In a recent battle with technology, I found myself sitting across from a rather charming employee of the cell phone company I am under contract with. In not too long a time span, he fixed my phone, entertained me and assured me that the bill I was ranting and raving about is in fact way too high and if I simply call this number (customer retention) and act like a hard ass, I will get this amazing plan for a tiny rate and the whole world will be rainbows and butterflies.

‘Butterflies’ is exactly what I felt as I reached for the phone to dial the number. I don’t really like being a hard ass or making sweeping demands or threats to take my business elsewhere as I had just been coached to do, but I was psyching myself up and as I was I squeaked “I’m nervous.”

“You’re nervous? Aren’t you a life coach?” I laughed harder than I probably would have had I not been so nervous.

“Uh, yeah,” I replied. “And I’m also a human being.” I also happen to coach entrepreneurs and have helped many of them write their web content but you won’t currently find my website up an running, (though soon, right?)

The thing is, I am where I am. You are where you are. I get nervous from time to time. I say the wrong thing or make a poor decision. I put off the work I don’t find as interesting and sometimes eat on the run instead of sitting and enjoying my food. I say cruel things to myself if I skip a workout and I get concerned about what people think about me.

I am a human being. I am a paradoxical and messy creature.

Ever seen a pack of doctors huddled outside a hospital having a smoke? Or run into your high school gym teacher, knockin’ back a few drinks at a concert? Or see your hair stylist at the grocery store hiding under a hat?

And these are just the observable ‘hypocrisies’. But are they actually a problem? Should we be striving for some kind of perfection? I’d argue that the answer is that most of us do. Ironically, the more we try to appear like we’re perfectly in line and on track, the more disturbed we become inside trying to hold the lies together.

I know a few vegans who chow on milk chocolate or the occasional goat cheese, accountants who are in debt and writers who can’t spell. But who cares? We’re all so quick to criticize ourselves and others, to point out the inconsistencies or what should be done better. But from what I’ve seen it’s a heck of a lot harder to get traction, to get momentum towards any kind of change if you’re resisting, resenting and critical of where you currently are.

I am not in the market of helping people become more polished perfect versions of themselves. I am in the market of reducing suffering. I am in the market of authenticity and developing what is uniquely important to an individual or company.

I’m not interested in your air brushed, supped up fancy pants life brand. I’m interested in you. I’m not going to convince you of my value by living my life according to some culturally constructed ideal or by making promises that I can sell you fulfillment in a box. But we can carry on this journey, fully and deeply. You living your precious life as it most serves you and the world. Me living my precious life as it most serves me and the world and as it turns out, I am most served when serving you so lets keep on goin’, my fellow human.