- Do you feel genuinely happy, valued, loved, supported, and inspired?
- Do you feel stuck in a soul-sucking career, relationship or lifestyle habit?
- What would you do if you weren't afraid?
- When's the last time you dared yourself to dream big & took action?
I think one of the easiest ways to get stuck in life is to resign yourself to your current situation and allow it to dictate your future; as if it’s all you’re capable of or all you deserve. Or, to numb yourself from the pain of situations where you don’t feel genuinely happy, valued, loved, supported, or inspired. In those situations we sometimes fabricate the illusion of happiness as a coping mechanism and pretend we’re exactly where we want to be in life; although deep, down inside we know we're not. But what's far more powerful and promising is to use whatever is happening in your life, relationships and career as inspiration for learning, breaking old patterns and making conscious choices that will create the life you genuinely want and deserve. Because the greater your self awareness, the greater your capacity for growth. So instead of accepting status quo and moving through life on auto-pilot, it’s more life affirming to shake things up by reimagining yourself, rethinking your desires, and taking action.
That’s exactly what I’m doing right now while on annual leave from "my imperfect dream job” in the Caribbean. I’m re-evaluating that choice I made over a year ago to uproot my life in NYC and accept a two-year position as the Pilates/Fitness Instructor on a private resort island. At the time I made that choice, I definitely needed to shake things up a bit. I felt the constant tease of an incredible vision I have for my life and career, but immobilized financially and stuck in survival mode. I knew I was capable of and deserved far more than that, so I was open to the possibility of some type of change that would transport me closer to my greater vision, and the opportunity appeared.
Now after one year, I’m being really honest with myself about the pros and cons of this huge life change I made; tapping into my heart and my gut to examine how I truly feel without glamorizing or embellishing the experience of being an employee on a private resort island. Am I enjoying the adventure? Is it better or worse than I imagined? Am I truly happy or am I just making the best of an uncomfortable situation? Am I thriving or simply surviving? Is there a better way to achieve what I want? Because, as magical as life on a private resort island appears to outside observers, this is not my dream job, nor my dream life. This is not how I imagine myself. This is not my final destination. For me, it’s a transition toward the person I want to become and the life I want to live. It’s an opportunity for me to rebuild my finances while evolving mentally, emotionally, creatively, and spiritually. It’s a place of relative stillness where I can absorb my life lessons and prepare myself to step into my imagination. Nevertheless, I do feel extremely lucky that this transition includes my passion for teaching, the beauty of paradise, and the opportunity to build friendships and connections from around the world.
But I will always remember that distinction between where I am and where I genuinely want to be. Life holds too much possibility for complacency. So I will never stop reimagining myself.
Indie Girl Diary: writing prompt
If I weren't afraid I would __________.
Indie Girl-Talk: let's chat!
Where are you now in life versus where you want to be? What are you doing to step into your imagination?
