Don't Mistake Quiet for Idle

It feels like it has been some time since I have kept my community up to date with what I have been doing. All the business advice earnestly advises us to stay active online in order to be seen and I do worry at times if not adhering to that message damages my brand. When that happens, I resist the urge to post something just for the heck of it and instead remember why I started my own business.

I started Imaginal Coaching not only because I wanted to help people who were perhaps like me, but also because I have limited capacity to fully engage in the general hustle of life and work. So, when I worry, I take a moment and recommit to respecting what I am capable of and honoring where I am at.

Don’t let my lack of online activity trick you into thinking I have been idle though. There have been several largish developments that I have been engaged with. I have self-identified as a neuro-diverse person for the past two years, and eight weeks ago had the opportunity to be formally diagnosed with both autism and ADHD. Even as a diagnosis that I was expecting, and relieved to get, there are still a lot of emotions and thoughts to sort through. There are also lots of new people on my medical team to get to know and build trust with, and some medications to try out. It’s been a blessing, and it has been a lot.

Some of you may be aware that for the past two and half years I have been part of a co-design team with the Wyatt Trust as they restructure some of the way they provide philanthropic support to our community. This has been a profound experience. I have worked with many exceptional women over this time and together we have built a service that we are immensely proud of. Earlier this year the board voted to fully fund the project for the next five years and we go live on the 1st July 2024.

Last week we held a conference for members of the social services industry to give them an insight into what we have developed, and the co-design and prototyping process that was used to make this a reality. Co-designing and prototyping is an extraordinary way to interact with your community and your industry. It allows us to engage with genuine curiosity and deep listening, aiming always to do right rather than be right. I have rarely encountered the level of trust and respect that these processes have generated in all of the team involved – and with myself.

There will be several academic papers released in due course that I will share with you all as they pass peer review. I have also been busy working with my clients during this time, it is a real privilege to be able to work with them for long periods of time as they and their businesses transition through the intended changes in their lives. From transitioning to a stronger online presence to create more time for further education, to editing manuscripts for publication and moving into face-to-face workshops. From a lack of confidence to travel to planning trips to visit with rarely seen family, to building stronger relationships in the music industry and booking more gigs. All of these things strengthen hope and purpose, all of these people teach me to be a better human every day.

When not working as Imaginal Coaching, I am (mostly) enjoying the process of editing two of the manuscripts I produced last year. It would be tempting to tell myself to focus on one project at a time, and I remind myself that it is important to honor the part of my ADHD self that seeks novelty. Can you guess which part of me loves the rules that apply to the editing process?! It is exciting to watch how I operate as an author and to learn more about my processes. I am looking forward to trusting myself more in this space as my craft develops, and to learning more from other authors and creators over time.

Within the space of my author business, I am also working on some content for an online course I am developing. I suspect it is another year away from being ready, and I am okay with that. It is a long life and I feel no great need to rush toward the finish line.

As part of the management of my neurodiversity I have re-engaged with my meditation practice and my meditation mentor. It isn’t always easy, meditation takes effort. Being part of a meditation community makes it easier to show up on the mat. Having a weekly conversation with other members of the group and my mentor helps me to overcome the obstacles I face and to feel connected. It is time and effort well spent and I encourage everyone to consider meditation as part of their toolkit for living a good life.

So, that’s been me for the past little while. Noodling along, doing my thing as I continue to learn more about myself and life. Keep an eye out later in the year for more Your Life’s Work workshop dates, I am looking forward to being in that space with people again soon-ish.

I hope your week is kind to you.

Lisa