We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shannon McGorry. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shannon below.
Hi Shannon, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Well that’s a weighty question, and yet once you are in that space, it’s anything but weighty…because when you know you know.
I found my purpose:
By. Turning. Inward.
By turning down the noise of the past, the expectations of others, the “shoulds” and “have to’s” of life;
By figuring out who I am that’s how and when I found my purpose.
Here’s the breakdown and process for how I did that. (and PS – I would consider it a refining work in progress, with a major acceleration between the ages of 35-45)
Religious: Knowing my anchor – I tuned into my Faith; trusting that God made me with a purpose in mind. I attended daily mass, joined bible study groups, built solid friendships that are grounded in the real stuff of life. One of my favorite quotes has become: “Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created.” Esther 4:14.
Emotional:Realizing my strength – By capitalizing on challenging circumstances when life shows up, I learned how strong I could be, I developed grit and resilience, I learned to bounce back, to struggle AND find gratitude and it has allowed me to earn a sense of self.
Intellectual: Embracing constant learning – Through lots of journaling, reading, open and honest and real conversations with the people I love, and therapy I have learned a LOT about myself – why I think or feel certain things, what affects me, what I want to change, how I will work towards my desires.
Personal: Figuring out my values – figuring out what interests me, what I love (and what I don’t), what I’m good at, and what am I drawn to – in the figuring out my values, I learned ME and then I could build a life around that which matters most to me.
Professional: Identifying my skills – learning what I was good at, what unique strengths I have, understanding how I can give back – these gave me insight into how to create my professional.
When I put these pieces together, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, personal, and professional;
I’ve learned my purpose is in HOW to be just as much as in WHO and WHAT to be.
My identity started out as a middle child in a large family, then I became a “Mrs.”, then I became Mom… and then I realized I had left “me” somewhere back in my college years and I missed her, I missed having a voice, an opinion, an anchor, a purpose…so I had to go find it again.
I had to find ME.
And in spending the time and money and effort to do – wow did I discover a whole new way of being.
What freedom as a Mom, as a woman, as a human to give ourselves the permission slip to figure ourselves out and to find our purpose. I very much wish the same for you. If I could give you a piece of advice it would be – figure YOU out – what anchors you, what lights you up, what identities do you want to own, what gifts / talents do you use to give back to the world?
You deserve it, and the world needs YOU and your specific purpose.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a Certified Professional Coach and founder of Love, Strength and Grace; a coaching practice that empowers women who are ready to navigate their Right Next Step in life. I like to call it Activating Their Female Genius.
Having worked with countless women through the most transitionary time of their lives, I have learned to understand life through a multitude of lenses, and I’ve noticed some common themes:
Change can be desired and scary …it’s okay to admit this to ourselves and walk forward anyway.
Motherhood is constantly changing and it’s because we care at such a deep level we need support as we adjust and adapt.
The status quo has us settle for “fine”…but we are allowed to disrupt and redefine it.
The toggle between our professional and personal priorities and identities is real. Tapping in and out, without committing to a path can be frustrating and unsatisfying as we watch time tick on.
Through years of pressing into these four common themes I’ve been able to lead women from of “the swirl” of stagnation to an amazing Activation of their Female Genius. I’ve seen the incredible, unique transformations that occur when my clients begin to see big changes in life not as a setback, but as a propellant toward a transformational new life.
I work with individuals one on one, and I also have upcoming group programs. (lovestrengthandgrace.com hosts more info on how to get in touch and ways to work together)
I LOVE what I do.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Self reflection.
2. Openness to learning and change.
3. Support (both personal and professional).
1. Self reflection – Journaling – at first I despised (read: actually, dreaded) the activity – and now, its one of my go to’s. (Up there with yoga, the beach, and Taylor Swift for me) which is saying A LOT. I do have a skill for gaining clarity, for getting to the root of the matter so by leaning into journaling it allowed me to capitalize on that skill.
2. Openness to learning and change. I have always loved to learn, but it took on a whole other meaning when the learning became about undoing some of my beliefs and habits and deciding to change. It was a way of deepening my love of learning into implementation – being curious instead of robotic and defensive – and that process was very impactful to me finding my purpose.
3. Support (both professional and personal) – I made the decision to lean into relationships. I invested in professional support via therapy as well as business masterminds and coaches. I also shifted into vulnerability and courage in various close personal relationships that led to open and honest and different conversations. The balance between those people in my life who I love and who are so close to me, and the practical, knowledge, and professional support of those that are not in the same emotional world was such a strong support and really catapulted my “success” regarding me figuring myself out and finding my purpose.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is the woman who is “fine” because in my experience “fine” = “settling” for the status quo.
She knows at her core that something could be better, and yet she doesn’t quite know her next right step.
That is such a powerful place for coaching because in our work together we create awareness, we identify her values, and we start to create her next right steps with the accountability and space to actually devote the time, energy, and attention to change (something most of us do not do).
My clients share similar characteristics of:
Being self-motivated yet with a dose of “something” (whether it’s fear or the “should’s” or “have to’s” of life, overthinking, or luke warm self talk, etc.) that is holding them “stuck”.
Having the curiosity and interest into figuring out how to move forward to what they desire in life.
Yes – I’m in. Enough is enough and I want to do this attitude.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lovestrengthandgrace.com
- Instagram: lovestrengthandgrace
- Linkedin: Shannon (Archer) McGorry
Image Credits
Celestina Ando
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
