About Kathryn MacKinnon and competition
On the starting line, I’m surrounded by athletes. I don’t know whose race will be fastest, or easiest, or most beautiful to watch. All I know is there’s a finish line, and I’m determined to cross it. If this is your ‘starting line’ – in work, in life – are you at a place where you can let all the comparison and competition go, and just run your best race?
It’s very hard not to compete.
We’re so conditioned to look to the person (most often the woman ) on our left and our right to see if she’s prettier, thinner, faster, stronger, sexier, smarter, richer, happier. We try to gauge if she’s more accomplished, more popular, more nurturing, more – everything. And then we set our sights on becoming more… whatever she appears to be.
Why do we do that? Why can’t we just run our own race, and cross our own finish line, in our own time?
At 29, I was leading a very ordinary life. I took up swimming to lose some weight, then added cycling to the mix. A year later, after a conversation about triathlon with a work colleague, I taught myself how to run and entered my first Try-A-Tri(athlon). It took eight years for the Ironman idea to form and to work up to it. And now it’s just something I love to do. I love training; I love travelling the world to the events; I love racing. My friends introduce me as “Kathryn – she does Ironman Triathlons – can you believe it?!” And sure, it’s not common. But I went for it. I started at Ordinary, and got a taste of Legendary. 19 Ironman triathlon finishes so far.
Please understand: my races are not me. They are not all of me, they are not all I am, and I’ve long since learned that going faster, going farther, who’s ahead of me, who’s behind me, does not – for me – define Legendary. There’s more.
Maybe you’ve felt this too? Chalking up achievements, crossing your own ‘finish lines’ and wondering, “maybe there’s more…?”
We’re accustomed to assessing our value through external measures: the right job,the right body, the right relationship, the right possessions. We constantly compare ourselves to others and inevitably come up short.
Feeling legendary does not depend on the people ahead of us, or the people behind us. The answers we’re seeking are not across the finish line.
Those answers are deep within us, waiting patiently to be heard. As I completed the WEL-Systems CODE Model Coach certification , it verified my view. Each one of us is Unique. Whole. And absolutely Essential to this world.
Legendary is in you. This is your invitation to seek it out.
I help my clients tune into their body and its signals; to breathe and relax; to tune out their intellect so their internal cues can guide them. And I’m not going to lie – it can feel icky and vulnerable and upsetting; AND it can feel refreshing, enlightening, and SO empowering.
“You are the one who has gently led me towards trying to have an open/honest discussion. I know I can be quite difficult to lead at times so if you can lead me you can lead anyone. You back off when you see it isn’t the time to push me and you gently ask me to look into my reactions and come back to them when I am ready, and that is why you make an ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC COACH. With the combination of your questions and very accepting manner people are able to open up. Keep on being you. It’s the best gift you have.”Allison
Sydney, Australia
I will help you listen, so you can hear your Self.
Sometimes we complain that we can’t even “hear ourselves think.” I would argue we hear ourselves think far too much!
What we crave, in fact, is a safe, quiet, guided conversation with our deepest intuition. These conversations reveal the truth and clear the path so you can answer your call.
My work is guided by the beliefs that :
- We are each essential in this world, like every single note is needed in a symphony.
- When we seek outside approval, adopt external standards and compare ourselves to others, we will ALWAYS feel ‘less than’. Then we get trapped into never being/having/doing enough.
- When we listen to our internal signals, we can’t go wrong.
- Regardless of external circumstances, life can be peaceful, graceful and fun!
- We all have the wisdom we need to thrive. Many people, myself included, need help to learn how to listen, learn how to trust, and learn how to embrace it. Then life changes radically!
If you’re simply curious about what changes when you learn to tune into your body and your Self, let’s have a conversation!
Kathryn
