Just as we weave ourselves into the lives of others, life weaves its way into us – forming the most incredible tapestry and taking us to all sorts of unexpected, but perfect, places. Often, it’s not until we look back, around twists and turns and over some bumps, that we can see we ended up exactly where we were meant to be.
Such is the case for me and my business. I am where I am today, full of passion and making a positive difference, because of where I once was – a little grassroots girl growing up in country New South Wales with Type 1 Diabetes.
As a child, teenager, and then young woman dealing with my diagnosis, I was subject to some well meaning but disempowering treatment by the practitioners who were supposed to be helping me. At times, the language they used made me feel belittled, judged, and ashamed – as if my condition was somehow my fault. I felt powerless and small, splitting myself into two distinct Katies – the bubbly, bright, high-achieving one I used to mask my trauma and grief, and the highly self-critical, sad one I kept hidden deep inside.
As an adult, I found the strength and self-belief to take control of my health – losing weight and halving my insulin rate. Others saw the massive transformation I’d made in myself and asked me to help them too, so I started a small paleo business. I gave my clients everything I knew and yet they didn’t make the changes required to achieve the same results. I was so confused. “Why can’t I get through to people?” I wondered.
One day, my brother asked me, “Katie, have you heard of NLP?”
“NL what?” I replied.
“NLP. Just look into it,” he said.
I did and soon enough found myself in an NLP training room. Long story short, that experience completely changed my life. Despite all the health changes I’d made, I realised I was still suffering and still carrying around that little girl who felt so unworthy and disempowered.
I fell in love with NLP because it enabled me to access the real me with compassion and gave me the little keys to unlock language, understand how people think, and work together to create profound change.
In that training, I saw it happen for me – and I could see how I could help it happen for others too.
