Kate, grew up in the midwest of America, in Missouri. Her family structure had it’s issues, with her folks divorcing early on and money being a scarce commodity. She loved to immerse herself in reading and poetry too. She’d spend hours in the library because it was one way to escape the stifling afternoon heat of the Midwest!

Growing up, she felt a confusing mix of being both highly sensitive and doggedly tenacious, she was extremely introverted and also ferociously opinionated. It was difficult to neatly categorise all of those contradictions, which often left her feeling isolated and out of place in social groups.

High school was a depressing time and it infiltrated itself into her college experience too. Her depression manifested itself as, extreme isolation, crying, eating disorders, cutting, and being borderline suicidal. Often thinking “I wish I could just go to sleep and not wake up.”

Growing up in a poor environment taught her to spend money wisely, and how to be respectful of it. She also learnt a strong work ethic and spent 4 years working two jobs, which allowed her to save up enough money to go and spend a month in her beloved Italy.

When she returned, she realised it had all boiled down to choice. You chose to make it happen, you chose to realise your dreams despite your fears and doubts. Kate knew the courage it took for her to do so, and wanted to share that with others.

These days, Kate is the founder and creator of the Courageous Living Coach Certification and creator of the Coaching Blueprint. Her book, The Courage Habit, explores how we create courageous habits using; her 4-step habit realisations:

Realisation #1: Habit-formation goes much deeper than isolated actions.

Realisation #2: Habits are trip-wired by cues that are often unconscious and somatic.

Realisation #3: Habits run on a loop of cue-routine-reward.

Realisation #4: Often, we don’t look beyond “lessening of anxiety.”

and her courage building process:

1 – Access the body

2 – Listen without attachment

3 – Reframe limiting Stories

4 – Create community

We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

Let’s find out what it means for Kate Swoboda, to be Ridiculously Human.

Your fellow beings,

Craig and Gareth