Positive change begins with finding your own story, again. In my previous blog on this topic, I discussed identifying what you loved as a child — before the world started telling you who you should be. My personal ‘basics’ were:
- I love to laugh
- I love to read stories about people
- I love to write poems and novels
- I love to play games
- I love to dance
- I love my family
- I love myself
We need to remember who we were before the world told us who we should be.
Step One: Identifying the Basics
- If you didn’t read the first blog, take this time to write down at least five things you loved to do as a child. Write them in the present tense.
- All answers are accepted because they come from your soul. Nothing is taboo.
- There are no answers that are too simple. If you loved to play freeze tag, write it down. That reflects a love of organized play and competition. You can use that information.
Step Two: Finding Your Gaps
- Read over your list. Circle the item that used to bring you the greatest joy.
- Write down how your current job/situation reinforces that item. If your item doesn’t seem related to adulthood, write down what it might represent to you. Example: You loved to play football in your backyard. Why? Did you love the competitive nature? What position did you most love to play? Were you the quarterback? Did you love to lead others? Did you play every position because you loved variety? Ask questions until you figure out the passion behind the activity.
- Pinpointing the “thing you love” that isn’t reinforced in your current job/life, reveals your “gap.”
Step Three: Determining Next Steps
- Having established your gap, brainstorm ways you can incorporate the missing item back into your life. For example: I love to laugh, but laughter had very little to do with my work. Therefore, I started a blog for women that is humorous so that I’m writing something funny every single day.
- Come up with a single action that will incorporate your “love” back into your life. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of writing but don’t have the time to write the great American novel. Decide to write a 30 page e-book on your topic, or a column in your company’s newsletter. Write notes to your friends and loved ones, or respond to at least one blog a day with your thoughts.
Changing your story is most frequently a journey home.
If you make the change journey too overwhelming, you’ll dream big but do little.
You don’t have to make life-changing decisions to reconnect to your passion. Just find small ways, on a daily basis, to work the things you love back into your life.
I wish somebody had told me this three years ago when I tried to change everything and developed paralysis of the spirit. Through this I’ve learned to take one step at a time, not in the direction of something new and shiny but in the direction of my soul.
You might not know what you want to do, but your heart and soul have never lost touch with your true purpose. Move in their direction, and you’ll find your way back to change.