This blog was originally sent as an email to my subscribers on October 7, 2021. This is an archive, so it’s possible some links are missing or expired. If you want me to deliver these emails directly to your inbox, click here to join my email list.
Subject: grief and new beginnings
This week marks the beginning of a new chapter.
I saw my final therapy client last Thursday at 11am.
When I started business coaching in 2018, I assumed I’d spend the rest of my career being a therapist and a coach. But earlier this year, I realized my time as a therapist was coming to an end.
Stomach trembling, I took a breath and said, “I think I’m finished being a therapist. My heart isn’t in it anymore. I want space to grow my coaching business… but it isn’t going to happen anytime soon! I’m thinking I’ll be ready maybe 3-5 years from now.”
My mastermind group chuckled. They CHUCKLED.
I’ve been working with these brilliant business owners since 2017, and they were able to see through my fear more clearly than I could.
“Maegan, you’ve been heading in this direction for years. If you’re ready, it’s time to call it quits. There’s really no need to wait.”
It was terrifying, but I knew in my gut they were right.
The following week, I told my clients I’d be stepping away from therapy practice at the end of September.
The next six months went by in a flash, and I was totally unprepared for the intense grief I’d feel once September arrived.
Every closure session felt like a punch to the gut. Saying goodbye to these clients knowing I’d probably never see them again… saying goodbye to “the therapist”’ part of myself that has been a core part of my identity for the past decade…
I was an emotional mess.
But I felt the deep rightness of it too. With each goodbye came an opening of space, an igniting of creativity, a deeper connection to the part of me that knew this was coming all along.
I believe in practicing what I preach, and I knew that being a therapist no longer checked my boxes for creating a business I love.
Here are the key questions I ask my coaching clients:
- Do you love your clients?
- Do you love how you’re serving your clients?
- Do you love your content area and niche?
Here’s how my answers broke down when I did this exercise on myself:
- Yes, I really do. Many of these clients have been with me for years! I care about them deeply and think they’re super cool people.
- Nope. I burnt out on weekly 1:1 therapy sessions a long time ago.
- I’ve fallen out of love with being a sex therapist. I no longer feel thrilled at the thought of signing up for the latest training, reading the newest books, or speaking/writing about sexuality.
If you want to be deeply rested and wildly successful, your answer to all three questions needs to be a resounding YES.
If it isn’t, give yourself permission to pivot.
I’m not saying it’s easy… or fear-free… but I’m living proof it’s possible.
Thanks for being with me on this journey. Can’t wait to show you what’s up my sleeve for the future.
Talk soon,
Maegan
