Where Am I?
Have you ever said that out loud or to yourself? Maybe even just felt it?
In my work with individuals and groups, I’ve found most people speak in code when it comes to the “where am I” question. What I hear instead is:
I feel stuck
I need a change
This isn’t working
I’m sick of this
They don’t understand me
I’m tired of having to prove myself
The work I do is about self-awareness and using the “where am I” question is great way to check in and ask ourselves if we’re on track. It’s also a great way to take a deeper dive into who we are and what’s driving us forward.
Walk Backwards to Find Yourself
Take Joycelyn for example. Joycelyn is a mature, successful entrepreneur with a fulfilling career and personal life as a mother and Grandmother. But when her business hit a wall, she did what she knew to do: look for other contracts, talk to people that know her skillset and past experience, pursue and land some consulting gigs, and reposition her business. While she was figuring out how to advance her business, she realized a few things: her kids were done with college, most of her career goals had been reached, her close friends were moving away, she was older, and only vaguely recognized the person she saw in the mirror.
She was scared out of her mind. So she started chasing change. But, because she was driven by fear, her actions didn’t have the impact she wanted. Her efforts came across as controlling, manipulative, and forceful. All of sudden the people she had relied on, became naysayers. Her own sense of self and will started to corrode. As her business became more challenged and she pushed harder and harder, she watched as family, community, friendships, spirituality, finances, entertainment, and philanthropy all started to come more and more undone.
Why is this Happening to Me?
It was right about this time that Joycelyn began a consulting project to research, collaborate, and contribute to the design of my What’s Next: Live from Your Story workshop. The workshop is all about self-awareness and how to honor where you’ve been to get to where you’re supposed to be. The more she developed the outline for the workshop, the more she became immersed in the principals and takeaways of the workshop. One of the core principals in our work is to look backwards and connecting the dots. She started looking at her story differently.
She realized none of her steps had been mistakes. Her fears were unfounded. She had to go through everything to get her to this particular place. Once she learned the tools necessary to relax and embrace her journey, the answers she had been looking for were right in front of her. Her energy started to lift, new possibilities appeared, what truly makes her happy became obvious, and both her business and personal transformation started to become visible.
Ah-ha Moments!
Her ah-ha moment was remembering a long abandoned dream and discovering that all of her experience had prepared her to realize that dream now. Nothing had been lost…just deferred to this exact moment.
Honor Your Journey
When you look back and honor your story, you can propel yourself forward in unimaginable ways. Next time something seems a little off or you’re feeling lost, just ask yourself “Where Am I”? Take a moment to retrace your steps and see the connections.
If you need some assistance, get in touch and we’ll guide you through our “connect the dots” process. Or register for our newsletter and be on the lookout for our “What’s Next” workshop being launched this fall. You’ll find you’re not alone. You’ll find that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be—because it’s here that you can set your new destination!