Eish, it's hard being a Life Coach! I am starting to suspect I suffer from Intern's Syndrome. You know that frequently reported condition where medical students perceive themselves to be experiencing symptoms of the disease they are studying? How it pans out in coaching, is that as clients uncover the deeper issues that are holding them back, I get a slightly startled, 'deer caught in the headlights' feeling that, oh boy, this is exactly what I do.

The other day a client and I were talking about the danger of being too good-hearted in business. It's when you have a strong wish to help make the world a better place and find yourself negotiating your price down before YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO! I cringed. I had done exactly that earlier the same week.

So when is kind, too kind? Think about it. Never mind other people, we can even be too kind to ourselves. There is a call we need to make, or an event we need to attend that scares or challenges us in some way and we tell ourselves we don't have to put ourselves through that. We deserve a treat, or an extra glass of wine because it's been such a rough day. Although we might start our with the very best of intentions, it can easily spiral out of control.

Life Coaching is about uncovering what is holding you back and it boils down to self worth. Every yes or no we say is rooted in how we feel about ourselves. It's a minefield. If we feel we have nothing to offer, we automatically lower our value. We say yes when we should say no and we discount what's important to us, often to please others. Oh what a tangled web we weave!

So how do we claw our way off the bargain rail and back into the lock-up cabinet for valuables? Firstly we have to stop comparing ourselves to others or wondering what they will think. It's a conundrum, there's no answer to that riddle and we have to stop asking the question. Then it's time to silence the inner voice of doubt and criticism. Silence it. Not negotiate, not discuss, not hear and evaluate, silence. Only then will we be able to hear the quiet whisper of what we truly want. It's hard to say no, or risk ridicule by standing your ground. Hard... but worth it!