The Road, First Steps...

It’s said that every journey starts with a single step. The first step can be a physical one, like stepping out the door to a new adventure, or it can be an abstract, nonphysical step, like signing up for a class. Any type of journey can have an impact on you. It can reveal you to yourself if you let it.

My single step was signing up for a Teleclass, Exploring Your Life's Mission. I was at that point in my life where I wondered what was next, what my purpose was. I was, and am, happy in my life in general but felt a nagging sensation that something was missing. I expect that’s a familiar sensation to many of you. I think we all feel it at times in our lives for one reason or another.

Class 1…I’m excited! I have my new (paper) notebook in front of me, my pen at the ready, and I’m open for anything (or so I thought). I dial in to the call, wondering who’ll be on the other end, how many classmates will there be, and what, if anything will I “have” to share! Kathy, our presenter for the class, introduces herself and lets us all know that this is a safe space…that we should feel secure in sharing as much or as little as we would like. I’m undecided at this point...let’s see what everyone else does first.

At Kathy’s urging, everyone introduces themselves and shares a little about what they hope to get out of the class. We were a varied bunch from many different walks of life, and different stages in life, and, interestingly, many of us are looking for the same things. To feel satisfied when we look back on our lives that we made a difference, to feel more useful, we’re looking for something meaningful. Let me interject here that I truly believe that all of us, all of you, already bring meaning and value into someone’s life. It might be to many, it might be to one, it might be only to you. And that’s ok, in fact it’s great! Whether you’re a waitress, bringing someone their morning coffee, or the CEO of a multi-national company, or a stay-at-home parent, or anywhere in-between, you touch people.

Here’s some of what I heard in that first class (heard but was yet to learn):

Your mission is already inside you (and there are tools to use to uncover it).

Pay attention to your body and what it’s telling you – if you get lethargic, sick, etc. somethings not right, pay attention!

We all have inner critics, we tend to heed them but maybe we shouldn’t. These inner critics are responsible for the negative self-talk that often stops us from moving forward in our lives.

More on these topics in my upcoming blogs. Until then, let me leave you with a quote that’s helped me immensely in my journey:

Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love – Brené Brown

Take Care,
Ciara