Coaching Carrie - Season 1 Parting Thoughts
When my friend and fellow lawyer turned coach, Kerry Walsh, asked me to co-host a coaching / Sex and the City podcast with her, I said “YES!” And then I couldn’t help but wonder, what really goes into hosting a podcast? I really had no idea what I’d just signed up for. I can now tell you exactly what goes into hosting a podcast AND I can tell you that this project has been my favorite kind of work - the kind that makes you think AND allows you to laugh. I’m lucky to have the world’s best co-host, so that doesn’t hurt either.
We’ve made it through the first season of Sex and the City and I think (and I hope Kerry would agree) we’ve given our favorite characters lots of food for thought. Haven’t tuned in yet? Click HERE to listen.
There are a couple of themes that have kept coming up over the course of the past 12 episodes and they are big ones!
Power
The women of SATC talk a lot about how to gain and retain power. For most of them, and in most of the situations, it’s about control. Carrie’s trying to keep the power by being perfect (more on that in a minute). Miranda wants to make sure she keeps the power by not being too vulnerable or giving too much. Charlotte wants to make sure she keeps the power by not giving into intimacy too quickly. And Samantha wants to take the power any where she can get it. The power dynamics are real, and we’ve all experienced them. The reality though, as we’ve seen over the course of this season, true power comes from knowing yourself and what you really want and need.
Perfection
This one has come up a lot for Carrie and Mr. Big in particular. Carrie’s got this notion that she needs to be perfect to be loved. Oh, Carrie…don’t you realize that perfection is a myth? *Spoiler alert* she does not realize it yet. But I hope that by listening and seeing this struggle play out with one of our favorite fictional characters that you’ll realize that you can give up trying to be perfect, and just start being fully yourself. Authenticity is the remedy to perfectionism, everyday.
Clear Communication
There are so many situations throughout the first season where we can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t it just be easier if you were direct? For example, for most of this season Carrie’s not sure where Big’s head is, but she doesn’t ask. Instead she seeks confirmation and affirmation in the form of grand gestures. It’s easy to watch these characters navigate life and want to scream: why don’t you just ask for what you need? But we all know that is way easier said than done. The vulnerability that comes with being direct can be uncomfortable. But remember, uncomfortable doesn’t mean bad. And after all - are you really that much more comfortable when you’re adrift and guessing?
Season 2 will be rolling out starting in August…there’s lots more to learn, lots more to explore and lots more coaching to be done!! We hope you’ll check it out - HERE.
