The Only Journey is the One Within

Four years ago, I set an intention to live in Florida. That was it. I did not create a specific timeline or a series of milestones which was the way I was wired from my long career in the corporate world.  No, this intention was different. It was generated from inside my core being and was fueled by a series of personal events that offered me a choice to stay within my comfort zone or take a risk and truly explore who I was and who I wanted to be.  I chose to take a risk and officially relocated to Florida this past December 2020 – 4 years to the day from when I hatched that original intent.

I wanted to share some of the lessons learned along my journey in the hope that you find strength knowing that you can live the life you imagine if you believe in yourself, stay open to the possibilities, and trust you are where you need to be.

Believe in Yourself:

2016 brought a series of tragedies that would not be the last but catapulted me into seeking more joy in my life. My best friend died of cancer after a fierce fight and my older brother suffered a debilitating stroke. My own mortality was suddenly in the forefront of my mind which made me question who I was and who I wanted to be. The Canyon Ranch in Arizona offered a much-needed retreat to practice mindfulness and reflection.  It also created the space I needed to set the next intention to quit my corporate job within the year and follow my passion for coaching others.

I resigned from a successful career in human resources in January 2018 and began an 8-month coaching certification program with IPEC. That was the plan set in my own mind.  The plan that actually unfolded, however, included evaluating an opportunity with ClearRock which occurred in April. The decision to join ClearRock was not easy. I had just spent a year telling myself I could quit my job and had secured enough savings to allow this not to be a barrier.  I recall struggling with my inner critic who reminded me that I had committed to doing the coaching training full-time, and “I always follow through on my commitments”. I asked myself, why did the plan have to be the exact way my mind mapped out? This decision point was put in my path for a reason.

Lesson 1:  Set an intention.  It’s a commitment to yourself that you agree to follow.  I created a word that I used in my daily intentions and plastered everywhere – BELIEVE.  It was on a bracelet I wore, on a plaque in my kitchen, on my vision board, and several other places around my home.  This allowed me to challenge the inner critic voices of doubt, fear, and isolation whenever I questioned my decisions and path.

Lesson 2: Practice Gratefulness. I started a gratitude text with a friend.  We agreed to text each other 3 things every morning about we were grateful for.  Like many habits, it felt difficult at first, however became part of a morning routine I looked forward to.

Lesson 3: Challenge rigid thinking. Just because you create a plan doesn’t mean that you can’t change it.  If you are too quick to say no, and stay rigid in your thinking, you may miss out on incredible opportunities. Taking a moment to be in the moment helps you to think and feel what this option may mean for your life.