Claiming Your Path
Becoming who you are by showing up as yourself
This week, I stopped thinking about who I’m becoming.
I started showing up as him.
Saying It Out Loud
I’ve been putting myself out in the world more.
I mention my husband, which lets people know I’m gay.
I tell people I’m a coach, a feng shui consultant, a Reiki practitioner, and a writer.
I’m not pretending.
I’m claiming it.
And the more I say it, the more true it feels.
Finding My People
Last week, I spent two nights working as a background actor on a TV pilot.
I stayed open.
I talked to people.
I connected.
There was an ease to it—shared values, similar energy, a sense of alignment.
I remember thinking, I want to stay in touch with these people.
Before I could even ask, they asked me for my contact information.
That’s been happening more often.
I show up as myself, and the right people seem to find me.
What I Noticed
I paid attention to what was happening inside me as I spent time with others.
Sometimes, I compared.
They seemed further along. More established.
For a moment, I shrank.
Then I caught it.
Different paths. Different timing.
I took a breath and came back to why my path matters.
And just like that, I was back.
What Expands Me
When I’m aligned, I feel it.
I laugh more.
I ask questions.
I share.
My energy opens up.
I’m not in my head.
I’m in the moment.
And I’m starting to trust that feeling.
Owning My Path
For a long time, I told myself a story.
That other people had careers, and I just had jobs.
Even when I held high-level positions.
Now I see it differently.
Every experience I’ve had has led me here.
I’m building something that reflects who I am.
It doesn’t look traditional.
It doesn’t come with guarantees.
But it feels right.
And that matters more.
This Week’s Practice
Action: Say It Out Loud
This week, try naming who you’re becoming.
You might:
introduce yourself differently
share what you’re working on
speak before you feel completely ready
Notice what happens when you say it out loud.
Reflection
Confidence doesn’t come first.
It follows action.
You don’t wait until you feel ready.
You become ready by showing up.
Journal Prompts
Choose one that resonates. Or explore all three if you have the space.
Option 1
Where am I still holding back instead of owning my path?
Option 2
What feels true about who I’m becoming right now?
Option 3
What would shift if I said it out loud?
A Note From the Trail
You don’t have to wait to arrive.
You can begin where you are.
Say it.
Live it.
Grow into it.
See you on the trail.
Jef
What You’ll Find Here
Wayfinding for the Directionally Challenged is a space for anyone navigating reinvention, identity, purpose, and the ongoing work of becoming themselves fully.
I’m especially interested in inspiring others to pause, reflect, heal, and grow so they can thrive by living with joy, meaning, passion, play, and purpose.
Here, you will find:
Weekly reflections grounded in real life
Practical tools for navigating change
Wilderness metaphors that make the inner journey feel more navigable
Journal prompts and practices to support reflection and growth
A warm, honest community where uncertainty is welcome
I am glad you are here.
Work With Me
I’m a Martha Beck Certified Wayfinder Life Coach, and I work with clients one-on-one who are navigating reinvention, identity, purpose, and the question of what comes next.
If you’re feeling lost, circling familiar terrain, or sensing a pull toward something more aligned, you do not have to figure it out alone.
Learn more about coaching with me
Explore My Other Substacks
If this space resonates with you, you may also enjoy my other writing:
hello body …
A gentle, curious approach to health and wellness. Learning to listen to and collaborate with your body.
Find Yourself at Home
Crafting living spaces that nourish and support who you are and who you are becoming.