The Gray Zone
One of the most surprising things that people find out about me is that I have lived in three different countries throughout my childhood/teen years. I was born and raised in the Philippines then moved to the UK when I was about 10 years old where I spent the next four years. At the age of 14, we moved to the Bay Area, and I have been living here ever since. As someone who has continuously moved throughout my childhood, I found it incredibly normal to live a life of transitions; for instance, I knew that any house I lived in was always temporary, I expected to say my goodbyes to my friends just as soon as I have become friends with them and so on. Permanence was a concept that only applied to two things in my life: my family members and change.
Now I don’t claim to be an expert in change, but I do know a thing or two about change as it relates to people and processes. Moreover, it’s those spaces in between - those transitory phases in life- that are so fascinating to me. These “uncharted waters” are typically the steepest of learning curves and have the capacity for transformational change for anyone and everyone. It’s also these transitory phases that I have decided to focus my energy towards. Transitions are hard because there’s a piece of saying goodbye to what we once knew and getting our internal landscapes ready to get accustomed to what’s to come. No degree, experience, certification can ever prepare people for transitions, but by carving out space for people to grieve the past, accept the present and make sense of the future and hold this space for others, transitions become a whole lot more manageable. Holding space is the crux of what I do because individuals, teams and organizations know what is best for themselves.
I have always jokingly identified with being an “Aquarius Sun” whenever I do something that reflects an Aquarian trait (read: aloof, “out there,” humanitarian). Recently, I have been immersing myself in source texts on Astrology, and surprisingly, I have taken quite a liking towards interpreting natal and transit charts. In reading more about the assignment of each of the Twelve Signs, Aquarius is described as a “Fixed, Air” sign, which I liken to my coachsulting practice: holding (read: fixed) space (read: air) for individuals, teams and organizations. In helping others navigate their transitions, I have found it incredibly powerful to hold the space and allow others to process in their own time in a judgment-free zone. Now, more than ever, I hope that others consciously find the opportunity to hold the space for themselves and others to get to a place of empathy and unconditional positive regard.
