Why one conversation isn't always enough

And the secret that plants have used since ancient times to grow and expand.

There’s been a shift stirring in me for a while, and it’s finally time to name it.

Last year I realized that many people walk away from a session with me with powerful clarity...

and then try to do the rest alone.

But here’s the truth:

Going it alone often takes longer, costs more energy, and leads to unnecessary detours.

Real growth needs reflection.

Real change needs rhythm.

My own growth accelerated when I stopped trying to figure everything out by myself and started allowing other people to support me.

Not because I wasn’t capable. (Believe me, I am fiercely independent, AND my growth truly starting being visible and profound when I opened up to receive the guidance from others I trust). The truth is, as capable and intelligence as I am, as you are, its not enough.

Because I had blind spots. (probably still do 😄😋)

Because I couldn’t simultaneously be the person growing and the person providing all the perspective, accountability, encouragement, and course corrections.

When we work together consistently, growth accelerates.

What might take months or years to untangle alone can often become clear in a matter of weeks.

And clarity saves time.

It saves energy.

It saves missed opportunities.

Life is short. Time may be one of the most valuable gifts you can give yourself. (Treat yourself, girl!)

I’ve known this for years, but I resisted it in my own business.

Part of me wanted to believe that one powerful insight would be enough. For 3 years in my business, I would only join group programs, I’d raise my hand and get 15-20 minutes of coaching from a powerful mentor, and suck the juice out of that insight for the next 6-12 months.

It worked-ish for me then. It doesn’t work for me now. Going back to work in schools and focusing on writing a book, having my garden, connecting with friends, my husband, and kids, I shifted to a place where I didn’t want to use my precious time trying to figure out what someone else knew or could do. I let go of the badge of honor of “I did this all myself.”

Honestly, I don’t even know why I adopted that sense of pride in that- I think its a cultural belief that I don’t even truly subscribe to. I mean, Nature doesn’t work that way. Not at all.

Nature thrives through relationships. When I was getting my Master’s in soil science I learned about mycorrhizae (which is kinda trending these days).

Arbuscular mycorrhiza to be exact. It’s assumed that the symbiotic relationship between mycorrhizae and plant roots is one of the key features that allowed plants to evolve to grow all over the planet. Of all the plants in the world, 80% of them have a relationship with arbuscular mycorrhiza.

Plants figured out relationship-building with other species to survive in new climates, new times, new places. They didn’t just have one connection with the mycorrhizae, like me having one connection with a coach. No, they incorporated it into their growth plan.

And to be fair, one session can absolutely be transformative.

I’ve seen it happen countless times.

But lasting change usually requires more than one conversation. Because keeping the momentum and commitment of a new perspective or change can take energy to sustain.

When I finally published my book, it wasn’t because I had one breakthrough session.

It wasn’t because I journaled about it enough. (I had journaled, vision-boarded, mind-movied about it for years).

It wasn’t because I meditated on it, took enough workshops, or wrote enough affirmations.

It happened because I gave myself the gift of concentrated support.

I hired a coach (actually 2 coaches and 1 group program for different parts of the process).

I stopped trying to do it all alone. Doing it alone was taking me years. I had wanted to publish a book since my 30’s. Publishing the book happened in my 40’s when I committed and got help.

I had accountability.

I had someone who could see what I couldn’t see.

I had recommitments that kept me moving when motivation faded.

And eventually momentum took over.

Today I’m working on my second book.

I don’t need that same coach in the same way anymore.

I didn’t need her forever.

I needed her for a season. And I’ve hired 4 different editors and taken 2 writing classes for this new book. Each one gave me something that expanded, refined, and polished what I am creating. I’ll admit, I used to kinda resent getting help. But now, I accept it. I don’t judge it.

I needed support and relationships to become the version of myself who could do what I knew I was capable of doing.

That’s one of the biggest misconceptions people have about coaching.

They think hiring support somehow means they’re less capable.

Or that they’ll become dependent on it.

But coaching isn’t about dependence.

It’s about acceleration.

It’s about helping you see what you cannot see from inside your own situation.

It’s about having someone hold the bigger vision when you’ve temporarily lost sight of it.

As adults, no one is responsible for helping us reach our potential.

That’s our job.

But it can be difficult to be the one growing, the one making decisions, the one facing fears, and the one providing all the perspective at the same time.

That’s why support matters.

That’s why coaches, mentors, advisors, and wise friends matter.

They help us move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and momentum.

If you’ve been feeling a shift stirring in your own life, business, creativity, or sense of purpose, I’d love to help.

Private coaching is designed to help you identify what’s keeping you stuck, reconnect with your inner wisdom, and move forward with clarity and self-trust.

You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

And you don’t have to burn yourself out trying.

Reply to this email or schedule a conversation below if you’d like to explore working together.

Lots of love, roots, and steady growth,

Rachel

P.S. If you've been reading my emails for months (or years) and thinking, "One day I'll reach out," consider this your sign. Sometimes one conversation changes more than six months of thinking about it. Reply back or book a consult here.