First. Only. Different
“Burden of Extra Responsibility”
….there are more of us out there than you’d think … We all have that same weary look in our eyes. The one that wishes people would stop thinking it remarkable that we can be great at what we do while black, while Asian, while a woman, while Latino, while gay, while a paraplegic, while deaf. But when you are an F.O.D., you are saddled with that burden of extra responsibility— whether you want it or not… (Shonda Rhimes Year of Yes, 2015)
First. Only. Different. and Ambitious
You are hard-working and ambitious. You have life goals, dreams, and desires to make a positive impact not just for you but for your family, community, and maybe beyond.
With that level of ambition, there remains a gap between where you are and want to be. A gap that frequently leads to stress. Stress that is amplified when you are different than those around you. When you are charting territory only dreamed of by those who came before you. Walking a road that can be isolating and lonely and yet. Yet you knowingly take on this stress that sits on you like an uncomfortable coat you did not choose, yet cannot remove if you desire to continue on towards your goals. You navigate the stress of not fitting in, stress of fighting and working twice as hard to get half as far, stress that comes when you cross all the t’s, dot all the i’s, and still feel like it is not enough.
Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Stress has been identified as a leading cause of symptoms of anxiety and depression. Facts are stress can affect us physically, mentally and emotionally. While you succeed on the outside it can feel like the ability to enjoy the success is beyond what is available to you.
Let’s Enjoy the Journey
The goal is not to eliminate the stress. My goal is to help you find and eliminate any unnecessary stress and navigate the stress that is necessary in the best way possible to meet your goals. If we’ve done our job well you will also experience peace and joy, confidence along the way while crushing your goals. Not just making a change but feeling free to be your authentic self and enjoy the journey while making it to the destination.
