Who am I? Learning self-acceptance when you don’t fit in a box

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

For as long as I can remember I’ve been asking myself the BIG questions in life.

“What’s my purpose?”

“Why am I here?”

“What am I meant to do?”

While I’m all grown up now (and have been for a while), I still struggle with those same questions.

But here’s the truth…

I’m a life coach who loves deep conversation and inner growth. AND I’m also a huge numbers geek who genuinely enjoys a well-organized spreadsheet.

At 11 years old, I dreamed of becoming a math teacher.

I liked how math made me feel.antoine-dautry-05A-kdOH6Hw-unsplash

It was simple and straightforward.

Logical, clear and organized.

And there were rules.

I liked rules back then.

Because if you followed them, you’d always find the answer.

And that felt good.

But life isn’t a math equation, is it?

As I grew older, I tried on a lot of different hats…

Actress, model, hotel concierge.

ESL teacher, sales rep and event coordinator.

The one thread through it all?

I loved helping people. I wanted to connect and serve.

Eventually, my more soulful side emerged.

heart in sand, learning self acceptance blog | Kerry Hanna Coaching

The one that had always been there, waiting quietly.

The side that was drawn to inspiring quotes and books.

To authors and speakers like Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay and Tony Robbins.

The part of me drawn to personal growth, deep conversations, and helping others reconnect with their truth.

I became a certified life coach and found a community that felt like home.

But still…something didn’t fully land.

I found myself being pulled back toward work that felt “safer” — more structured, more practical.

For a while, that felt like a conflict.

Bookkeeper by day, coach by night — two totally different identities. Right?

But over time, I’ve come to see something else.

There’s no either/or here.

I’m not just this or that.

I’m both.

These days, I coach women who feel disconnected from themselves — and I also empower them to take charge of their money.

jar of money, learning self acceptance blog | Kerry Hanna Coaching

Through practical tools like QuickBooks.

Because it’s all connected.

Confidence.

Clarity.

Self-trust.

Whether you’re setting boundaries, rediscovering joy, or finally taking charge of your books…

You’re learning self-acceptance and showing up for yourself in a new and empowered way.

And I get to bring all of me to the table now.

2 giraffes, learning self acceptance blog | Kerry Hanna Coaching

The grounded, organized, numbers-loving part.

AND the intuitive, heart-centered, personal growth junkie.

I used to think I had to choose.

That if I leaned into one, I had to reject the other.

But now I see those parts of me as partners.

Not enemies.

Because being whole means honouring all the pieces.

And it’s the same for you.

You’re not one-dimensional.

You don’t have to fit in a box.

You don’t have to be this or that.

You’re allowed to be all of who you are — even if it doesn’t always make sense on paper.

Learning self acceptance means embracing your unique mix of strengths, quirks, passions, and contradictions.

So if you’ve ever felt like you’re “too much” of one thing or “not enough” of another, I want you to hear this:

You don’t have to choose.

You’re allowed to be multi-passionate.

And to change your mind.

You’re allowed to bring your whole self forward — messy, magical, and everything in between.

Because you are not this or that.

You are YOU.

And that’s more than enough.

Kerry xo

P.S. If learning self acceptance feels like a challenge some days, you’re not alone. I’ve created a free cheat sheet to help. It’s called 10 Simple Ways to Be Kinder to Yourself (Even When it Feels Really Hard)— a gentle starting point to reconnect, soften your inner voice, and honour who you are. Grab it here.

Please share your comment here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll to Top

Discover more from Kerry Hanna | Life Transitions Coach

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading