We human beings have a complicated relationship with our emotions. We welcome some while we try to disavow others.

In this month’s issue of Curly Hair | Straight Talk, I give you a view into the work I’ve done with some of my clients to help them work with—not against—their emotions.

In a coaching session with a client, we discussed her readiness for a promotion. She believed she had the ability to do the job, yet she was riddled with doubt she couldn’t understand, so we began to explore her emotions. We learned that what preceded her doubt was fear. The problem was she didn’t like admitting she was afraid. 

Instead of acknowledging it as a natural response to a new challenge, it felt like a red light at an intersection: a signal it wasn’t safe to proceed. Her ability to name the emotion was her first step to no longer being paralyzed by it. 

Want to hear more of the story? Link to the full blog post here.

Here’s what my client had to say about what she learned in our session:

“My daughter asked me for pointers for an upcoming interview. I told her about the session, and how I learned I was using fear as an indicator I’m not ready when in fact it is an indicator to move forward, with eyes open and cautiously, but still forward.”

Want some help overcoming a block preventing you from moving forward? Book a free coaching session.

Aren't we all a little curious about what goes on in other people's heads? Are they struggling with the same things we are?

Watch the video below to be a fly on the wall in a session I had with a client.

He told me he wasn’t moving forward with an important goal because he was feeling nervous. I asked him what he thought his nervousness was trying to tell him, and what he wanted to do in response.

What feelings are you having today? 

What are they trying to tell you? 

Will you choose to listen?

In Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first inaugural speech, he famously declared, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” but we shouldn’t fear our fear or any of our feelings. Fearing them only gets in our way.

Emotions are a part of the human operating system, and they won’t be debugged in a software update, so do yourself a favor: Learn to accept them.

I help clients see things about themselves they wouldn't have discovered on their own, so they can overcome self-doubt, rise to their potential, and stop allowing limiting beliefs and fear hold them back from what they want out of life.

Find me on LinkedIn, at my website, and schedule a free coaching session.

Thanks for reading and please forward this along to someone who could use it.