your comfort zone.
www.sueblanchet.com

06/05/2023

Do you ever reflect on a past experience or time and think "If I only knew then what I know now?". What is the advice that the current you would have given to the younger you? This can be a powerful and insightful tool to help guide you today. When you're feeling stuck visualize the best version of yourself 20 years from now. Then ask "What would my future self tell me right now?". Your future self will always have your best interest at heart.

06/03/2023

We all have it. That inner voice that can hold us back from taking a risk. It could sound something like this:
-What will people think
-I'm not experienced or smart enough to do that
-I need to get more training, learning, practice, etc. before I can do that
-What if I make a mistake
-What if my idea is wrong
-What if I embarrass myself
-Things are fine the way they are
Sound familiar? I suspect this voice that shows up has been a part of you for a long time and if you dig further you might realize its main purpose has been to keep you safe and in your comfort zone. But what if by keeping you safe it's also been holding you back? What is it costing you right now? This inner voice has been labeled things such as a saboteur, inner critic, gremlin, etc.. in either coaching or therapy. Through my own coaching practice I've realized that perhaps we shouldn't be thinking of this part of us as something negative but rather as a part of us that has served us and most likely still does at times. The issue is is that this part of you serves one purpose and that's to protect and it can not differentiate between when it's keeping you safe and when it's holding you back. It just wants to protect. If you suspect that it is currently holding you back you can try the following steps:

1. Pay attention to when it shows up
2. Try to visualize what this voice would look like if it were it's own separate entity talking to you
3. Name it
4. Think of how it has served you in the past and thank it
5. Ask it if it weren't being so protective right now what would be possible

This is one initial approach to start the process of learning to embrace and work with this part of you so that it doesn't keep holding you back. My request is to give it a try the next time this part of you shows up and see what you become aware of. Feel free to DM me and share what you've learned!

05/30/2023

Values play such an important role in our lives. When you're feeling conflicted or confused a great way to get clarity is to check in on your values and how you are honoring or not honoring them. They will always point you in the right direction. If you are looking for a better understanding of your own personal core values and how they can help create alignment and direction in your life coaching can provide that.

01/14/2023

Happy National Korean American Day!

12/20/2022

As we head into 2023 let’s take a moment to reflect on 2022. I invite you to take some time for the following:

- Write down all the wins of 2022 BIG or SMALL
- Take a moment to actually celebrate yourself and those wins
- Look at what didn’t work and rather than looking at it as a failure reflect on what you learned or what the lesson was
- Write down what you want to bring with you into 2023 and what you want to leave behind (habits, beliefs, thought patterns, etc)

What’s possible in 2023 if you approach it with a growth mindset?

11/16/2022

Is It Time to Walk Away?
"Winners Never Quit and Quitters Never Win" has to be one of my least favorite motto's out there. If you're a Gen X like me this message was reinforced throughout my life in advertisements, commercials, sports teams and just about every where else. There may be a time and place where this would apply but what about the person that's stuck in an abusive relationship or toxic work environment or just really unhappy with a current situation and can't seem to walk away? Personally I know I've stayed in situations to try to make something work way longer than I should have not wanting to "give up". If you're currently in a situation that you feel isn't working for you but finding it difficult to know what to do try asking yourself "What advice would my future older self give me right now?". Try reframing your perspective and see what comes up for you.

10/18/2022

MANAGING UP
How effective are you at managing up? The relationship with your manager could be the most important one in your career. How are you showing up in that relationship and is it serving your long term career goals? Helpful article and some tips for managing up:

-Treat your boss like your best client/customer. Think about how you show up to meetings, interactions, etc.. Does it match the way you would show up to your best client meeting?
-It's ok to have a different opinion or perspective but leave emotion out of it. When presenting an opposing opinion or perspective it might be helpful to frame it as if you were discussing what the weather was like last week. Talk through data points but keep the emotion out of it to gain credibility. Logical solutions vs. emotional arguments will gain more when presenting an opposing view.
-Take work off of your boss's desk. If you identify a problem come prepared with a proposed solution to the problem. Otherwise you are adding more to their plate than taking away.

Different strategies for different bosses.

06/08/2022

Feeling overwhelmed is something I've been hearing a lot of from clients lately. This time of year is typically a very busy time with end of school activities, graduations, and trying to balance all of that with work demands. This is a great article from HBR on what to do when feeling overwhelmed to get to calmer and more in control:
-Always start with taking slow breaths
-Practice healthy self talk
-Examine your assumptions about what success requires
-Checking your assumptions of other people's expectations.

https://hbr.org/2018/08/5-things-to-do-when-you-feel-overwhelmed-by-your-workload?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=hbr&utm_source=LinkedIn&tpcc=orgsocial_edit

If you have moments of feeling overwhelmed by your workload, start with some deep breathing and healthy self-talk, like saying to yourself, ”Even though I have many things to do, I can only focus on the one thing I’m doing right now.” Then start tracking your time to figure out how much you’...

05/17/2022

It can often be difficult to distinguish wether the voice that’s directing us is our own inner voice or coming from our culture (friends, family, work, social media, media). Meditation, prayer, or just taking a couple moments to breathe can help drown out the outside voices to get more connected to our inner self. Pay close attention to the energy your body is feeling and what it is telling you. Your body will never steer you wrong.
www.sueblanchet.com

05/14/2022

What comes up for you when you think about your job/career? What’s the energy you’re feeling? If this article resonates with you let’s explore what career success would look like and mean for you.
www.sueblanchet.com


https://hbr.org/2019/08/are-you-pursuing-your-vision-of-career-success-or-someone-elses

Across each generation, the realization that success hasn’t brought with it the expected happiness has created a zeitgeist moment where conversations about purpose, fulfillment, and satisfaction reign supreme. If you’ve determined that your dream job is not really all that dreamy, it may be that...

05/10/2022

05/10/2022

Fear is often the underlying emotion that holds us back in our personal and professional lives. There are unlimited possibilities on the other side of fear. If you suspect fear has been holding you back let's talk to see how I can help.
sue@sueblanchet.com
www.sueblanchet.com

05/10/2022