A Re-Introduction That Needs to Be Said

In case we haven’t met, I’m Alison, and I’m so glad that you’re here and a part of the Clarity Catalyst Coach community! I’ve worked as a life and career coach since 2009 and have coached hundreds of people to make positive life changes. 

As an ever-evolving coach, I do want to name that we're all dealing with different histories and traumas, health circumstances, environments, levels of discrimination, and challenges in our lives that impact our ability to create the things we want.
 
This is something I didn’t understand earlier in my career, and I apologize for any harm my ignorance may have caused. I very much welcome feedback and the opportunity to make repairs.
 
I also wanted to provide some context around who is writing to you and the places I’ve come from.

On the one hand, I’ve worked through depression, neglect, abandonment, isolation, growing myself up psychologically and socially, so many fears, the mountain that is building a successful business, divorce, financial insecurity, and re-building a life unexpectedly.

And on the other hand, I’m a white, neurotypical, able bodied, heterosexual, tall, athletic woman who has the privilege of moving through the world with minimal friction.
 
My disposition tends content and peaceful, and my nervous system is relatively calm and regulated. I’m generally healthy and have no chronic issues or addictions.
 
I come from a middle-class background and have a family safety net. I grew up in a stable environment in an affluent, low crime area. I’ve experienced no significant unexpected deaths. I’ve always had a roof over my head, food to eat, and medical care. I had a kind, encouraging primary caregiver in early childhood, and I received an unusually good education.
 
I’m self-employed and I don’t have any kids, so I have a lot of time, energy, and freedom to work on myself and my life.
 
I don’t think I’m any better or worse than anyone else, but I do think the experiences we’re each working with mean we may be standing in very different places and seeing different views, and that is worth acknowledging.
 
So while I take credit for the work I’ve done to expand, heal, overcome challenges, and create my life; I also recognize that I got dealt a lucky hand that has given me certain privileges that not everyone has been given.
 
We aren’t identical, so please always take what works for you and leave the rest.

If you’re having trouble with something or a different experience of life, there’s likely a very valid reason. And if I ever skip over a step that you need or make an erroneous assumption based on my own lived experience, leave a comment and let me know!
 
One of my favorite things about life is that it’s better when we do it together. I’m so excited to be moving forward into this new chapter with each of you, and I'm grateful that we have come this far together!

I hope that we can all hold compassion and understanding for ourselves and each other as we learn from our histories and explore the lives we dream of creating. Let's see how good this life can get.