Over the past ten years, I have gone from being completely out of touch with who I really was to becoming fully aligned with who I am. Along the way, I tried many things to figure out what worked and didn't work for me.
Here are what I found to be most important guiding principles:
Notice what you like, how things make you feel. Your gut feelings are your best guide. Pay attention to what resonates with you and let that guide your work and offerings. Advice that doesn’t resonate with you will lead to outcomes that don't align with your true self.
Don’t be too attached to specific goals or outcomes. Especially in the beginning, your desires might be influenced by others rather than your true self. It's okay to start with these influenced goals, but be open to change as you discover what truly matters to you.
Aim for desired feelings, not things. Instead of focusing on material goals like a six-figure job or a dream house, focus on how you want to feel—free, secure, loved, and abundant. Material goals might not bring the feelings you desire. Always ask yourself what you really want to feel.
Moving forward is the only way forward. Many people get stuck in analysis paralysis or perfectionism, never truly starting their journey. Taking action, even imperfect action, is essential. Failure is just feedback, a part of the process. Research and plan, but only enough to take the next step forward.
Let the fear of not truly living drive you. One of the most common reasons people never really truly live is because they are fearful. The irony is I've found that the only fear that should matter is the fear of dying without having truly lived. That's what pushed me past every fear and unknown. “As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death.” -Leonardo Da Vinci
Everyone will have a different experience and you must find your own path. However, by focusing on these principles, you can avoid a lot of pitfalls along the way. Trust your feelings, embrace change, seek meaningful experiences, and take action. Your desire to live a fulfilling and mindful life is already an important start.
To dive deeper, you are welcome to learn more about my class Mindful Growth: Find Your Path, where I provide a structured template for finding a more meaningful path based on my own personal experience from lawyer to full-time creative.
Wishing you all the best! -M