I Was a Liar: The Fruit Salad of Truth

I have a confession to make: I was a liar. Not the kind of liar who deceives others for gain or mischief, but a liar to myself. For years, I fed myself a diet of lies. 'I am not good enough.' 'I am not talented enough.' 'I cannot do this.' Have you ever lied to yourself like that? Have you ever put labels on yourself that held you back?

“But here’s the real truth: those were all lies. Lies that I had invented and believed for so long.”

Transition to the Holland Theory and RIASEC

“One day, I stumbled upon something that changed my life—the Holland Code or RIASEC theory. It's a way of understanding our natural strengths and how we can use them to thrive. RIASEC stands for Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. And today, I’m going to take you on a delicious journey to discover this, through the art of making a simple fruit salad.”

The Fruit Salad and RIASEC Explanation

“Imagine we are making a fruit salad. Each fruit represents a different type of personality in the RIASEC model.”

1. Realistic (R) - The Figs: The Doers “Figs are straightforward, practical, just like Realistic people. They are the doers, the builders, the hands-on creators who bring things to life. They see a task, they complete it. No fluff. Do you know someone like that? Maybe it’s you?”
2. Investigative (I) - The Grapes: The Thinkers “These grapes represent the Investigative type. Thinkers who like to analyze, solve problems, and explore the 'why' behind everything. They are the ones who ask, 'How does this work?' and 'What if we try it this way?'”
3. Artistic (A) - The Strawberries: The Creators “Strawberries! Bright, colorful, and a bit unpredictable, just like Artistic people. They are the dreamers, the creatives, the ones who think outside the box. They see the world in vibrant colors and possibilities.”
4. Social (S) - The Oranges: The Helpers “And here we have the oranges—social, juicy, and full of zest. Social types are the nurturers, the ones who connect deeply with others. They thrive in environments where they can help, guide, and teach.”
5. Enterprising (E) - The Pineapple: The Persuaders “Here comes the pineapple, bold and strong, just like Enterprising types. They are the leaders, the persuaders, the ones who take charge and make things happen. They are not afraid to take risks or stand out.”
6. Conventional (C) - The Raisins: The Organizers “Finally, the raisins—small but mighty. Just like Conventional types, who are organized, detail-oriented, and reliable. They are the ones who keep things in order, making sure everything is where it should be.”

Climax: The Message of Self-Acceptance and Growth

“Every fruit has a place in this salad, just as every person has a unique strength that, when embraced, adds flavor to this world. The lie I told myself was that I wasn’t good enough because I didn’t see the power of my strengths. But I learned that each of us is a mix of these flavors. We all have our unique blend.”

Reflect: “What’s your blend? What flavors do you bring to the world?”

“So today, I invite you to stop lying to yourself. Stop saying you are ‘not enough.’ Instead, discover your strengths, like I did, and use them to serve others. Because when you serve from your strengths, you don’t just make a fruit salad—you make a feast.”

“Feel the strength within you, growing, expanding, ready to be shared.”

“Now, let’s serve the world together. One delicious fruit at a time.”

“Thank you, fellow coaches, for sharing this journey with me. Remember, we all have a unique blend waiting to be tasted by the world. Go out there, be bold, and let your flavors shine!”