The other day I was coaching Emily, a bright and self-aware woman who's recently stepped up to a very big plate she wants to take her business to the next level. Her decision holds the potential for many rich and fulfilling rewards, but also contains a rather steep learning curve, an increase in pressure and of course much higher stakes. Interestingly enough, as she meets her days with passion and excitement, she also notices an increase in how easily she gets triggered and upset by seemingly mundane events that throw her off and make her constantly question her ability to succeed.
Emily is a consultant who works in the education system, but she's also single and very much wants to be in a longterm relationship. When immersed in her work with others, all she seems to notice is how happy and successfully married her coworkers are. Then she feels jealous, and begins to question her life, as if she's "missed the boat."
When she was describing her experience to me and musing about how painfully distracting it was, she asked me, "What do you think the universe is trying to tell me?"
I then proceeded to take a very deep breath and respond. I said, "The universe. . . well, not exactly. I think it's your life." Then I told her that while it might make it easier to blame her confused feelings on a booming message from the universe, I thought it was her life speaking to her.
I firmly believe every day, your life does speak to you, sometimes in quiet ways, and sometimes like a 2 X 4 on the head. In Emily's case, I think some older part of her wants permission to abandon her audacious dream of an international career and focus instead on finding the relationship that her childhood, and culture taught her would be her ultimate fulfillment. Poised on the brink of success, understandably Emily is scared.
Learning to listen to your life offers you the gift of valuable feedback from a very reliable source: YOU! The art of life is to discern what the information means and what to do with it. The opportunity for Emily is to examine her fears, her old beliefs and what's getting in her way not to get caught up believing one choice over the other, marriage over career, or career over marriage is the answer.
Ultimately, Emily has to find her own answers about what her life is telling her, as do we all. I believe being courageous enough to ask the question creates the foundation we need in our lives to be successful on all levels. So, what is your life telling you?
It's YOUR life. . . imagine the possibilities!