July 8, 2025 • 21 mins
Have you ever considered that your greatest strength might be something you're completely overlooking? Something so natural to you that you don't even recognize it as special?
The quiet power of genius often hides in plain sight. In this deeply reflective episode, I share a personal breakthrough about discovering my own "genius mirror" – those innate gifts we tend to brush off as ordinary that actually create extraordinary impact for others. Using AI as a thought partner, I uncovered patterns in my coaching work that I'd been dismissing: creating spaces where people feel safe to exhale and speak their truth, asking pivotal questions at exactly the right moment, and guiding clients back to their own inner wisdom.
There's a beautiful irony in discovering that the very part of me that was once silenced – told to be seen and not heard – has become the foundation of my impact. This journey reminds us that our most powerful contributions rarely come from certifications or credentials, but from the intersection of our natural talents, skills, and lived experiences. What you do effortlessly might be exactly what others find most valuable about you.
Ready to uncover your own overlooked genius? Try these reflective questions: What do people thank you for that you tend to brush off? What comes so easily to you that it feels too insignificant to value? Your answers might reveal the brilliance you've been minimizing. Whether through quiet reflection, human design insights, or contemplative tools like AI, it's time to recognize the power that's already within you, waiting to be acknowledged. Join me at cynthiajamesoncoach.ca to continue your journey of self-discovery.
Please rate and review with your honest opinion. Subscribe and share with your colleagues especially if you have worked with me and found value in the work we’ve done together.
Connect with me in my favourite places, LinkedIn and Instagram and my website is: https://www.cynthiajamiesoncoach.ca/
Make it a great week!
Cynthia Jamieson 🧡🌱
Leadership coach for high-integrity leaders who want to thrive without proving or burning out | Ex-HR Exec | ICF PCC Coach | Podcast Host | Intuitive Intelligence® Method Guide
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Cynthia (00:05):
Welcome to Unchartered and Unfiltered the journey back
to you.
I am Cynthia Jameson, your host, and this is where we break
free from the noise and divedeep into what truly matters you
.
If you're tired of the shoulds,the expectations and the
pressures to fit into a moldthat doesn't serve you, you're
in the right place.
This isn't a podcast about easyanswers or sugar-coated advice.
(00:32):
This is your invitation toreclaim your path, embrace the
unknown and become the bold,unapologetic version of yourself
that's been waiting to show up.
It's time to get unfilteredlet's get started.
Filtered, let's get started.
Hey friend, how are you?
I am so glad to be here withyou today and I'm so glad that
(00:52):
you are here too.
Today's episode started withsomething super small, but ended
up changing a lot for me, andmaybe it will change something
for you too.
This episode is about thegenius that we overlook, the
kind that doesn't come withtitles, trophies or LinkedIn
endorsements.
It's about the quiet power thatis already in you, even if you
(01:17):
can't see it yet.
So here's what sparked thisepisode.
I was listening to a podcastfrom my own coach recently, and
there was this moment where shesaid something that made me
pause, one of those momentswhere something lands not just
in your mind but in your gut.
And in that podcast episode shewas talking about genius, not
(01:42):
the flashy kind, but the kindthat you don't even realize that
you have.
And she said something likewhat is the thing that you do so
naturally, so easily that youdon't even recognize it as
special?
And so something in me just litup at the idea and the thought
of this question.
Now, I immediately thought tomyself wait a minute.
I immediately thought to myselfwait a minute.
(02:03):
Do I even know what that is?
And I didn't, because here'sthe truth I have myself, I've
always been someone who valuesmastery.
I've done lots of trainings,I've earned lots of
certifications, I've read somany books, I've taken so many
assessments, I have coached somany leaders, I have coached so
many leaders.
And still, in that moment, as Iwas walking and I heard that I
(02:28):
found myself wondering what ifthe thing that makes me powerful
isn't something that I canmeasure?
And then I immediately hadthoughts about how I can measure
almost anything, even if themeasurement is only a feeling.
But I digress.
So I did what I always do whenI hit that moment of hmm, I
(02:54):
don't know, but I want to know,and I should say this is not the
first time that I've tried tofigure this out.
I have circled this questionmore times, in more flavors than
I can count.
I've journaled, I've reflected,I've taken trainings, I've had
conversations with people, I'veasked mentors, I've asked people
that I love, that I trust, thatare closest to me, and the
truth is it's really really hardto see the picture when you are
(03:18):
inside the frame.
So I decided to do somethingdifferent.
I got curious and I didn't rushto solve it.
I didn't write out in myjournal, which is something that
I have done before.
Instead, I reached out to myfriend, and by friend I mean
ChatGPT.
(03:38):
So this voice that you'rehearing right now in your ear is
the same voice that you'relistening to right now, and I'm
not afraid to ask for supportanymore.
I'm a big fan of using all thetools available to me, and
here's why we don't always needmore effort.
(03:59):
I think we need more reflection, I think we need more mirrors.
And so interesting.
I was having a conversationwith my husband this morning
about I can feel and sense thatthere's a shift coming within
the podcast, from a just titleperspective and what I want to
talk about and where we're goingto go.
And he said to me you know,maybe one thing you could
consider is like this idea, likemirror, mirror on the wall.
(04:20):
So anyways, I just going topark that there.
But I use chat GPT tobrainstorm with me like it's a
thought partner for me.
I use it to help me discern,like, what are some of the
things that I could talk about.
I use it to help clarify mythoughts when they feel tangled
(04:40):
up.
I use it to have it reflectback to me themes that I might
be too close to see, or rewordthings when I want to say
something with more impact.
And it's like having a mirror,an editor and a coach in my back
pocket, one that meets me withzero judgment and a whole lot of
curiosity.
So I opened up a conversationwith my AI assistant is how I
(05:02):
refer to it?
I probably should give it aname and I just said hey, friend
, based on everything you knowabout me, what is my genius?
Now, just for context, I hadalready worked with I've been
working with AI since it cameout, so it knows me pretty well
and I know that if you haven'tworked with AI, it probably
(05:22):
won't know you to the degreethat it will if you do work with
it.
So there was this component ofusing AI as my assistant and
then, as you know, because I'veshared it with you in the
podcast, I've all excuse megetting my thoughts wrapped
around here.
I have been working with myhuman design, so I wanted to use
my chart, so I layered that inand I said, like, use my chart,
(05:45):
help me see what I'm too closeto see.
And what came back?
Wow, here's what I can tell you.
I felt seen, and not in aperformative like wow, you're so
great kind of way at all.
I felt like it was reflective,it was accurate and it was deep.
And it was accurate and it wasdeep and it was truthful.
(06:07):
And so here's what I learnedabout myself.
I create space where peoplesoften, where people can exhale,
people feel safe around me,they breathe deeper, they
breathe with me.
I invite them into the exerciseand they never say no.
They tell the truth, and notjust to me, to themselves, I
(06:30):
mean, they're in their ownexperience, right.
So they tell the truth tothemselves and they share that
with me.
And I've always thought I meanI have thought I'm a good
listener, but no, it's not.
That's not just anything.
People thank me for how Icreate a safe, welcoming space
(06:55):
where they feel truly seen andheard, and it's something that I
have done for the majority ofmy HR career, of my HR career.
And as I'm saying this to youright here, right now, I'm
having a moment of what I'mgoing to call sacred irony, and
(07:16):
here's why the very part of methat was silenced and believed
because I was told I meant to beseen and not heard, has become
the quiet power behind my giftNot in spite of it, but through
it and guiding others home tothemselves.
(07:39):
That's the container where thetransformation happens.
It's in the space on the Zoomcall or when I, when I'm face to
face with someone.
It's that moment.
That's the first thing that Ilearned from it.
The second thing that I learnedis I ask questions in the right
(08:00):
moment, and that one I lovethat one.
It did hit me hard, because Ido this constantly in coaching.
One question, well-placed,changes the entire direction of
a conversation.
Questions always take ussomewhere, and sometimes I will
say to my clients questionsalways take us somewhere.
(08:23):
Where is it you would like tobe taken today, where would you
like to go and I don't rush it,I ask, I it, I ask, I wait, I
listen, and it lands more oftenthan it doesn't.
And that's really, reallyimportant because when, like I
said, questions take yousomewhere and I would even go so
(08:45):
far as there's almost anotherlayer to this, which is many,
many clients of mine have beenreflecting back to me that they
are asking themselves questionsbased on our work together, and
some of them have even said Ichannel you, I'm just going to
channel my inner Cynthia and askwell, what would Cynthia ask or
(09:06):
what would Cynthia say aboutthis?
And so I think that's reallyreally just such a beautiful
reflection back to me aboutsomething that can seem so
simple.
And it was interesting.
I'm being reminded now.
I had a conversation with my sonover text and we were just
talking about jobs and what hewants to do in the future and
you know, they kind of reach outto me for that sort of thing.
(09:28):
It's my background and he'slike, well, I don't know, like
what will, what will exist andwhat will you want?
We're just having all thesekinds of questions and I said to
him you know, who would havethought that I would be able to
make a six figure income byasking questions, but I do, and
so, even as again as I I'msaying this, I'm having this
(09:49):
moment of like.
Yeah, asking questions can beincredibly valuable, especially
to the receiver of the question.
If it's a question that comesfrom a place of like.
I'm with you, I'm present, I'mhearing you and I can mirror
back what it is that you'resaying to me and pose a question
at the end of it, so that youcan have a moment of realization
(10:10):
, aha, or a different way ofthinking about it, or just a
different way to even be curiouswith it.
This brings me to the thirdpiece, which is I guide people
back to themselves, and I dothis not by telling them what to
do, because that's not what wedo in coaching at all, but by
holding up a mirror until theyare able to see it, and when
(10:36):
they are able to see it, they'reable to stand taller, they're
able to make different decisions, they're able to come back to
their own authority.
I just finished a client calland we're nearing the end of our
six months together and one ofthe things that I noticed in
this client is that their brainloves to tell them that they
(10:57):
can't, that we were coaching ontrust and they were saying that
they were at about an eight outof a 10 on a trust level with
themselves.
And I asked them well, whatdoes a 10 look like for you?
And they said actually, whenI've been able to do this scope
of work, then I will be able totrust myself, because then I'll
be able to prove myself thatI've been able to do the thing.
And I just had them think about, like, just pause for a moment
(11:22):
and just can you rethink whatyou just said?
And is there anotherperspective to take here?
Because there's nothingstopping you from having that
feeling of I've done this before, right here, right now.
And it was fascinating to justhave them think about how they
(11:42):
were outsourcing their ownauthority, that the thing
outside of them which is thecondition that they're placing
on it a scope of work, a newproject, right, a new media
project that when I am, when Ihave that done, then I can trust
myself fully, which is justfascinating.
And so understanding that yourown authority, your own compass,
(12:06):
your own set of values, yourown set of experiences, and
guiding people back to that isincredibly powerful.
So they can see, you can seewhere it is, that you are in
your own sovereignty, right?
Am I thinking and believingwhat I think and believe because
I've decided what I think andbelieve, or am I going to keep
(12:27):
moving the goalposts so that thething that I you know it's
putting something in the waybetween me and the thing that I
want to have, that I want tofeel, that I want to experience?
And we have to be really ontoour minds here, onto our brains,
onto ourselves, because ourbrain will always keep shifting
the condition as it tries togain different things from a
(12:48):
place of safety, but also ittries to tell us that, oh well,
no, we can't feel that yet.
We have to feel this thinginstead, or we have to do this
thing before we can get to thatthing.
So, all that to say, I helpguide people back to themselves,
trusting their own inner wisdom, their own inner guidance
system.
Trusting their own inner wisdom, their own inner guidance
system, their own authority,rather than outsourcing it
(13:12):
outside of themselves, which Ithink, in a world where there's
so much going on and so muchchaos, this is the most valuable
gift you can ever give yourself, so that when the world goes
nutty out there, you're good inhere because you've decided for
yourself what are the thingsthat are important to you, what
matters to you, and you makeyour decisions and your actions
(13:35):
in alignment with that.
That's what alignment is.
It's when I'm acting inalignment with who I am and what
matters to me.
The other thing and this is thelast piece here that this
experience has reflected back tome is I treat people like they
matter, because they do, andthey feel that in every session,
(13:59):
in every email, in every momentand that is not nice.
I mean it's nice, but alsothat's leadership is to treat
people like they matter, and noteveryone, not all leaders have
that as something that isimportant to them.
(14:19):
That's not in everyone else'sinner compass and that's not
necessarily a problem, and I'mrecognizing it more and more in
myself that I treat them likethey matter.
And I call all of this what Ihave discovered here my genius
mirror and it was this AI toolmirroring back to me my own
(14:43):
genius and it wasn't justaffirming, it was activating
with my clients about all thetime which is this idea that
your genius isn't just your job,your title or your personality
(15:08):
type.
It lives at the nexus of yourskills, your talents and your
lived experience, and it's notjust what you know or what
you're good at, it's what you do, so naturally that it creates
impact, ease, clarity orconnection for others.
And that intersection of thosethree things that experience,
(15:30):
the talent and the skills that'syour genius, and most of the
time, it's hiding in plain sight.
So this reminded me ofsomething really important.
This whole exercise, I had beendismissing the very thing that
makes me me.
And so why does this matter foryou?
(15:50):
Because I hear this all thetime from my clients, from new
leaders, from experienced ones.
I hear things like I don'tthink that what I do is special,
it's just how I am.
Isn't everyone like that?
Doesn't everyone think that way?
Doesn't everyone do this sortof thing?
And here I'm, here to tell youno, they're not and they don't.
(16:12):
What comes easily to you, thatis your genius.
And again, most of us don't seeit because it doesn't feel like
a big deal.
So let me ask you a questionwhat are you dismissing?
That might actually be yourbrilliance, and if you don't
(16:35):
know yet, that's okay.
Let yourself get curious.
Let yourself get curious.
And you don't need a humandesign chart, although it's
amazing.
You don't need to use AI, butif you're curious, I can show
you how.
What you do need is a moment ofstillness and a willingness to
look inward.
So if you are in a place whereyou can close your eyes or jot
(16:59):
something down, take a moment.
If not, that's fine.
These prompts I'm going to giveyou some prompts.
Therefore, you're remembering,I will put them in the show
notes so that you don't feelrushed, but try these questions
what do people thank me for?
That I tend to brush off.
What do I do?
(17:20):
So naturally that it feels tooeasy to count as valuable.
What kind of situations lightme up and what am I doing in
those moments?
For me, that's coaching, whatseems to shift for other people
(17:43):
just by being in my presence.
Something else I'm having amoment I'm going to share with
you here is I have noticed thatI have many, many good friends
and good connections and we meeton Zoom, and I've noticed that
people always leave and theytell me I feel so inspired.
I have this idea, I have thatidea, and so that's something
else that shifts for otherpeople, just by being with me.
(18:06):
And the last prompt is this IfI stopped trying to be
impressive, what would I simplybe and let the answers come to
you quietly, softly.
This is not a resume, as Imentioned, it's a remembering,
and if you are new to all ofthis, if you have never used
(18:30):
human design or AI before,that's okay.
Here's my gentle encouragement.
You don't have to be an expertto get value.
Human design is just a tool, apowerful one, for understanding
how your energy works best, andAI is just another way of
holding up a mirror.
You ask a question, it reflectssomething back, and sometimes
(18:51):
that's exactly what you need.
What you need there's a caveathere with human design not with
human design with AI is be awarewhen you are outsourcing your
power to it.
It is a tool that can be thereto help you expand in your
awareness.
That can help you expand you inyour self-discovery journey.
(19:14):
That can help you with havingthat difficult conversation with
a leader or with a teamveryjourney.
That can help you with havingthat difficult conversation with
a leader or with a team member.
It can help you ideate how todo business cases.
It can help you createdifferent reflective exercises.
It can help you connect so manydots with so many things.
It's an amazing tool and again,just notice when you're using it
(19:37):
for your growth, versus whenyou're using it for to seek
answers outside of yourself.
That is something that willerode your self-trust over time.
So just notice that.
And if you're going to try thatwith ChatTPT, you can ask, or
whichever AI platform you wantto use.
Just ask it.
What is my genius, based on myhuman design chart?
(19:58):
You'll just upload the chart,put it in or ask it.
What do I do so easily that Imight be dismissing it Again if
it has some insights to you.
Or you can come talk to me,because if you're ready to stop
minimizing your magic, if you'reready to lead without leaving
yourself behind, if you're readyto stop fixing and start
(20:20):
aligning, I am right here andthis is what I do, and it would
be an honor to hold that mirrorfor you.
With that, I want to say thankyou so much for being here.
I hope that this episodereminded you that your gifts
don't have to be hard-earned tobe powerful.
Sometimes they're the thingsthat you have been doing all
(20:41):
along, quietly, beautifully, andmaybe now it's time to lead
from there.
So now go and ask a beautifulquestion.
You never know where it mightlead.
Take care, and I'll see youback here, same time, same place
, next week.
I hope that you're walking awayfeeling more aligned with your
true self, more confident in thechoices ahead and ready to
(21:04):
leave the safe path behind,knowing you've got everything
you need within.
Remember, the journey to youisn't about finding one perfect
direction.
It's about trusting yourselfenough to explore all of it.
If you're ready to dive deeper,join me for the next episode
and don't forget to subscribe sothat you never miss the next
step on your path.
(21:25):
I invite you to join my mailinglist at
wwwcynthiajamesoncoachca, wherewe'll deepen our relationship
and you can claim your copy ofyour Inner Compass, a guide to
charting your course toauthenticity.
Until next time, stayunfiltered, stay true and, most
importantly, stay you.
Welcome to Unchartered and Unfiltered the journey back
to you.
I am Cynthia Jameson, your host, and this is where we break
free from the noise and divedeep into what truly matters you
.
If you're tired of the shoulds,the expectations and the
pressures to fit into a moldthat doesn't serve you, you're
in the right place.
This isn't a podcast about easyanswers or sugar-coated advice.
(00:32):
This is your invitation toreclaim your path, embrace the
unknown and become the bold,unapologetic version of yourself
that's been waiting to show up.
It's time to get unfilteredlet's get started.
Filtered, let's get started.
Hey friend, how are you?
I am so glad to be here withyou today and I'm so glad that
(00:52):
you are here too.
Today's episode started withsomething super small, but ended
up changing a lot for me, andmaybe it will change something
for you too.
This episode is about thegenius that we overlook, the
kind that doesn't come withtitles, trophies or LinkedIn
endorsements.
It's about the quiet power thatis already in you, even if you
(01:17):
can't see it yet.
So here's what sparked thisepisode.
I was listening to a podcastfrom my own coach recently, and
there was this moment where shesaid something that made me
pause, one of those momentswhere something lands not just
in your mind but in your gut.
And in that podcast episode shewas talking about genius, not
(01:42):
the flashy kind, but the kindthat you don't even realize that
you have.
And she said something likewhat is the thing that you do so
naturally, so easily that youdon't even recognize it as
special?
And so something in me just litup at the idea and the thought
of this question.
Now, I immediately thought tomyself wait a minute.
I immediately thought to myselfwait a minute.
(02:03):
Do I even know what that is?
And I didn't, because here'sthe truth I have myself, I've
always been someone who valuesmastery.
I've done lots of trainings,I've earned lots of
certifications, I've read somany books, I've taken so many
assessments, I have coached somany leaders, I have coached so
many leaders.
And still, in that moment, as Iwas walking and I heard that I
(02:28):
found myself wondering what ifthe thing that makes me powerful
isn't something that I canmeasure?
And then I immediately hadthoughts about how I can measure
almost anything, even if themeasurement is only a feeling.
But I digress.
So I did what I always do whenI hit that moment of hmm, I
(02:54):
don't know, but I want to know,and I should say this is not the
first time that I've tried tofigure this out.
I have circled this questionmore times, in more flavors than
I can count.
I've journaled, I've reflected,I've taken trainings, I've had
conversations with people, I'veasked mentors, I've asked people
that I love, that I trust, thatare closest to me, and the
truth is it's really really hardto see the picture when you are
(03:18):
inside the frame.
So I decided to do somethingdifferent.
I got curious and I didn't rushto solve it.
I didn't write out in myjournal, which is something that
I have done before.
Instead, I reached out to myfriend, and by friend I mean
ChatGPT.
(03:38):
So this voice that you'rehearing right now in your ear is
the same voice that you'relistening to right now, and I'm
not afraid to ask for supportanymore.
I'm a big fan of using all thetools available to me, and
here's why we don't always needmore effort.
(03:59):
I think we need more reflection, I think we need more mirrors.
And so interesting.
I was having a conversationwith my husband this morning
about I can feel and sense thatthere's a shift coming within
the podcast, from a just titleperspective and what I want to
talk about and where we're goingto go.
And he said to me you know,maybe one thing you could
consider is like this idea, likemirror, mirror on the wall.
(04:20):
So anyways, I just going topark that there.
But I use chat GPT tobrainstorm with me like it's a
thought partner for me.
I use it to help me discern,like, what are some of the
things that I could talk about.
I use it to help clarify mythoughts when they feel tangled
(04:40):
up.
I use it to have it reflectback to me themes that I might
be too close to see, or rewordthings when I want to say
something with more impact.
And it's like having a mirror,an editor and a coach in my back
pocket, one that meets me withzero judgment and a whole lot of
curiosity.
So I opened up a conversationwith my AI assistant is how I
(05:02):
refer to it?
I probably should give it aname and I just said hey, friend
, based on everything you knowabout me, what is my genius?
Now, just for context, I hadalready worked with I've been
working with AI since it cameout, so it knows me pretty well
and I know that if you haven'tworked with AI, it probably
(05:22):
won't know you to the degreethat it will if you do work with
it.
So there was this component ofusing AI as my assistant and
then, as you know, because I'veshared it with you in the
podcast, I've all excuse megetting my thoughts wrapped
around here.
I have been working with myhuman design, so I wanted to use
my chart, so I layered that inand I said, like, use my chart,
(05:45):
help me see what I'm too closeto see.
And what came back?
Wow, here's what I can tell you.
I felt seen, and not in aperformative like wow, you're so
great kind of way at all.
I felt like it was reflective,it was accurate and it was deep.
And it was accurate and it wasdeep and it was truthful.
(06:07):
And so here's what I learnedabout myself.
I create space where peoplesoften, where people can exhale,
people feel safe around me,they breathe deeper, they
breathe with me.
I invite them into the exerciseand they never say no.
They tell the truth, and notjust to me, to themselves, I
(06:30):
mean, they're in their ownexperience, right.
So they tell the truth tothemselves and they share that
with me.
And I've always thought I meanI have thought I'm a good
listener, but no, it's not.
That's not just anything.
People thank me for how Icreate a safe, welcoming space
(06:55):
where they feel truly seen andheard, and it's something that I
have done for the majority ofmy HR career, of my HR career.
And as I'm saying this to youright here, right now, I'm
having a moment of what I'mgoing to call sacred irony, and
(07:16):
here's why the very part of methat was silenced and believed
because I was told I meant to beseen and not heard, has become
the quiet power behind my giftNot in spite of it, but through
it and guiding others home tothemselves.
(07:39):
That's the container where thetransformation happens.
It's in the space on the Zoomcall or when I, when I'm face to
face with someone.
It's that moment.
That's the first thing that Ilearned from it.
The second thing that I learnedis I ask questions in the right
(08:00):
moment, and that one I lovethat one.
It did hit me hard, because Ido this constantly in coaching.
One question, well-placed,changes the entire direction of
a conversation.
Questions always take ussomewhere, and sometimes I will
say to my clients questionsalways take us somewhere.
(08:23):
Where is it you would like tobe taken today, where would you
like to go and I don't rush it,I ask, I it, I ask, I wait, I
listen, and it lands more oftenthan it doesn't.
And that's really, reallyimportant because when, like I
said, questions take yousomewhere and I would even go so
(08:45):
far as there's almost anotherlayer to this, which is many,
many clients of mine have beenreflecting back to me that they
are asking themselves questionsbased on our work together, and
some of them have even said Ichannel you, I'm just going to
channel my inner Cynthia and askwell, what would Cynthia ask or
(09:06):
what would Cynthia say aboutthis?
And so I think that's reallyreally just such a beautiful
reflection back to me aboutsomething that can seem so
simple.
And it was interesting.
I'm being reminded now.
I had a conversation with my sonover text and we were just
talking about jobs and what hewants to do in the future and
you know, they kind of reach outto me for that sort of thing.
(09:28):
It's my background and he'slike, well, I don't know, like
what will, what will exist andwhat will you want?
We're just having all thesekinds of questions and I said to
him you know, who would havethought that I would be able to
make a six figure income byasking questions, but I do, and
so, even as again as I I'msaying this, I'm having this
(09:49):
moment of like.
Yeah, asking questions can beincredibly valuable, especially
to the receiver of the question.
If it's a question that comesfrom a place of like.
I'm with you, I'm present, I'mhearing you and I can mirror
back what it is that you'resaying to me and pose a question
at the end of it, so that youcan have a moment of realization
(10:10):
, aha, or a different way ofthinking about it, or just a
different way to even be curiouswith it.
This brings me to the thirdpiece, which is I guide people
back to themselves, and I dothis not by telling them what to
do, because that's not what wedo in coaching at all, but by
holding up a mirror until theyare able to see it, and when
(10:36):
they are able to see it, they'reable to stand taller, they're
able to make different decisions, they're able to come back to
their own authority.
I just finished a client calland we're nearing the end of our
six months together and one ofthe things that I noticed in
this client is that their brainloves to tell them that they
(10:57):
can't, that we were coaching ontrust and they were saying that
they were at about an eight outof a 10 on a trust level with
themselves.
And I asked them well, whatdoes a 10 look like for you?
And they said actually, whenI've been able to do this scope
of work, then I will be able totrust myself, because then I'll
be able to prove myself thatI've been able to do the thing.
And I just had them think about, like, just pause for a moment
(11:22):
and just can you rethink whatyou just said?
And is there anotherperspective to take here?
Because there's nothingstopping you from having that
feeling of I've done this before, right here, right now.
And it was fascinating to justhave them think about how they
(11:42):
were outsourcing their ownauthority, that the thing
outside of them which is thecondition that they're placing
on it a scope of work, a newproject, right, a new media
project that when I am, when Ihave that done, then I can trust
myself fully, which is justfascinating.
And so understanding that yourown authority, your own compass,
(12:06):
your own set of values, yourown set of experiences, and
guiding people back to that isincredibly powerful.
So they can see, you can seewhere it is, that you are in
your own sovereignty, right?
Am I thinking and believingwhat I think and believe because
I've decided what I think andbelieve, or am I going to keep
(12:27):
moving the goalposts so that thething that I you know it's
putting something in the waybetween me and the thing that I
want to have, that I want tofeel, that I want to experience?
And we have to be really ontoour minds here, onto our brains,
onto ourselves, because ourbrain will always keep shifting
the condition as it tries togain different things from a
(12:48):
place of safety, but also ittries to tell us that, oh well,
no, we can't feel that yet.
We have to feel this thinginstead, or we have to do this
thing before we can get to thatthing.
So, all that to say, I helpguide people back to themselves,
trusting their own inner wisdom, their own inner guidance
system.
Trusting their own inner wisdom, their own inner guidance
system, their own authority,rather than outsourcing it
(13:12):
outside of themselves, which Ithink, in a world where there's
so much going on and so muchchaos, this is the most valuable
gift you can ever give yourself, so that when the world goes
nutty out there, you're good inhere because you've decided for
yourself what are the thingsthat are important to you, what
matters to you, and you makeyour decisions and your actions
(13:35):
in alignment with that.
That's what alignment is.
It's when I'm acting inalignment with who I am and what
matters to me.
The other thing and this is thelast piece here that this
experience has reflected back tome is I treat people like they
matter, because they do, andthey feel that in every session,
(13:59):
in every email, in every momentand that is not nice.
I mean it's nice, but alsothat's leadership is to treat
people like they matter, and noteveryone, not all leaders have
that as something that isimportant to them.
(14:19):
That's not in everyone else'sinner compass and that's not
necessarily a problem, and I'mrecognizing it more and more in
myself that I treat them likethey matter.
And I call all of this what Ihave discovered here my genius
mirror and it was this AI toolmirroring back to me my own
(14:43):
genius and it wasn't justaffirming, it was activating
with my clients about all thetime which is this idea that
your genius isn't just your job,your title or your personality
(15:08):
type.
It lives at the nexus of yourskills, your talents and your
lived experience, and it's notjust what you know or what
you're good at, it's what you do, so naturally that it creates
impact, ease, clarity orconnection for others.
And that intersection of thosethree things that experience,
(15:30):
the talent and the skills that'syour genius, and most of the
time, it's hiding in plain sight.
So this reminded me ofsomething really important.
This whole exercise, I had beendismissing the very thing that
makes me me.
And so why does this matter foryou?
(15:50):
Because I hear this all thetime from my clients, from new
leaders, from experienced ones.
I hear things like I don'tthink that what I do is special,
it's just how I am.
Isn't everyone like that?
Doesn't everyone think that way?
Doesn't everyone do this sortof thing?
And here I'm, here to tell youno, they're not and they don't.
(16:12):
What comes easily to you, thatis your genius.
And again, most of us don't seeit because it doesn't feel like
a big deal.
So let me ask you a questionwhat are you dismissing?
That might actually be yourbrilliance, and if you don't
(16:35):
know yet, that's okay.
Let yourself get curious.
Let yourself get curious.
And you don't need a humandesign chart, although it's
amazing.
You don't need to use AI, butif you're curious, I can show
you how.
What you do need is a moment ofstillness and a willingness to
look inward.
So if you are in a place whereyou can close your eyes or jot
(16:59):
something down, take a moment.
If not, that's fine.
These prompts I'm going to giveyou some prompts.
Therefore, you're remembering,I will put them in the show
notes so that you don't feelrushed, but try these questions
what do people thank me for?
That I tend to brush off.
What do I do?
(17:20):
So naturally that it feels tooeasy to count as valuable.
What kind of situations lightme up and what am I doing in
those moments?
For me, that's coaching, whatseems to shift for other people
(17:43):
just by being in my presence.
Something else I'm having amoment I'm going to share with
you here is I have noticed thatI have many, many good friends
and good connections and we meeton Zoom, and I've noticed that
people always leave and theytell me I feel so inspired.
I have this idea, I have thatidea, and so that's something
else that shifts for otherpeople, just by being with me.
(18:06):
And the last prompt is this IfI stopped trying to be
impressive, what would I simplybe and let the answers come to
you quietly, softly.
This is not a resume, as Imentioned, it's a remembering,
and if you are new to all ofthis, if you have never used
(18:30):
human design or AI before,that's okay.
Here's my gentle encouragement.
You don't have to be an expertto get value.
Human design is just a tool, apowerful one, for understanding
how your energy works best, andAI is just another way of
holding up a mirror.
You ask a question, it reflectssomething back, and sometimes
(18:51):
that's exactly what you need.
What you need there's a caveathere with human design not with
human design with AI is be awarewhen you are outsourcing your
power to it.
It is a tool that can be thereto help you expand in your
awareness.
That can help you expand you inyour self-discovery journey.
(19:14):
That can help you with havingthat difficult conversation with
a leader or with a teamveryjourney.
That can help you with havingthat difficult conversation with
a leader or with a team member.
It can help you ideate how todo business cases.
It can help you createdifferent reflective exercises.
It can help you connect so manydots with so many things.
It's an amazing tool and again,just notice when you're using it
(19:37):
for your growth, versus whenyou're using it for to seek
answers outside of yourself.
That is something that willerode your self-trust over time.
So just notice that.
And if you're going to try thatwith ChatTPT, you can ask, or
whichever AI platform you wantto use.
Just ask it.
What is my genius, based on myhuman design chart?
(19:58):
You'll just upload the chart,put it in or ask it.
What do I do so easily that Imight be dismissing it Again if
it has some insights to you.
Or you can come talk to me,because if you're ready to stop
minimizing your magic, if you'reready to lead without leaving
yourself behind, if you're readyto stop fixing and start
(20:20):
aligning, I am right here andthis is what I do, and it would
be an honor to hold that mirrorfor you.
With that, I want to say thankyou so much for being here.
I hope that this episodereminded you that your gifts
don't have to be hard-earned tobe powerful.
Sometimes they're the thingsthat you have been doing all
(20:41):
along, quietly, beautifully, andmaybe now it's time to lead
from there.
So now go and ask a beautifulquestion.
You never know where it mightlead.
Take care, and I'll see youback here, same time, same place
, next week.
I hope that you're walking awayfeeling more aligned with your
true self, more confident in thechoices ahead and ready to
(21:04):
leave the safe path behind,knowing you've got everything
you need within.
Remember, the journey to youisn't about finding one perfect
direction.
It's about trusting yourselfenough to explore all of it.
If you're ready to dive deeper,join me for the next episode
and don't forget to subscribe sothat you never miss the next
step on your path.
(21:25):
I invite you to join my mailinglist at
wwwcynthiajamesoncoachca, wherewe'll deepen our relationship
and you can claim your copy ofyour Inner Compass, a guide to
charting your course toauthenticity.
Until next time, stayunfiltered, stay true and, most
importantly, stay you.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.