You are the person you need
On self trust + inner wisdom
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Last week, I very briefly mentioned I’d be joining the SUSTAIN team as a systems coach.
This is coming at an extremely formative time in my life and business as I continue to explore what it means to better trust my intuition and ability to know what I need.
One of the things about AI I’ve noticed in myself is that I typically only use it in times of self-doubt. If I’m not careful, I can use it as a crutch to undermine my own creativity and expertise — another way of stifling my voice.
It’s funny because I spent the first two decades of my life in a religion that groomed me to seek wisdom and strength outside of myself. Because I was born “bad” or with sin, my flawed humanity meant my ability to make decisions was often outsourced to God or a pastor or someone deemed to be in a higher position than me (mostly men, btw).
It made the decision-making process really difficult. I would be in bits trying to decipher what “God’s will” was for my life, wanting to make the ‘right’ choice. It got to the point where I had a really hard time knowing what I wanted, because what I wanted didn’t really matter.
And while that chapter of my life is firmly closed, there are a lot of ways I continue to outsource my own knowing. One of the reasons I distanced myself from a lot of healing circles/spiritual groups is because, even though the practices felt more aligned with who I am, many times there was still a sense of hierarchal “I know best, come to me” energy from leadership.
But even outside of spiritual or religious communities, I find myself leaning on other things/people to tell me what I need. Whether it’s hiring a coach, buying a course, using AI, or asking for reassurance from friends and family, I am sometimes the very last person I check in with.
It’s ironic because I actually hate being told what to do. But when I’m actively asking for help or advice, it feels different — it’s just taken me a long time to figure out when to ask someone else for help vs. when to ask myself (and I’m still learning).
P.S. I’m so grateful I found a coach who encourages me to tap into my needs and intuition instead of telling me what to do. Coaches like this do exist!
What’s this got to do with SUSTAIN?
Jenni Gritters, the founder of SUSTAIN and a client I’ve been working with for over a year now, released a podcast episode today explaining her decision to bring Jamie Cox and I into the fold as co-leaders. I, obviously, was there for the second half of the episode but hadn’t listened to the intro yet.
In it, she mentioned wanting to help her clients tap into their own wisdom instead of solely sourcing from hers. One of the many reassurances that this partnership is 100% a “hell yes.”
This morning, I finished prepping for my first SUSTAIN teaching session tomorrow (which you can attend for free, if you want to check out the community).
When I first started putting on workshops a few years ago, I put a lot of pressure on myself to “teach” in the traditional sense. As an ‘expert,’ I thought I needed to be able to share things the audience didn’t already know. I thought I needed to know everything so I could teach it to them.
Over time, my workshops became a lot less prescriptive and a lot more reflective. I talked a lot less and left more space for people to look inward and share with each other. The results of that pivot were far more sustainable than if I were to have shared the same old bro-ductivity tips and sent them on their way.
That’s why I’m really stoked to be joining SUSTAIN. It’s a space where, even as a coach, I don’t have to be all-knowing — I just need to trust myself, and know that everyone else already has what they need too.
In tomorrow’s session, I’ll guide you through some practices to help you identify what you need in this upcoming season and we’ll talk through some systems and habits that can support you along the way.
Peace, love and workflows,
Andrea
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My name is Andrea (On-Dray-Uh) Reeves (she/her), I’m the founder and systems strategist behind Type C Creative.
I’m a biracial, Black, aroace woman with ADHD and OCD. I’m an unapologetically atypical human who runs my own business on vibes, values, and good systems that meet me where I am.
I work with fellow neurodivergent, queer, and creative solopreneurs who are ready to find simpler, more compassionate and intuitive ways of running their businesses.