Weekly Inspiration - What's Your Heart Telling You
Last week we talked about transitions and how so many of us seem to be feeling like we’re at a pivot point. A time to either make a decision to go one way or another in our life or perhaps time to start thinking about making some kind of change.
And whether we’re making big decisions or smaller ones, it’s often good to talk to others about your thoughts and bounce around some ideas. Often times just saying something out loud can have a big impact on the decision you decide to go on.
I am a firm believer in seeking guidance from a life coach, therapist, an accountability partner and friends and family. They are often very good sounding boards and can typically see things without the emotional ties that you may have. It’s also typically a good idea to talk to more than one person about such decisions.
But there something that I think we should all be aware of. Along with this great gift of life that we all have, we inherently each have our own ego and our own filters. Not only do we have these to contend with, but so do the people we’re consulting with. Some people can do a better job than others at moving the ego to the side, not judging and really looking at the situation from your point of view rather than theirs. But this is no small task and often it’s little subtleties that may not seem very important that can make a big difference.
I was talking to a friend recently who made the leap from corporate America into owning his own business. The business he started was completely different from anything he had done in his previous career but he knew with everything in his being that this was the right decision. Being married with children, there was an additional burden of having to ensure he could make enough money to support his family. After deliberating with his wife and fully planning out the business and his departure from the corporate world, they made the plunge together. And they couldn’t be happier that they did. They had a dream, a passion and together they made that dream come true.
However, he told me that he and his wife also made the decision not to tell anyone in their family that they made such a leap. They said that they didn’t want the added pressure and discussions about whether it was a good idea, how the business was going and if they had completely fallen off their rocker!
After being in business for a year, successfully I might add, they finally told their family. Their instincts were spot on. The family used to traditional forms of income and lead with fear-based questions and questioned whether it was a wise choice. Having found out that they were a year into the process and successfully making an income changed the conversations quite a bit. But had they shared this with their family in the beginning, they would have had an added layer of work to go through to make their dreams come true.
Now, I’m not suggesting that you keep something so important from your family and friends, but I am suggesting that you pay attention to who you are sharing your dreams with and the type of feedback that they are able to provide. Someone who has already done what you are looking to do is often a great person to look to as a mentor. Talking to someone who has worked in a cubicle their entire life about starting a new business on your own may not be the correct choice. But in any case, follow your intuition. If you know in your core that this is the right path for you, then don’t let anyone sway you.
In any potentially major decision, be sure to plan ahead and speak with several people. You’ll undoubtedly garner some very valuable ideas and suggestions. But at the end of the day, be sure to look inward because you, Y-O-U are the only person that can make the ultimate decision and you must follow your own heart.
Dare 2 Dream!!
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