"Bring your vision into reality through intuition and deep purpose" - Lorna Bevan
For a long time now, I have been feeling lost and confused. About the direction I was heading, what I was passionate about, and what I wanted to do with my life (apart from being a wife and mother, of course).
In the past I had many spontaneous and crazy ideas, and I was always fearless in putting them into action (for example, an organic cupcake business I ran successfully for four years, despite having no food business experience or baking qualifications!). I was also extremely confident about my skills and abilities, so much so that for my very first job out of Uni I applied for an editorial position requiring Journalism qualifications (that I didn't have) and was successful. And so there I was, Editor of a kid's magazine at 20 years of age.
But over the past couple of years I frequently found myself hesitant to take that first step forward. What if this is the wrong decision? What if this isn't the right career path for me? What if... ? What if... ? I realised I was completely paralysed by fear. Fear of making the wrong decision, fear of failure and, in a way, a fear of success.
Last Thursday I attended the Big Hearted Business morning tea with Clare Bowditch here in Adelaide. It was uplifting to be surrounded by so many creative and inspirational women in the one room! It was also comforting to discover, that like me, many women are also struggling to forge ahead through the fear, to be confident in their skills, and to build a successful creative career. Clare is a true inspiration; she is a talented singer-songwriter, a successful independent artist, and now also a qualified Life Coach at the helm of an organisation aimed at merging creativity and business (see Big Hearted Business for more and check out the awesome Inspiration Bombs!) She has worked bloody hard to get to where she is today, and she has also remained incredibly humble and modest on her journey. Clare's insight was honest, heartwarming and funny, and her enthusiasm is incredibly infectious!
When Clare had finished speaking to all of us, and before we all gathered together to talk and connect with each other, Clare strummed her guitar and sang a song. One line in the chorus in particular struck a chord with me (no pun intended!): "You don't have to be just one thing, but you do have to start with something".
It was the moment of clarity I needed.
I've been thinking, pondering, brainstorming, meditating, journalling and reaching deep down into the depths of my soul and I finally feel I have stepped out of the darkness. Today, I feel invigorated, passionate and alive! I have more than one creative project in the pipeline - exciting projects I can't wait to sink my teeth into. Hopefully I can share more details here soon!
I finally feel I am on the path to finding my truth, to living an authentic life true to my core values. And it feels wonderful.
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver
What is your dream career? Don't be shy! :)
P.S. For those of you who are struggling with fear or resistance around an idea or business, I found this article very helpful in working through it.
