Waiting

In 1999 I was so ready for a career change I thought I would implode if my new path didn’t reveal itself soon!

I was taking many steps to support the career exploration process--doing informational interviews, journaling and asking the hard questions, conducting research, getting support, thinking big, staying true to my passion and saying no to a lot of opportunities that weren’t a true fit---but I had yet to land on a new path that felt so solid and right I was ready to ditch my full-time job as an established department head leading a robust marketing communications division. (Check out my Friday workshop if you’re considering or are in the midst of a career change.)

So being the type A, driven, “make it happen” kind of person I was then, I booked a vacation with my fiance to Huatulco, Mexico and told my new career path it had exactly 10 days to arrive. When I returned from our vacation getaway, I wanted the answer delivered in a nice neat package to my door (preferably via FedEx). I was tired of waiting and being in limbo. So as was my style then, I planned to force this to happen by giving the Universe a deadline!

Looking back at that time, I’m able to laugh now (I did end up making a big change in 2000—the year I launched Career Strategists, but this clarity came to me months later, after I was able to relinquish “paralysis by analysis” and finally let go of the fear that was keeping me from seeing what had been in front of me all along).

This teaching came to me in yoga this morning when I set my intention for the day and heard clearly, “Relax … and wait.”

While my larger life and career path feels clear, I’m completely up in the air around specifics like my new book release date, when to roll out some new revolutionary programs/events I’m creating, what my fall is going to look like work/schedule/location-wise, how much to travel this fall, etc.

One thing I’ve learned since launching my first business almost 12 years ago, is how essential is to take action that is deeply guided, as opposed to just taking action for action’s sake. It’s important to me to use my precious time and energy in the most effective way possible. I like to enjoy work, to find pleasure in what I do, to have fun, to feel synchronized inside and out, to flow with things, to work with people I love—and of course, to get things done.

The other day, I had tea with a dear friend and mentor. She listened to me talk about my strong desire to “Do it different” this fall, to work with more spaciousness and ease than ever before (read more) and she applauded my willingness to surrender and wait to see what this might look like. She suggested I consider the mantra, “Let me be willing to let go of what I think the world needs from me …” that really resonates with my desire to take my hands off the wheel and step into more freedom this fall (click here to receive our August newsletter on What Are You Ready to Be Free From?).

So for now, I wait. I wait for the answers and guidance from my wise self on how and when to do what is mine to do. And regardless of when the answers come, I’m committed to following the wisdom that emerges. Even if it doesn’t look like what I thought it would.

P.S. Each quarter I take a personal/business planning retreat where I engage in my favorite exercises focused on helping me determine how best to use my energy/time to support my businesses in the coming 3-6 months. I just started opening these up to friends/colleagues. If you’re a small business owner and this resonates with you, consider joining me on Sept. 16. I love these visioning retreats and always leave with clear, grounded direction.

Note: I'm out on a writing sabbatical this summer and we're surveying the Emotional and Spiritual Health of Families for my new writing project. If you have 5 minutes to tell me about your family culture, I’d love to get your input (and feel free to share with friends/lists): http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RXZ88GR

I love to hear from, connect with and meet The Journey readers at our events. I invite you to:

>Find Your Tribe: Join or become trained to lead Self- Renewal Groups
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>Pick up The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal from the library or buy it here
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>Empower Others: Schedule Renee Trudeau for a private workshop or retreat for your company or organization
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The Journey, a blog about coach/author/entrepreneur Renee Trudeau’s personal journey and living life from the inside out, comes out weekly.

Photo: The way-too-dry Pedernales River bed. Along with thousands of fellow Texans we wait for rain to come and this drought to end.

Following a Calling

I remember the final two years working as a communications director for a multi-faceted organization before I left to start Career Strategists, as being one of the most frustrating and often difficult, periods of my life.

I knew I was ready for something totally different, but I just didn’t know what it was. I was in the valley and wanted out—NOW! I wanted to know what awaited me and I was tired of waiting for it. One of the many inspirations that helped me make it through that period and get in touch with my own inner wisdom, was “Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life,” by Gregg Levoy. He shares that when you follow a calling, you can usually be assured you’ll be surfing waves of fear and uncertainty on a continual basis, but--you will never feel more alive (scared as hell, but living large!).

In many ways, I feel I’m back there again.

In 2003, halfway through leading my first Personal Renewal Group, I remember very vividly, sitting at a coffee house with my laptop in front me, thinking “there is no way I have the time—or even desire—to write a book (PRG members had been sharing our group exercises with their friends around the U.S. and kept asking for a ‘workbook’).”

Immediately after this thought, I placed my fingers on the keys and said, “Ok, if I were to consider writing this, what would the titles of the twelve chapters be (we follow a month-by-month format)?” In five minutes the themed chapter titles (that you currently see in the Guide) were staring back at me and I felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I remember thinking, “something is going on here and I have a feeling, it’s bigger than me.”

Fast forward almost four years and numerous life changes later, and I have made the (crazy?) decision to cash out our savings/retirement and self-fund a national women’s initiative centered around “The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal.”

Our formal launch is this month and the response to the program has been incredibly encouraging (when I get an email from a woman in Vancouver or Madison or Sacramento interested in starting or joining a Personal Renewal Group, it makes my day!). But, it doesn’t mean I don’t have many hours and days when I wonder “did I sign up for this?", “when do I get my old life back?” and “how do I sustain a national initiative emotionally and financially through its early stages?”

And the answer is, “who knows?” The first group I started was purely out of my own need to have a dialogue with mothers beyond what our kids were eating, doing or saying. And, to really explore and dive into what this transition means to each of us and how we reconnect with who we are. And, ten groups later now, I keep leading PRGs because they help me stay grounded and remind me about the power of self-care and who I really am.

Honestly, I feel as though I was tapped on the shoulder to help shepherd these messages along and all this just happens to be unfolding at a time when mothers are really ready for this work and to begin sharing/ supporting one another in deeper ways. Who’s to say what will unfold over the next twelve months. Whatever it may be, I am grateful for the experiences thus far and while serving others is incredibly fulfilling, I know how important it is to also keep my self-care and my family’s emotional well-being in check, too. (More later--this was a big challenge this past spring.)

I have always resonated with the phrase, “Life is not a business to be managed, it’s a mystery to be lived.” Looking forward to embracing more of the mystery this summer.

P.S. Check out an excerpt from “Callings,” at: http://www.gregglevoy.com/character_courage_callings.html. A truly amazing book.

P.S.S. If you feel your calling is focused around empowering other women, you might want to consider getting trained to lead a Personal Renewal Group. If you do, buckle your seatbelt, it's quite a ride!