Embracing Change & Transformation: My Journey to leverage my own wisdom to help people

Let me tell you a bit about myself

I am an Introvert. My personality test is INFJ. I did this test 6-7 years ago and when I did it again, I had the same result. (if you haven’t, I recommend you to take one (this one for example) to understand about yourself better).

And here are the recommended occupations for INFJ:

Writer? Graphic Designer? Artist? Social worker? No way. I laughed my a** off at the result because ..I thought to myself, “Nah, me being a counselor or therapist, I’m not interested.” I was being honest. Working with people has never been something I enjoy due to my introvert nature. I like deep thinking, problem solving. Sales job or human resource are not for me.

But, life gets interesting lately..

Over the past few years, I’ve amusingly discovered that- a shocking truth to myself- I have a “knack” for helping people in different ways . I enjoy looking at things from a different perspective and exploring the depths of the mind, just like I’ve done with my own. (hint: I had a deep rooted limiting belief that I couldn’t help people by any means – I don’t know why, I guess it’s rooted from the belief that I AM NOT ENOUGH– which I know a lot of people have that too)

Through my own experiences and lessons learned, I find it natural to share my thoughts and coach (i.e. challenge/motivate) others. However, I didn’t become a coach just because life coaching has become popular in Vietnam. I’m actually against trends that come and go, especially in our society where people rush to become a coach and make money.

I appreciate money, and I am not ashamed to say it out loud ( I used to think otherwise, mind you). The truth is, Money is not the root of all evil; it’s how people make it. Limiting beliefs are what hold us back, but I gradually untangled my limiting beliefs:

That I am not good enough.
That I need to work hard to make money.
That I have nothing to offer people, and they don’t have to listen to me.
That I am not an expert , etc.

However, even though I sometime still struggle with self acceptance and self love, I am proud of what I have achieved, not because of my career or social status or financial status. More importantly, I never stop learning and growing. I never give in. My life has been an interesting transformation journey.

There have been many dips or challenges in my journey in the last 12 years, and I have even had too many dark moments where I felt like I had nothing else to hold on to, and at one point, I even had a suicidal thought (you may not believe that, but it’s true)

I’m not sure if I ever had depression in those dark period of my life (potentially yes without me knowing), but life had pushed me to my limits too many times. I broke down, waited for it to be over, got back on my knees again, collected myself, and built my inner strength because that’s the only option I had.

It takes courage to break those chains and define your own life.
Vishen Lakhiani

Giving in to the situation is never something I considered. Too many tears have been shed. My life could be made into a drama show with all the twists and turns, but that’s not the point.

The point is that looking back, I start to see the gems from my own journey, my own pains, and suffering that have become my inner wisdom.

I have transformed several times in the last decade or so..

From a shy person with a lot of trauma and wounded from childhood, (my therapist said I have symptoms of PTSD (complex Post traumatic disorder) because I suffered from mental and physical abuse by a narcissist parent) so much heartbroken, low self esteem)…feeling lost into a confident person I am today, explore the world, and unapologetically confident about my talent and my strengths..

I dreamt to go to the US for my master.. I never thought I would do so, but I did it..I fought for it, asking my father to support me in this decision, even though he didn’t want me to go at all, and more importantly, we were not financially well enough to afford it. You never know how much I was worried about paying my tuition fee during my MBA years, it sent me into panic mode at times…. without the sacrifice of my Dad and the support of my ex in-law, I don’t know how I would be…

I never thought I would complete my CFA program at first attempt at any level…and become a CFA charterholder, but I did it..

I never thought I would end my marriage , I was bruised, scarred, lonely and lost…but i walked out of it ….it took me several years to recover from the crisis..

I never thought I would come to HCMC and worked in consulting industry, steadily advanced in my career and fell in love with Strategy consulting..but I did it..

I never thought an introvert shy person would be a good fit for consulting, yet I nailed it…

I never thought I would leave Vietnam and started everything fresh again in Canada, leaving my son behind for a while…but I did it ..that could be the biggest challenge I ever faced.

I never thought I would no longer find the calling in my consulting job….but it came to that point..and I quit it….

I never thought I would become a blogger, a podcaster, or write about my experiences. But I did it …

I didn’t do this alone. I had my own support system that without them, I may not be where I am today. They were the ones who helped pull me out of the abyss many times..

Life is a box of pandora….full of surprises.

Back to the coaching story, you know, gradually, when I started helping my friends, I saw them struggling with problems that I used to face:

Being stuck in an old mindset.
Feeling unable to move on.
Stuck in an old job, a dead relationship, a toxic one.
Yearning for something different but not knowing how.
Suffering from their own thoughts.
Yearning for changes but not knowing where to start, etc.

I saw myself in their stories, so I started “coaching” them unofficially, without even realizing it, until I realized that this is something I am good at, when people started reaching out to me for advice.

But I don’t really give them advice. I help them find the motivation in their own minds. I help them reframe their thought patterns, understand their limiting beliefs, using various techniques that I have used myself via trial & error . In other words, I just show them what’s possible and they are the one who hold them back, just like myself, in some years ago.

Transformation is an Inside Job,
Change is a Process

I believe you cannot just get a certificate and become a life coach just because the paper says so. You can only coach people on the inner road that you have gone through. You can only guide them in the inner mind journey that you have explored yourself. But you will grow with them; it’s a two-way street.

This is why I am passionate about helping women, just like myself, to live with intention, embrace change, even the difficult kind, and transform their old selves into their new, empowered selves.

They can become the heroes of their own lives.

Whether you like it or not, you create your life. Your dominant thoughts shape your life.
Vishen Lakhiani

I am here to remind you that you are the creator of your life. You have the power and permission to lead the life you deserve.

Whether or not you choose to make the necessary changes and shed your old self to transform into your new self is entirely up to you, and no one else.

Do not allow your parents, your husband, your family, or even your children to stand in the way of your personal growth. They only hold the power that you give them. Prioritize your growth and navigate through life gracefully, with your head held high.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary
Vishen Lakhiani- code of an extraordinary mind

And if you need to cry, let the tears flow for as long as you need, but remember to rise up and take action once they have dried.

My coaching style is rooted in empathy, compassion, and honesty. I believe in building a strong connection with my clients and creating a safe space for them to explore their innermost thoughts and feelings. Together, we can work towards achieving their goals and creating the life they truly desire.

I understand that each individual is unique, with their own set of challenges and obstacles. That’s why I tailor my coaching approach to meet the specific needs of each client. Whether it’s working on mindset, setting goals, or developing practical strategies, I am here to provide guidance and support every step of the way.

More often than not, we become so preoccupied with responding to the events of life that we neglect to consider who we truly desire to become
minhandlife

Today, I would like to take a moment to celebrate my accomplishments- my commitment to this coaching service- I found my niche: personal empowerment and transformation- I commit to help people by upgrading my skills. One first step at a time, this time with Transformation Academy-

Reading the testimonials and success stories from others fills me with both excitement and pride. It’s an incredible feeling to know that my efforts have helped inspire and motivate people to reach their goals. It’s almost surreal, but here I am, making a positive impact in people’s lives.