How do you know when you’re ready to ask for help and receive it with arms wide open. How do you know when it’s time to grow into a new version of you? We think everyone experiences these growth times a bit differently and we enjoy how Mitch shares her current growth stage with us all. Welcome Mitch as our newest InPower blogger! – InPower Editors
The title of today’s story is from one of my wedding vows: When you wish to grow and change, I promise to encourage and support your dreams.
About 8 months ago, during a sunny walk with my husband through our neighborhood, I had a ‘moment’ where I knew it was time to ask for help. After 7 years of juggling the joyful demands of my family and running a successful business, I had begun to feel stagnant. I was ready for a new adventure. I could feel it. I said to my husband, “Honey, if I seem a little ‘off’ lately it’s because I feel this growing sense of stagnation. I’m not ready to do anything about it just yet but I feel something coming, and I wanted to give you some warning.”
I am a strong believer that my feelings will always be my best guide. I know when I am happy and thriving. I know when I have lost my spark. I know when I am in between. As an executive coach, I work with people who are doing their best to be their best, every day. It’s inspiring to witness and it also keeps me honest. It keeps me asking myself: “What’s worth working hard for?”
Over the course of my adult life, there have been different answers to that question:
…In the first decade, it was being a wilderness expedition guide. I relished moving every 6 months to follow the seasons– and the jobs! This entailed learning all I could about the wilderness and about people working together.
…For the next decade, I devoted my energy to building a thriving executive coaching business, finding the love of my life, and raising two great kids. This required working hard to learn all I could about being a great mom and businesswoman, and being intentional about the kind of family—and life—we wanted to have.
…The current decade of my life is focused on helping professional women thrive by being happy, successful and balanced in their approach to work and life. Helping women like you find your way to greater happiness, success and fulfillment is something I consider deeply worthy of my hard work. My wish is to help you tune into the genius of your feelings so you can keep your fire burning strong, and let the world benefit from your talents.
Back on that sunny walk in April, I knew I was ready to grow and change. I felt it. When I asked myself, ”What’s worth working hard for now?,” the answer came through clearly. It was to create WiRL—an online summit for professional women seeking career success and a balanced life. WiRL kicks off April 28th, 2014—one year after I felt that first inner flutter. Creating it has proven one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, but I was reminded why I’m doing it when I recently overheard my daughter tell her friends, “My mom is helping women! ALL women.”
My hope is that WiRL brings you the courage and clarity to keep dreaming and striving to be your best in work and in life. And that the collective wisdom of our amazing speakers will help ignite and fuel your fire!
Originally on: Women In Real Life Leadership Summit
Did you like today’s post? If so you’ll love receiving them in your email for a good morning infusion of InPower! Sign up HERE and receive The Woman Effect Manifesta, by Dana Theus, as our thanks to you!
