Through listening within with care and seeking diverse counsel, Jill found her way from lost to purposeful.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events, or incidents are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Jill was feeling lost.
As she sat at her desk, looking out the window, her mind wandered to better days.
Her job as a marketing manager had once fulfilled her, but lately she found herself struggling to muster up any motivation.
Meetings and presentations left her drained instead of energised.
Clients she used to enjoy now make her anxious.
She sighed as she watched the rain fall outside.
When did everything get so hard? she thought to herself.
Jill knew she needed a change but wasn’t sure where to start.
Taking Stock
That evening, Jill decided to do some reflecting.
She pulled out a notebook and began jotting down her thoughts.
Why am I not excited about work anymore? What do I even want out of my career at this point?
The questions swirled in her head like the storm clouds outside.
As she wrote, old patterns began to emerge on the page.
Jill realised she had been brushing off her true feelings for months, powering through out of habit rather than passion.
Her notebook became a mirror, reflecting back on areas of her life that felt unfulfilling. It was not a happy sight.
Jill also took note of her physical state.
Tension had taken up permanent residence in her shoulders. Her stomach often knotted itself in anxiety. She was running on empty but couldn’t stop to refuel.
It was clear her wellbeing was paying the price of ignoring her soul’s alerts.
Something had to change, and fast, before she crashed completely.
But where to begin untangling this knot?
Listen to Your Body
The next day, Jill decided to start with small acts of self-care.
She showed up early to work, closed her office door, and did some deep breathing.
As she focused on her inhales and exhales, tension slowly released from her muscles.
Little by little, awareness of how she was truly feeling seeped back in.
Jill paid close attention to any physical reactions—a tightness in her chest, a racing heart.
Each sensation held clues about dormant emotions she had locked away.
With compassion, she let feelings surface without judgement.
Tears started to fall as feelings of sadness started to surface, followed by anger and frustration.
It was cathartic to be fully present with what was underneath her mask of productivity.
Jill’s body knew what her mind had forgotten—that unprocessed emotions had been taking their toll.
Reflect with Care
In her notebook that evening, Jill wrote down what she tapped into that day.
“I realised how much pressure I’ve been putting on myself. No wonder I feel burnt out!” she scribbled.
For the next week, Jill continued checking in regularly with how her body and mind were doing.
She treated each discovery with gentleness, as one might soothe a shy animal.
Her reflections shed light on fears of failure and lack of control that had festered for too long.
With compassion for herself, Jill accepted these vulnerabilities as part of being human.
She let go of judgement and instead focused on understanding.
What experiences contributed to how she now showed up? What core needs felt unmet?
Answers began emerging from the fog like the sun after a rain.
Seek Different Perspectives
One night, over dinner with a good friend, Jill decided to talk through what she had learned so far.
Her friend listened without interruption, then offered an outsider’s view.
“You do seem really tense lately. Is something wrong at work?”
Hearing her concerns reflected back humbled Jill.
She realised how much her internal experience contrasted with what others observed.
Their discussion brought clarity around behaviours like micromanaging projects out of fear of failure.
Jill knew seeking more feedback would provide much-needed perspective.
So over the next few weeks, she had caring conversations with family, colleagues, and reports.
Their perspectives aligned with and expanded on her own reflections.
Patterns Jill was previously unaware of came to light.
She saw how unchecked stress manifested as irritability, which strained relationships.
This spurred even more determination to get to the root of what was out of alignment within.
Commit to Growth
With a collection of insights in hand, Jill felt ready to commit to change. She revisited her original questions: What truly fulfilled and energised her?
Where did she want her career and life to go from here?
The answers surprised Jill.
Her passion for creative problem solving had taken a back seat to checking boxes.
She longed to develop innovative solutions rather than manage existing projects.
An idea began forming about starting her own consulting business.
Taking this leap would require facing insecurities head-on.
But Jill knew that staying stuck was far more terrifying.
She resolved to keep prioritising self-reflection, even when the urge for “quick fixes” arose.
Personal development would be a continuous journey, not a single arrival.
Heartened, Jill began laying foundations step-by-step.
She accepted that change happens gradually through small, daily choices.
With compassion as her guide, a future of purpose and fulfilment came into clearer view.
A Life of Continual Growth
That was five years ago.
Jill now runs her own successful consultancy, helping companies cultivate creativity.
Through counselling, workshops, and keynotes, she shares lessons learned on her own path.
While committed to growth, Jill remains gentle with herself on hard days.
She practises daily reflection and checks in regularly with her support network.
This commitment to wellbeing allows Jill to show up fully present for her clients.
Today, Jill feels fortunate for the dark times that sparked transformation.
Through listening within with care and seeking diverse counsel, she found her way from lost to purposeful.
Her journey reminds her that empowerment lies in shining light on shadows and committing, each day, to becoming fully alive.
Key Takeaways…
- Consistent self-reflection is key to gaining insight and perspective
- Listen with compassion to what your mind and body are communicating
- Seeking feedback from trusted sources provides awareness of blind spots
- Small daily choices over time can lead to significant positive change
- Personal growth is a continuous journey rather than a concrete destination
- Commitment to wellbeing allows us to show up fully present for others
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