Welcome back everyone.
As we enter February after the highs of the new years and the potential lows of being back to the same old same old, one question has been bouncing around my head.
What do you want to do?
It is a very open question and can involve any or all aspects of your life - but actually I think that is the beauty of the question.
It can mean absolutely anything? And because you are capable of being anyone you wish to be or do anything you want to do - the choices and possibilities are endless! You are only limited by your imagination.
A good question to ask yourself is “what do I want my life to be like?”
Are you a person who thrives on chaos and being busy all the time?
Are you the type of person who enjoys lots of time in silence or dreams of living in quiet spaces?
Are you unhappy with your current work direction or career choice?
Allowing yourself to dream and imagine a better life doesn’t make you a woolgather or a fantasist…it can actually help you see a path towards a better life.
There is a downside to imagining all possibilities at once. There is no focus and that can create confusion, overwhelm and stagnation.
Therefore it is good to dream big at first but then give yourself time to focus on smaller, achievable outcomes that drive you towards your ultimate goal.
You want to become a Formula 1 champion? The first step might be to get behind the wheel.
You want to become a CEO of the company - first you need to be able to manage yourself and your workload before moving up.
Reducing your big dreams to smaller more manageable steps can be a key aspect to achieving your aspirations.
In the end you might not make it to be an F1 champion…but maybe you can win a race somewhere and achieve something that the you in the past didn’t think was possible. Maybe you coach someone who becomes a champion and your knowledge, experience and drive gave them the skills needed to reach the upper echelons of the sport?
By opening yourself up to the possibilities of what could be - the potential scenarios are endless.
But, unless you ask yourself the question, you wont move anywhere - you wont see the opportunities when they are right in front of you.
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
— Søren Kierkegaard
The questions you ask yourself can be huge and you could be overwhelmed or overcome with emotion - you may be angry at what could have been - missed opportunities that become apparent - regrets clouding your thoughts.
And they all could be true - you have missed out - but that doesn’t mean that is the truth forever.
You can now see the possibilities - you know where you want to go - you know what will make you feel happier and contented.
You have taken your first step into a wider world
- Obi Wan Kenobi, A New Hope
What is your answer to the question?
What is going to be your first step?
Take some time to sit with your thoughts, do some research, write down a plan, share it with trusted loved ones or not - speak to your colleagues or manager and see what they can do to help you with your first tentative steps.
If you are still unsure and need support and more clarity then consider being coached.
Coaching is perfect for these sorts of conversations and conundrums. Coaching is future facing - we don’t dwell on the past but look to what can be achieved in the future - short and long term goals are the lifeblood of coaching and we are very good at helping you reduce those big, wild goals to more manageable short term goals.
This is a shameless plug for my coaching and if you are wanting support then I am here to help you as I have done for many other clients who needed that time and clarity to take the next steps.
Contact me if you want a chat or arrange a free discovery call and if you join my paid subscription you can get an hours free coaching included worth £100.
Welcome to the world of tomorrow!
Paul
- The Calm Coach