How Free Do You Want To Be? #1

Freedom is my Holy Grail.

That should be the title of my autobiography...

This is my very first blog post. I have never done this before and, honestly, I have no idea if I am doing it properly. But I have done enough research to at least begin...

My name is Frannie and I'm an alcoholic...and a wife, mother, scientist, survivor, fighter, entrepreneur, writer, life coach...I am so much more than the label I stuck on myself in 1997 which was when I first admitted that I am an alcoholic and knew that it was true. It took me another 3 years to actually get sober but more about that later.

I think I will not share all my deepest truths just now. After all this is our first date and, for once, I think I will preserve the mystery for a bit longer (please stop making that eye-rolly face, Judgy McJudgerson...I know you can relate at least a little;)). So I will allow my story to unfold in it's own time.

I've been told a blog is supposed to pose a question which is then answered...

My fundamental question will always be HOW FREE DO YOU WANT TO BE?

Everything after that will serve merely to parse the question and challenge your story.

Since this can be scary, I will go first then invite you to share your truth with me offline.

Freedom (and authenticity) is my holy grail. I manifest this daily to the best of my ability by acting on certain principles.

1 - Do at least one thing a day to move toward at least one goal. This originally started as 'do the next right thing'. Full disclosure: Some days that just means not getting loaded and not killing anyone...Everyday is a new adventure.

2 - Facing and walking through fear.These days, my fear shows up as insecurity and a pathological need to be liked and accepted. Brene Brown says the opposite of vulnerability is fitting in...that left a mark when I heard it. Hard to be authentic when trying to fit in/be accepted, don't you think?

3 - Attempting to not let the biggest manifestation of my fear, procrastination, derail all forward motion, personal progress or success.

There are other things but these are the ones that come to mind at the moment. So let's start here...

If you are still reading, you are likely wondering where I am going with all of this blah, blah...

In January 2019, I summoned my courage and made manifest the most authentic expression of myself.

I started my life coaching business...Frannie G Life Coaching...frannieglifecoaching.com.

I actually created this website late in 2018 then sat in the corner in shock contemplating what I'd just done...

I have become a life coach because I have walked through, worked out, come to grips with and learned to love my issues, my challenges, myself and my life.

I have a life beyond anything I would have imagined possible. It didn't happen by magic. It happened because I was taught and have practiced a set of universal principles that have fundamentally changed my mind and my life.

Now for the chancy bit...

The beginning of my education started in Alcoholics Anonymous. It grew to encompass a wide variety of spiritual ideologies and research into psychology. It's the psychology bit that led me to positive psychology and coaching. (FYI, those three sentences covered almost 2 decades of my life but we'll save details for the next date.)

I have come to believe that the change that happened to me is available to anyone who is willing to do the work and committed to doing it. You don't even need to destroy your life to access the tools.

This is what I'm about...sharing and teaching universal principles with people who would normally not find themselves exposed to these ideas but who could experience the priceless transformation the practice of these principles creates. I am also about connecting and co-creating with people who have evolved past standard twelve step culture. I think of it as 'next level' recovery.

Please don't misunderstand...I love AA and know that it saved my life. It was a place to begin for me...

But I no longer want my touchstone to be alcoholism, addiction and the misery that comes with that. I have turned toward the light of my future and now use the touchstone of positive psychology and coaching to support my joyful journey through life. This is what I want to share and use to make the world a better place.

My commitment to you is to always be authentic...even or especially when it doesn't make me look pretty. Truth has power and powerful connection with other people is how we can all make the world a better place (that last bit about making the world a better place is my #1 value but more about that later).

So my question for you is HOW FREE DO YOU WANT TO BE?

What fear are you willing to face?

What truth are you willing to tell?

What time are you willing to spend?

What change are you willing to make?

WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO BE FREE??

From the stories you tell yourself?

From the opinions and expectations of others?

From your own self-defeating choices and limiting beliefs?

HOW FREE DO YOU WANT TO BE?

Love to have a chat with you about it all...call me...

Love yer guts, Frannie