Breaking out of the mould was never something I had to do. I actually never felt like I did fit anywhere. As the years went on and I moved from job to job, I always managed to make the next move, even when it was frowned upon by others. Being labeled fairly early on in my career as not being able to stick to anything, I spent a lot of time beating myself up and making myself bad in my own head around this.
What I've come to learn about myself over many decades is that I'm someone who enjoys a new challenge. I'm someone who gets bored easily. And, I'm someone who loves the experience of learning something new.
So, now I embrace the fact that I love having different projects on the go, that I am writing my next two books at the same time, and that I am working on numerous new product lines and ideas for my business. This is what keeps me stimulated and thriving.
Here are a few ideas about how to live life on your own terms:
1. Understand what success means to you. It doesn't have to be a big house, fancy car, or corporate career or business—success can be exactly what you deem it to be. It might be going fishing every weekend, living in a small cottage in the country, choosing a career path that gives you flexibility and freedom as mine does, or something completely different.
2. Allow yourself to follow your passion. Take the time to pursue the things you love, even if they are unconventional. If you have an inkling you'd like to start a business out of a longtime passion, go for it. Give it a go.
3. Know that failure is okay. Not everyone succeeds at what they start, I have had many failures in my life. But, I look at them as learning experiences that have all contributed to where I am today. You will grow and learn even if you do not succeed at something.
4. Create boundaries and stick to them. Decide what is important to you and set boundaries that align with your goals and dreams. Never let anyone dictate how you should live your life. If you find you have unwanted ideas or opinions it's okay to say no or to tell people that you have a plan.
5. Take risks. It is only by taking calculated risks that you will grow. Saying yes to new opportunities that align with your values, dreams, and goals is exciting and you never quite know where they could lead.
6. Be aware of your emotions. You will undoubtedly come up against resistance from yourself and others. Stand strong in the path you've set for yourself, notice your emotions, and in particular, know that it is normal to feel some fear when you're doing new things. The more you can be aware of your thoughts and feelings, the easier it will be to navigate life.
7. Trust yourself and take care of yourself. Know that you have your own answers. Trust your intuition and instincts. You know what you want. Trust yourself. And, take care of yourself. Make sure you get physical exercise, eat healthy food, lose a few pounds if you need to, use mindfulness and meditation to reduce stress, and always look for ways to embrace your own mind, body, and soul. After all, you will be with yourself for the rest of your days, so you may as well build a healthy relationship with you.
Living life on your own terms is about being who you truly are and embracing it all. it's about creating a life that fills you up, not one based on what other people think you should be doing.
Now, as an author, speaker, and mentor, I'm living my dream life. Having published my first book last year, speaking on podcasts around the world, and working with clients, I couldn't be more fulfilled. This is my dream.
How did I get here? I kept getting back up every time I faltered, every time I heard my intuition tell me to get back to this work. It hasn't been an easy road and it hasn't been a linear process, not at all. But, boy has it been worth it.
With love,
