by Lois Barth, Human Development Expert, Speaker, Executive Leadership Coach, and Author

“I don’t understand!  The GPS worked just two miles back when I was at the gas station,” I ranted to my sweetheart, Marty. “Now my phone is overheated, the kids next to me are pointing at me and giggling, and my GPS has died!

“Yes, you’ve told me that a dozen times,” Marty responded in desperation to my last gasps of exasperation over my upsetting circumstances.

I’m supposed to meet friends in a neighboring town. They have my suitcase (it’s too long to go into why that happened), and I feel like Moses in the desert. Only it may take 40 lifetimes versus 40 years, to find my way out.

“Stop shaming me, by reminding me that I’ve repeated myself a dozen times, you’re not helping,” I barked at Marty

“Stop yelling at me, I’m trying to help,” he barks back.

It wasn’t one of my shining moments for sure. I was overheated, stressed out, and felt helpless. I can motivate thousands of people, help my clients find their way through uncertainty and stress, and create amazing results, but don’t ask me to go anywhere beyond a 7-mile vicinity without my GPS Garmin!

I breathe, rant some more, tapping on the button on the Garmin 10 more times, very helpful, NOT. I bring up Waze (directional app) the bot’s voice is so low, but as soon as I get on the highway, my nervous system starts to regulate to a somewhat “normal” level.

I get to the train station (I never made it to the stopover) meet my friends and have a decent enough train ride back.

The next morning I spoke with Marty. We talk about the day and he says, “Hey I didn’t mean to shame you by mentioning the 12 times you mentioned about the GPS working a mile back. I think I get confused and frustrated because you’re such a powerhouse when it comes to your work, clients, and even day-to-day decisions, you have such great common sense. But when it comes to directions or technology, you freak out. It’s like you’re a different person.”

“I’m not a different person, it’s just a different aspect of myself coming out. Those areas you mentioned are my SUPERPOWERS, they come naturally to me. But a sense of direction, and certain areas of technology, are my kryptonite. What did you fall from a coconut tree when you were supposed to be watching Superman,” I laugh.

“It’s all me,” I continue. “We’re all a combination of SUPERPOWERS and Kryptonite, and we don’t get to pick and choose “this is me, but this isn’t.” We can be aware of our triggers and challenges, but we’re all a combination of all our parts. And I need you to accept that it’s all me.”

“Gottya,” his brow furrowing, trying to make sense of it via his accountant-wired brain.
“I gotta sit with it.”

I’ve always been fascinated by the different aspects of ourselves that we all have. The more we recognize the different aspects the more we can be in acceptance and make more affirming choices, but we must accept all aspects.

As a female motivational speaker and executive leadership coach, who helps heart-centered, mission-driven leaders get out of their own way, I find this to be true. Everyone has their version of what I call the “Itty Bitty Committee,” those scrappy self-defeating voices that are rooted in limiting beliefs,  and outdated ways of thinking and acting that keep us from moving forward and feeling good about ourselves.

Nobody is exempt.

Awareness is always the first step. Then comes acceptance, and then action.

When we pull away the curtain and are willing to give voice to them we start having freedom to think and act in new ways.

Humor is the tension release valve for the soul, when can take a playful approach, and bring all those aspects of self to the light, we get to laugh and learn at the same time.  

That desire to embrace all aspects of myself and others and bring some levity to the situation is what prompted me to create Smart Sexy TV, What Nobody Talks About, But Everyone Needs to Know. A series of what I call Carol Burnet meets Wayne Dyer. And if you don’t know who they are, GOOGLE them!

Here’s how I’ve learned to embrace some of my “cast of characters.” Check out my Having Fun with my Itty Bitty Committee, and let me know which ones resonate the most, and what are some of yours that you want to have a little fun, with and add a bit of levity and perspective in your life.