A year ago, something happened in me that transformed the direction of my life. As I look back on the journey and where I am today, I find it timely to share with you the key lessons that I have learnt. My hope is that some of these insights might echo something going on for you right now, and give you some positive encouragement.
It all started back in May last year. I was working in a job I did not enjoy, but that I kept going to because I felt that was my only option. I didn’t have fulfilment in my days, and tried to fill the void any way I could on WE’s. My energy levels were low, my stress levels high. This led to recurrent health issues, and culminated at that point in time with four independent medical practitioners all telling me the same thing: that my work stress was clearly creating issues in my body. This was not new to me, but this time it hit home, maybe because of the accumulating evidence.
Sitting back in my car, I realised that something had to change. I felt stupid and ashamed for letting stress take control for so long & just hoping for a miraculous change one day. Once at home, I got instant clarity as to what I needed to do. I grabbed a piece of paper and jolted down three steps that came up in my mind (see photo above). The words came out of me, and I let them. No questioning. I pinned the paper to my vision board, and it sat there since.
Twelve months later, I am staring at my list and I am stunned to realise that I have achieve all three. Miracle? I don’t think so…. A lot happened in those twelve months that I won’t cover here, but nothing was an accident. By setting my intentions I made change happen, and I am definitely a hundred times better for it.
The first thing on my list was to declutter my life. I realised I was done with wanting too many things, keeping too many balls in the air and as a result, never feeling enough or like I had enough. I was always seeking material things, one after the next. Some parts of my life like friendships or family were given me dissatisfaction, and only growing my discomfort. So I wanted to clear what was not working, and go back to simple, working ways of living and being happier.
Secondly it was apparent to me that I had to change jobs. Just putting it down on paper made it more obvious. I also had spent months prior in the process of identifying my new career direction. Becoming a coach was shaping out to be the main outcome for me. So my third item on the list was simply to act on this choice. There I had my three goals, and I knew that was enough (first thing that actually felt enough for a while).
Today I am very pleased to have achieved all three goals, and I sort of did not see this coming. By that I mean that a lot happened with me trusting the process, going with the flow. I am sharing below my five key learnings of this transformational process:
- Clarity: it is the fundamental ingredient of any transformation. You can’t go anywhere without it, and it has something so decisive, so enlightening about it, that we should all be seeking it in our situations. I have to add that I had been on the journey for at least a year prior to being really clear. It did not fall from the sky. But one day you know deep down, and the best thing you can do then is to honour it. So when it comes, write it down and let it be. Don’t judge, don’t worry. All you have to do is to listen.
- Decluttering is underrated: it might sound trendy or just very trivial, but the benefits are massive. When you remove what’s in front of you all the time, keeping you stuck, unworthy or uninspired, you naturally welcome better things. The key is that we are generally not aware of what is our clutter, because it is our daily environment. But when you get clear on what is helping and what isn’t, the decision is easy. So get rid of physical clutter: throw these old files, paperwork you will never need, old notebooks. Clean up your desk, get comfy, get rid of what does not work. Then keep going with your emotional clutter: negative or unsupportive friends or family, old mistakes, debts…The list is long, but the main thing is to look for things or feelings that stress you out. It is liberating to let go of some things, and that new energy can be put to work for a greater cause.
- When you set an intention, you set the wheels in motion: it is that simple. Yet quite unknown or taught at school. I especially never believed in that one, and was always convinced that everything happens after I have to put in a LOT of hard work. Well I have learnt that when you decide, you are half of the way there. That piece of paper hung in my office daily, and it has played its role. So choose the best way for you to set your intentions: in a journal, on a vision board, on little notes, or simply saying it out loud. Try it and see for yourself.
- Transformation takes time and support: sorry no overnight success here. I did not put a timeline on my goals list, and rightly so because I just had no idea how long it would take. But I am grateful for the process, because you grow so much. And I could not have achieved it without the support of key people: partner, close friends and family, a coach. So give yourself time and get your best supporters around.
- You can absolutely get what you want: this is the key learning I want to leave you with. It may have looked a bit idyllic twelve months ago, but it has become reality. I firmly believe whatever you want in your career, job or life in general, you can achieve it. You will find plenty of inspiration on this blog or through coaching with me to make it happen.
So what does your goal list look like? Do you have the clarity, the intention, the space, the support and the belief? I cannot tell you how rewarding and extremely uplifting it feels when you have what you desired. I wish you all the best success in achieving your goals. Just start somewhere today…and see you in one year!
