How I got out of the waiting room
As spring approaches, I have been struck by the number of conversations I have been having with people around me who want something different. Not small changes or life tweaks, but a deep-routed change. Dreaming big, wanting more from life than they are currently experiencing.
On paper everything looks great. The title, good job, nice home, great friends, a happy family. However, there is a feeling of being stuck, that something is missing, and a strong yearning for something to happen and life to be different.
As one coaching client recently put it, they felt stuck in a waiting room with their dreams, waiting for life to begin.
I have been here, read the blog on my journey, on my website – Who am I. For a long time, I felt life was happening to me. That was until someone very wise reminded me it was in my power to make conscious decisions and explore the choices I had around me. To create the life I now have, wanted, and truly fulfils me.
So how do you exit the waiting room?
It may sound obvious, but acknowledge that change is hard. It is not comfortable and there is the fear of the unknown. BREATH. Allow yourself time to understand you are not in danger and it is safe to move forward and explore your dreams.
Pause and reflect on where you are right now, what feels good, what is less comfortable, what are you avoiding saying out loud? Does everything need to change or are only tweaks needed?
Visualise your future. What are you really dreaming of? What would you do if you could do anything? Being mindful of what you really want allows for mindful choices.
Be honest and unapologetic about what you really want and separate this from what others expect and want for you. Change creates a lot of external noise. Dial down what is not helpful for you.
Notice what if anything is holding you back - fear, guilt, shame, judgement, failure. I would encourage you to work with a coach to unlock any limiting beliefs you hold. Disclaimer, this takes work and where the magic really starts to happen. What is your inner voice saying? What is holding you back? What is making you feel this way? What needs to change for you to be able to welcome change?
The more time we spend getting clear on where we are right now, what is holding us back and where we truly want to be, the easier it becomes to realise our dreams. This is a journey, one that may take time. However, making conscious decisions nudges us closer every day.
I love doing this work with my clients, helping them articulate their dreams, exploring and resolving what fears are holding them back and helping providing clarity on their journey to get there.
You deserve to achieve your dreams. But take your time, embrace the journey as much as the dream you desire for yourself. This is about you creating your dream, your way!
