* Identifying your destination and drawing your map.
The road I am referring to here is the one we choose for our personal journey and we take that decision in one way or another every day. There are many ways to travel and many roads to choose from, but whichever you choose it is extremely helpful before each trip, big or small, to sit down, become still and take some time to decide where you want to go and what would be the best way for you to get there.
* Finding someone to help you with the baggage.
Of course most journeys involve taking baggage along. Baggage can be a pain, it can slow us down and at times may even keep us from starting the trip altogether. So how would you feel if there was someone who would come on the trip with you, someone who would help you carry the baggage? Believe me and I am talking as an experienced traveler, it makes the journey a lot easier and more fun.
My own road to changing destinations; the hard way It was about 10 years ago. I didn't like the way I was feeling about myself, my relationship and my work. And while on the outside it all looked great, a loving partner of 10 years, a good position with Inter-Continental hotels, a generous income, wonderful friends; on the inside though, it didn't feel that great at all. In my heart I knew that I wanted a different way of life, to work in a different way and have a different kind of communication and passion in my relationship. But I didn't know what to do about it and in fact I felt that there must be something wrong with me for having these notions.
I wish I had known about life coaching then - but I didn't. After months and months of trying to figure out what to do, going around in circles, I went away for the week-end; I felt desperate and to relax went for a walk in the mountains. After a while I just sat down on a rock without thinking about anything in particular, I relaxed and became still. And suddenly out of the blue it hit me like lightning - I knew what I needed to do, I knew the first step.
Since my teens I had been interested in psychology and later on in alternative therapies (having been helped with my own health issues). And right then and there I decided to follow my heart and become a therapist.
I had a new destination and now needed to find a way to get there and draw a map.
Within a few months I quit my lucrative job, separated with my partner and enrolled into a 3 year shiatsu practitioners course. Over time I worked with some great teachers and coaches and studied a variety of methods and eventually became a life coach. Again and again I sat down, became still, looked at what road to choose next and drew a map.
And I had always someone next to me (a teacher, a coach) on each trip to help me with the baggage.
It has been a journey of many roads, all worth taking. A journey that step by step led me to feel good about myself, that led me to enjoy the kind of life I love and always wanted (living in nature near the sea, being my own boss, traveling, feeling comfortable financially), working in a way that I love and having the kind of relationship I always longed for.
Now that I travel light I help others with their baggage Now ever since, in one way or another, I have been working together with people that want to change destinations or find a better road. The journey maybe big or small, it does not matter, my first advice is: to always stop for a moment, sit down, relax and be still. Ask yourself where you want to go, ask what is the best way to get there, draw the map (and that can be a daily process).
And here is where I come in; Not only do I help with the baggage, I also help with defining the destination and drawing a map. My approach is to provide a structure where you can find your own solutions for your journey, identify your values, focus on what is really important to you and then decide what road to take and have fun at the same time.
To reduce traveling time, I will ask you questions that you may not ask yourself; show you how to identify where you have been taking the wrong turn and provide tools that you can use again and again on any trip you take.
How can you best decide which road to focus on?
Ok, let me take you through the 'Wheel of Life'. Just look at each of the areas and on a scale from 1-7 (7 being the best) note how happy you feel with each of those areas of your life.
* Career * Work relationships * Money * Intimate Relationship/partner * Health * Fun/joy * Personal growth * Recreation * Home/work environment * Friends/Family Now wherever you have marked 4 and below I want you to just ask yourself what would you like to be different, how would you like things to be. Then picture what impact that would have on your life. Imagine the absolute ideal (without any restrictions of how to get there and any ifs and buts), just really go for it; aim for the ideal for each area.
Then close your eyes for a few minutes and just connect with how it would feel to live that ideal; Become still.
Whatever it is, if it feels good then go for it. It's worth it. What do you have to lose? Get started.
Enjoy the journey, Christiane
A Road worth Traveling - To learn more about this author, visit Christiane Pohl's Website.
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