Being Erica or Whoever You Are

I’ve been watching a Canadian television comedy-drama called Being Erica. It isn’t that sophisticated – I’m quite plebeian in my TV and movie choices.  It is a quirky look at finding oneself by reflecting back on the past.  I found the series on hulu.com when my queue was empty and I turned to the recommendations tab looking for a diversion from forensics and courtrooms.

The main character, Erica, is 32 and at a crossroads.  She believes she’s made poor choices in her past and that these decisions have led her to the unsatisfying life she lives today.  I’m only 6 episodes into the first season, but the show got me thinking about the idea that if you review your past you may find that there are the events you remember and then there is how you interpreted and reacted to the event or the decision.  Reflecting back from a more mature place may bring different perspectives and different interpretations of the same life events.

One of the artifices of the series is the role of Erica’s “therapist” who can send her back in time to actually relive the moments in her life that she regrets.  He also pops up in her past reveries with sage advice delivered via quotations. Although it seems hokey and contrived, I think it’s a good reminder that we all have people in our lives who pop in and give us advice, coach us or just listen.  We have people we turn to who help guide us as we try to find our way, find what fits, find our next identity or find the purpose we seek in our life and work.

And in the spirit of the show, I thought I’d end with an e.e. cummings quote:

“To be nobody – but yourself – in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.”

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Yes! You may use this article by TheCoachingAssociation.com Executive Director Barbara Demarest in your company newsletter, blog or website as long as you add the following bio box:

Barbara Demarest (www.barbarademarest.com) received her MBA from the Babcock School of Management at Wake Forest University and her BA from Duke University. After 20 years at the Center for Creative Leadership, Barbara launched a strategy consulting practice focusing on people leading change in associations, foundations, universities, nonprofits and knowledge businesses.  You can find Barbara’s executive coaching profile on www.thecoachingassociation.com.