As a coach and the founder of Ladies Get Paid, I have the honor of guiding thousands of women in their careers. I believe I was put on this earth to empathetically help people navigate through tough situations, hopefully providing a new perspective to find opportunities in everything. This is my purpose.
Since the onset of COVID-19, that purpose went into overdrive. I started doing motivational videos on Instagram Live every morning, became the cheerleader to my friends, and kicked off our weekly virtual lunches (BYOL.)
But a few weeks later, reality has sunk in and my anxiety, dread, and even panic have made it hard for me to fulfill that purpose. I feel myself becoming depleted and unable to be that person others look to for help. Things are too raw right now.
I know that being vulnerable can provide as much comfort as giving advice does. But I’m worried that I’ll be piling on to your worries. That I’ll be looked at as complaining or worse tone-deaf, as so many others have it so much worse than me. What is my suffering compared to the people who are dying? To the healthcare workers who are putting their lives on the line?
But then I had a realization. This is not a competition. My suffering does not minimize or alleviate theirs. All it does is pile on the guilt, compounding how I already feel. Our pain can co-exist.
Maybe that’s the great equalizer. Our circumstances may be different but we’re all bonded together in this clusterfuck of a crisis. I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse but it does bring some perverse comfort.
All this to say: I need you. Ladies Get Paid needs you.
This Friday at 1 pm ET, I’m hosting our third Bring Your Own Lunch (BYOL) where I’ll answer questions you submit. Though this time, I want you to provide me guidance too. I hope you’ll share your feelings, as raw and messy as they may be. Being real can be scary but it’s also being human, which is a very beautiful thing. We could all use that these days.
Stay healthy. Stay sane. Stay strong.
x Claire
