We’ve all read about the woman who left her job, travelled the world, fell in love and found her purpose. Okay we may have read or watched Eat Pray Love. But seriously, don’t we all covet that lady who in our eyes is so courageous to take that leap of faith? We admire her free spirit, her courage and how easeful her journey seems, and wish we could leave our jobs and do the same. We assume she knows what she’s doing, has hefty bank balance (or a rich father/partner) and has everything figured out — or at least I assumed so.
Now it’s my turn and I realise it is so hard! I kid you not. I was wrestling with sleepless nights, endless worrying about my decision and slipping into a slight depression — for which I resumed therapy again. Why was this so hard? I mean, I have always wanted to take time off, see the world, figure my life out right. Right? Now I find myself screaming to myself ‘unemployed’ and ‘jobless’.
Let me lay it out — I am clueless on what I should be doing next with my career (I only know I don’t want to go back to my previous) and I am neither earning from investment dividends, nor can my parents support me financially. So yeah, I can see why this is pretty scary now. But from these tumultuous weeks, I have learnt a few things.
We don’t need to see the whole mountain to just take the next step.
I was so obsessed with needing to know what my path looked like, what I should be doing, how I should be spending my time that I was crippled with fear, indecision and regret. But so what if I don’t know what’s the ‘perfect’ choice to make or have no ‘correct’ path to take? Why look to the distant peak and feel overwhelmed? Don’t we only need to take the step that’s right in front of us, trusting that the universe will show us the next step when we’re ready? It’s really that simple; take the step, learn the lessons we’re meant to learn at the moment, and take the next step!
Be present with yourself.
Like many of us, my identity and purpose has always been tied to having a job and what I do. But I am more than that, and it took me these couple of weeks of self doubt and reopening of past traumas to realise that. Who I am exactly, I don’t know. All I know is that this time to just be me — not a teacher, not a leader, not a coordinator — will help me uncover who I am when I am simply present with myself. I’m excited to discover who I am when all that I need to be is just be me — it’s been awhile!
Have an open, curious mind and a deep sense of excitement for what lies ahead.
The future is exciting — full of possibilities and wonder. How did we forget this? We’re headed there anyway regardless of whether we dance and sing our way along or lament and worry through the journey. Why not soak in every moment and bring out the child within — whose creativity, sense of wonderment, innocence and unbridled joy is unparalleled. Now, I am committed to moving joyfully in the flow and rhythm of who I am and of life itself, staying open to the universe leading me, revealing things to me and manifesting through and as me!
Taking a career break is the dream I once had that never thought I could have. So guess what, I am going to enjoy it to the fullest!
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