I just got an email from a chronic illness coach colleague (yes, I am not the only one!) about an upcoming “offering”. The announcement read: Hear from this “warm and compassionate” coach… I cringed when I read those words, warm and compassionate. Who cares about warmth and compassion?
I don’t know about you, but I have plenty of warm friends and even some who are compassionate. And for people who don’t, there are chat rooms filled with people who will empathize and show compassion up the wazoo. If I’m trying to figure out what it takes to find some kind of success when I’m struggling with a chronic illness, I won’t say NO to a warm voice but I’m looking for a lifeline, here. Take the compassion and turn it into some passion that I can use to navigate these tricky waters called chronic illness and work.
Hey, throw me an oar, will you?
Rosalind
kelene says
Hi Rosalind
I have to say I was alittle upset at the tone of this blog. Why? I am sure your CI coach /Freind is just like you and I, trying to struggle her way through working and possibly dealing with some life issue weather or not it is CI. So all I could think was, Maybe you could help her and throw her an oar. Let her know her marketing isn’t on cue. As Coaches it is assumed that if we are working with CI we are compassionate and warm, YES that is a given. But we are all struggling and could use real help.
Maybe I am wrong, but you did make me realize how passionate I am about coaching myself..
Kelene
Rosalind says
Hi Kelene- Point taken. But, I didn’t write this post for coaches as a rebuttal about how we should position ourselves. It’s for everyone else — who is looking for some constructive ideas or help. As people with chronic illness, it’s easy for us — and others — to think all we need is a good shoulder. I’m glad it let you see your own “passion” — that’s the stuff it takes to really make change.
Taunee Besson says
I learned a long time ago from the ED of a Women’s Center that compassion for displaced homemakers was not enough. In fact, taken too far, it can be enabling.
People who come to us for coaching are looking for ways to improve their situations. They may need to vent a bit on the front end, but after that they want to focus on what’s possible, not what is.
Taunee