What is it you do?

How do you define yourself? Is it by what you do?

Here's what happened when someone asked me: What is it you do?

I used to hate this question. I cringed and my body squeezed itself together as I answered: I am an accountant.

What about you?

How do you react to this question? 

How does it feel in your body to answer? 

Do you identify with your job? 

Is your work part of your identity? 

Me: I never really identified with my role as an accountant, which is kinda strange, come to think of it, as I have been doing accounting since school and always enjoyed it, but somehow I felt more embarrassed about my position, rather than proud. I felt like it shouldn't be part of my identity for some reason. 

Other people's reactions bothered me

When I did answer the question, I was often met with responses of incomprehension or maybe even disappointment: Shouldn’t I be doing something more…. You name it; international, unusual, exciting, desirable, fulfilling….?

The truth is, I did a lot of different things back in the day, but not in a role that I considered worth mentioning as an answer to this question. I know people mostly mean how I earn my money and that was my job. 

I was always more than that

Next to my paid job I spent a lot of time coaching. Although I wasn’t calling it that. I spent a lot of time helping other people with their thoughts, problems, and dilemmas. I held space for other people’s feelings and listened to their stories and worries and they often found clarity just by talking to me, or if nothing else, they felt at least they expressed their troubles and were heard. 

I always had a word of advice or encouragement at the ready, if needed. 

I also cycled a lot, danced and went to fitness and Zumba classes. 

Now that I see myself and my world differently...

Recently somebody asked me the question again - what is it you do?  And I tell you, this time, it felt good to list ALL of the things I do! 

I am a Coach

Now coaching is first and foremost WHAT I DO. I am a coach for self love and authenticity.  I use mind-body skills and holistic life design tools to coach mostly women during or after a crisis (burnout, illness, loss, new beginnings). I support and encourage them to reconnect with who they really are, to find out what they really want and offer tools to help them take the steps they really want to take. 

I am a Teacher

I also help people connect to Spirit for guidance and support. You may have seen my blog “My new job found me - guided by Spirit.” I have been cultivating my own connection for a couple of years now and I am delighted to hear people react to this so positively and want to learn how to do it themselves or hear more about my interactions. 

I am Magic

Some results of a spoon-bending class

And there’s more… I teach people to bend spoons using the power of their imagination, transforming metal spoons and the occasional fork into malleable matter. And I LOVE doing it, but I have to admit, I need a lot of energy for it.

You can read more about it on my blog - Spoon Bending:

https://www.burnoutrevolution.com/post/spoon-bending-how-i-do-it-why-i-do-it-and-why-i-love-it

I am a Writer

I write every day. Mostly in my journal, but also blogs, as you know, sharing my insights after burnout and during my transformation, but also about spoon bending, or whatever my creativity gifts me, you can find more blogs here:  www.burnoutrevolution.com/blog

I also write content, many messages, texts and the odd card or letter.

I am a Dancer

What I find is also worth mentioning - I am a dancer. Dancing is what I do! 

A little bit of disco

A little bit of Line Dance

Life-long dancer

I have danced all my life. In primary school I was in the Country Dancing group together with my friends: Sarah, Sheri and Smita (Hi there, if you are reading!) and led by our favourite teacher, Mr. John Kidney (Hi John!).

At the same time, I regularly went to Scottish Country Dancing with my Mum, which continued until I moved away from home, and still today, every time I visit Scotland I try to go to at least one class.

I have always loved a disco (all my family like to dance) and ceilidh dancing, but have also been to Salsa and Meringue classes, tried Belly dancing and Flamenco, regularly gone to Zumba, Modern Dance and most recently - Line Dancing…and very excitingly - as from January I will be taking on a Line Dancing Beginners class as a leader. 

At the moment I am my teacher’s assistant, shadowing her, helping where I can, and generally having a jolly good time. 

Action shot - My first real speaking job

I cook. I meditate. I am a speaker. I walk and cycle. I talk to trees. I cuddle with my cat, Bella. AND SO MANY MORE THINGS. 

Photo by Silvia Brady

Accountant

And late but not least - I am an accountant, a team member, a learner.

....back to you

So what about you? What is it you do? What would you like to include next time somebody asks you what you do? 

Make a list for yourself as if writing to a new acquaintance, see how it makes you feel. Is there something NOT on the list you would like to include?

What would you really like to tell people YOU DO?

Answers on a postcard to kathy@burnoutrevolution.com, tell me all about yourself and what YOU DO! I look forward to getting to know you better. xxx