Have you ever experienced feeling lost? That sense of uncertainty that causes you to pause, look around, and wonder how did I get here and what do I do next? I’m shuddering as I recount the number of times this has happened to me. Sometimes it happens when I’m driving, caught up in thought or conversation when I’m launched into the awareness that I’m not sure where I am. Fret not, even when lost on the roads, I manage to stay calm. Consider yourself safe if you pass me looking around from behind the wheel of my car. This type of being lost is easily fixed with a GPS or Waze. Phew! Other times, and certainly more significantly, this has happened to me at inflection points at work and at home.
“The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.”
– Mark Twain.
A moment of overwhelm creeps in when I find myself lacking clarity and indecisiveness about what to do when in a quandary. Earlier in my career and my parental journey the overwhelm could last for an extended period of time, lacking any kind of benefit for myself or others who depended on me. Typing an address into an app wouldn’t solve it but thankfully, I learned how to identify my internal GPS and this is where I look for guidance so that I can choose a path forward that is clear and fulfilling. It is also known as purpose.
While working through my professional coaching training and certification with Co-Active Training Institute (CTI) there was a module called Fulfillment. Prior to the start, I was intrigued. By the end, I was empowered. We learned how to visualize a future state that captured our contributions along life’s journey. The elements of this visualization generated feelings and words that could be translated into a simple statement articulated in the form of a metaphor or billboard. It could take several iterations, but once landed it resonated so deeply that you could feel the personal connection. I chose to articulate my purpose through a metaphor: I am the match that ignites the flame of possibilities. What might sound corny to you is so meaningful to me that it has become my internal GPS whenever I am uncertain, lacking clarity, or feeling lost. Abbreviated, I simply need to think “ignite possibilities” and the answers start to appear, one by one.
Last year I received the news that the wonderfully connected and talented team I led for several years would soon be displaced due to a change in company direction and a required restructuring. I was awake until the wee hours of the morning grieving the upcoming loss for our company, the team members, and myself. It was around 3am when I connected with my purpose and started to reframe my grief into thoughts about what possibilities this change and my leadership could ignite. I began writing down the new forward looking thoughts that began running through my head. When I was finished, I fell into a deep sleep. I won’t lie and say that the months leading up to announcement day didn’t weigh on my conscience, after all I knew that people’s lives would change. What I can say is that I was ready and I was prepared to be there for my team with the confidence that all would work out. After creating space for everyone to process their emotions, it was time to leap into action and begin igniting new possibilities through thoughtful connections (some seeded in advance), genuine care, and positive encouragement. Talented people are in high demand and there was plenty to go around from our team. Everyone landed, some more than once, and have begun a new leg in their career journey. It didn’t take long.
Throughout this experience, my internal GPS was there to guide me through the uncertainty that could have otherwise propelled me into a dizzying loop of emotions and inaction. While I may not have satisfied everyone, I am proud of myself for choosing to show-up and take action in a way that was true to my purpose. As for me, I have branded Sunrise Coaching and created a space to pursue my passion for sharing with others through this blog. I am also creating new possibilities with another wonderful company where there is a meaningful purpose. I am fulfilled.
– Melissa Law
