It’s been a big year for me so far. In the past twelve months I’ve gotten married, moved, hired additional people to work with me, traveled, built a new website and started writing a book.
Big, right? As I look at even that partial list I’d think I would be completely justified to sit back and enjoy my victories. Trust me — I will — I’m looking forward to sitting back on my heels and celebrating in a great lazy vacation at the end of the month! I certainly feel great looking at all the wins and getting to experience the life that I set out to create: those birds outside my window couldn’t sound sweeter in the morning. All of that is fabulous.
And, for those of us who are addicted to growth, craving development for its own sake, wanting to experience all life has to offer, you will recognize the desire for asking myself…. “what’s next?”
I recently had a conversation with my own coach (yes, of COURSE I have a coach!) about what that next level might look like. Where am I headed next on this great adventure? I realized in that conversation that I was genuinely confronted by the next step. Given all the leaps I have taken in the past months I was surprised to feel that way. But the fact is, the next thing ALWAYS feels that way. At least it does if it’s a big step.
I have some clients who are experiencing this now — choosing whether to leave a job, to become an entrepreneur, deciding what to do about a relationship, asking themselves how to grow their department exponentially. Ask any of them why they haven’t already taken that leap, and you’ll likely get some version of “I’m afraid and don’t know how it will turn out.”
And they’re right… they DON’T know how it will turn out. We never actually do. In fact, we don’t actually know how our current plan will turn out either. Truly, we know nothing. The question I have for them, and myself, is: is that fear or unknown about the next thing what you will allow to stop you? Because ultimately it’s not a real thing — it’s a voice in your head, and you don’t have to listen to it.
This quote from Mary Oliver keeps running through my head. I am reminded that this life of ours is just one big adventure. We are blessed with the ability to EXPERIENCE so much, to FEEL so much, to DO so much. The only question is… will we?
Look, I understand the fear. The reluctance. The concern for what might happen that comes up when we think of taking on something new, of making a choice that will have a big impact on ourselves or others. Of course that will be there.
But what are you here for? Here, on this planet, in this lifetime? What do you want to have done by the time your time is up? Because we never know if that’s in decades or days. Do you want to be able to say that you had an adventure — that you did big things, loved well and often, made mistakes and grew from them, laughed frequently and took advantage of all that you could? Or do you want to say that you did just enough to keep from making mistakes, or being scared, or messing up? Either way, your ride will come to an end.
So what will it be, my friends? The choice is yours. You’re making it right now. What will you choose next?
We’re here to be your champion!