We recently connected with Tiffany Skidmore and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Deeper meaning or purpose has been the fuel of most of my decisions in my adult life. It’s also been the source of my deepest discomfort when I don’t feel connected to it. When I feel lost or in the “in-between” of what was and what will be, I rely on three things.
First is my intuition. I spend time journaling, walking, thinking, and talking to loved ones to help me find a meaningful path forward. It is in moments of stillness that deep, inner knowings come through. For example, I was in my 11th year of teaching, out on a solo hike, when it hit me that I would own a coaching business in my future. I just knew. I even had the name of my business arrive. I was so certain in this moment that I took out my phone and made a recording.
The second thing that helps me move toward my purpose are my core values. When I know what matters most to me, I can use it to make the most aligned decisions. Contribution/impact, learning/growth, connection, and autonomy are what I get to fulfill deeply in my work as a coach. I also deeply value nature and spirituality, which is what led me to take a 3 year shamanic practitioner training.
Finally, what helps me deepen into my purpose is taking imperfect action. I had a teacher who said, “clarity comes from action.” This is counterintuitive to the part of me that wants to figure it all out first and make the right choice the first time. When I first started coaching, I began in the area of health coaching and fitness coaching. It got me started in a space that felt comfortable. What I discovered, though, was that I come alive when we got into the deeper parts of coaching, which is what I do now. However, it was the first actions of stepping into health coaching that helped me refine what was more purposeful and meaningful to me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I work with sensitive, smart people who tend to get overwhelmed or stuck in negative thoughts spirals. Using a mix of evidence-based tools and potent energy healing modalities, I help them feel more in control and content in their lives and relationships.
My goal is always to help my clients become their own coach, so they can feel like they have choice and power in their experiences. I’m regularly amazed by what they accomplish when they can get out of their own way — new jobs, better relationships, feeling more resilient and confident that comes from practicing self-compassion rather than self-criticism and understanding and working with their emotions.
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?
Three qualities that were most impactful on my journey were: willingness, persistence, and self-compassion. Willingness is a powerful state of being. If we are willing to try something new and tolerate the discomfort of the unfamiliar, we are able to stretch far beyond our known comfort zones. Instead of asking myself if I’m ready to do something, I ask myself if I’m willing.
Persistence has also been huge in my journey. Being an entrepreneur has its ups and downs, and it requires self-trust and a level of persistence to make it through the downs.
The biggest trait, though, has to be self-compassion which is the foundation of self-leadership for me. Rather than beating myself up at any perceived mistake (like I used to), I’ve learned how to remain neutral and kind towards myself. Research shows that treating ourselves with compassion and respect actually yields much greater results than self-criticism and perfectionism.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
We all get overwhelmed sometimes, especially those who, like me, are sensitive strivers who feel things deeply and can get really in our heads. When that happens, the first thing I will do is try to become aware of it and pull myself into the present. Usually my overwhelm is about thinking about the future. This might look like going for a short walk or stepping outside, doing a grounding exercise with the five senses, playing with my dog, or beginning to mindfully notice what’s happening in my mind and body.
Once I feel more grounded and present, I’m more able to critically think about what I can do, delegate, or eliminate to help myself get through an overwhelming moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: tiffskidmore.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffany_skidmore_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffanyskidmorecoaching/
Image Credits
Timothy Seibert (for main photo only)
