We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lucy Liu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Lucy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
I love this question because for many years I always felt less confident of myself because I didn’t have a specific turning point or defining moment in my life that changed the trajectory of my life. And for this exact reason, I stopped dreaming, I lived life on autopilot, and I didn’t feel fulfilled or purposeful. I waited for that defining moment to come for something greater to happen in life, but that moment never came. I finally realized that my define momment is actually the moment when I came to realization that I am okay with not having that special event in my life happen where my life is changed forever, but the small aha moments that added up to my well of wisdom. I’ve learned extremly valuable lessons along the way and collectively they define my success. Whethere or not you had a moment that changed the trajectory of your life or career, you are remarkable in your own way and that you deserve the best life by your own design.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am master life coach helping women uplevel in business and life to confidently live an epic life! I am an unshakable optimist, wife, mom, entrepreneur, workshop facilitator, motivational speaker, best selling author and podcast host of The Lucy Liu Show.
It’s funny how before I started formally coaching, I didn’t even know about life coaching as a career. I was always asked by others how I am so positive, how I do it or why I don’t need support etc. I realized that I have the natural superpower to turn any negatives into positives and thus open new doors of opportunity.
Entrepreneurs & high achievers hire me to see clarity and take quantum leaps FAST. Because most of them are overthinking, scattered and self-doubting. I’m best at helping you get unstuck, make faster decisions and fulfill higher potential. Bottom line: not only make more money and impact, but have more fun and live an EPIC life by design.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Growing up, I never thought of myself as a person who made bold moves. I prided myself as the top honors student as I valued and excelled academically. I definitely wanted to be the “good girl” to my parents and society. I followed rules, norms and traditions and strives to maintain a positive image within my family and community. I was as polite, respectful, and considerate of others as much as I possibly can. People around me saw me being responsible, dependable, and expected to take my promises seriously, honor them, and keep them. At work, I was cooperative and obedient, and avoided behaviors that might be considered provocative or attention-grabbing. I also valued my own honesty, integrity, and sense of right and wrong. After starting my podcast and as I started to tell my life stories, one example was dropping out of high school with straight A’s. The most common reaction I received was: “wow, you made some bold moves!” Really? These reactions were surprising and interesting to me because it was only then I realized it was these bold moves that shaped who I am today and led me to living the best life I now live by design. It’s fascinating and enlightening when others recognize and appreciate the courageous steps you’ve taken in life. These reactions acted as recognition and validation of the impact of how bold decisions have shaped who you are today and the positive results you can achieve.
By starting my podcast and sharing my life stories, I can give others insight into the choices I made that might seem to be deviated from the norm. These choices may seem daring to some, but they have helped me consciously shape the life I am currently living to suit my tastes and desires. And I want that for you too, to live the epic life you deserve, by taking actions that are scary and might be a deviation of what others call normal.
Bold actions often involve stepping out of your comfort zone, taking risks, and challenging societal norms and expectations. By taking these steps, you have demonstrated your willingness to pursue your passion, embrace change, and live a life consistent with who you really are. I encourage you to do so because your willingness to share your stories highlights the transformative power of your bold choices and will encourage others to reflect on their lives and consider the possibilities beyond the traditional path.
These responses to my bold moves served as a reminder of my personal growth and the resilience I have developed. It takes courage to step into an unknown world and make choices that differ from society’s expectations. Through these experiences, I have developed self-awareness, confidence, and the ability to deal with uncertainty. This is a testament to inner strength and determination.
Recognizing the role bold actions have played in my life now motivates me to continue taking risks and pursuing opportunities for growth. As I share my stories my hope is for those of you seeking inspiration to develop the courage to take bold steps. I urge you to think of your own way for making bold moves and tap into possibilities beyond the reach of conventional choices.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I am a recovering overthinker and on my own journey to recovering from overthinking, I fell in love with helping others overcome overthinking because I think learning to let go of overthinking and unlearn how to worry about the future is a lesson we all need to learn. So by definition, overthinking is to think about something too much or for too long. But what’s even worse? Spending more time on thinking about if you are overthinking or why you are overthinking in the first place. Then we begin to make up problems that don’t even exist. If you consistently focus on ruminating and making it a habit, it becomes a loop, And the more you do it, the harder it is to stop this loop. Many times, overthinking is a very sneaky form of fear that’s less obvious than fear.
As I understood the value of “what you focus on grows”, I learned to switch my focus. So keep your focus on problem-solving instead of the problem itself. Our perception of things is our own narrative in our heads and the good news is that narratives can be changed. So when you notice your overthinking thoughts, challenge them, opposite them to positive and abundant thoughts.
I made a firm and committed decision to stop overthinking. I am a self proclaimed recovering overthinker and sometimes I also call myself an ex-overthinker. I’ve decided that overthinking is no longer a part of my present life.
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