Navigating Crossroads: Trusting Your Gut and Finding Joy in What You Do
Denesha W. Miller, ACC, MBA
Dynamic Leadership Coaching | Leadership Coach | Transforming High-Potential Leaders into Impactful Leaders | Empowering Small Business & Non-Profit Growth Through Strategic Leadership Development | DISC | AI ??| ?? Mom
Lately I feel I’m at a crossroads. It’s scary when you don’t know whether to zig right or zag left. How do you make the right choice? There’s no shortage of opinions, but I’m coming to understand that everyone’s path is uniquely their own. While there are common signs that can guide us—like what brings us joy or makes us feel drained—our bodies are constantly giving us signals when it’s time for a change.
Unfortunately, we often overlook these signs, I know I have. I have been ignoring my energy sources for so long that it feels hard to trust my gut now. Why should I rely on something so elusive when I’m supposed to know myself best? Yet, I’ve learned from experience that the cost of ignoring your inner voice can be steep: stress, health problems, weight gain, lethargy, and a lack of motivation.
I’ve been thinking about making a change, and it’s dawned on me that my body has been trying to tell me something. The signs were always there, in my energy levels and the things that truly energize me. While I know we all have to earn a living, it’s important to find ways to enjoy what we do.
In the mental battle that comes with finding joy, while still paying bills, I think I’ve found a viable compromise. We can start small with our passions, and they can be hobbies or side projects that are separate from our work. Maybe it’s worth experimenting with the things that make our hearts race. It could start as a hobby or volunteering our skills. There will be trade-offs, but work shouldn’t be our everything---there’s too much pressure in that. We could start small by building on the things we love.
That’s what I’ve decided to do. While that inner voice telling me to pursue my passions is growing louder, I find myself spending Sunday afternoons doing things that make me smile. It’s the little moments—like when someone thanks me for my help—that make my heart feel full. I wish the same for all of us because we spend so much of our adult lives working (90,000 hours). Shouldn’t that time make our hearts smile at least some of the time? Cheers, Dee!
Coaching Tip: Navigating Crossroads with Balance and Intentionality
Acknowledge the Discomfort: Growth is uncomfortable - recognize that this discomfort is a natural and necessary part of evolving.
Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to signs of stress, low energy, or burnout; they often indicate it’s time for a change.
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Find Joy in Your Work: While work shouldn’t be your only source of happiness, it should contribute positively to your well-being.
Balance Passion and Practicality: Start small by incorporating your interests into hobbies or side projects, without going "all in" right away.
Align Your Career with Personal Fulfillment: Choose paths that excite and energize you rather than causing anxiety or resentment.
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it's wonderful to watch your journey evolve. someone just told me to take the next step. there's no need to be crystal clear about all the steps to get where you're going. more is revealed along the way. trust the process. recently learned about somatic coaching as well -- it tunes into the messages the body tells us. listen to the headache, the lower back, the tension in the shoulders. instead of quickly erasing, pushing through the stomache ache, place a hand on the area, and ask, "what are you telling me?" and listen, speak into it, before just stuffing aspirin and hoping it'll go away. the body knows the score. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTefkqYQz8g