What did you want to do when you grew up? What did you want to be? Or maybe the better question is, who did you want to be? And are you that person now?
You had expectations for your life. Where you'd live, who you'd marry. How many kids you'd have, or wouldn't have. How much money you'd make, and how you'd spend your free time.
Or maybe you didn't. Maybe you just floated for awhile. Maybe a long while.
Either way, if everything had turned out just how you wanted it to, well, you might not be reading this right now.
Or maybe it did turn out just how you wanted it to, and it wasn't what you wanted after all.
Life satisfaction can feel like an elusive goal. Many of us find ourselves juggling numerous responsibilities, battling stress, and feeling disconnected from our own well-being. It doesn't have to be that way. There's always hope for something more. Better. Different.
The most helpful boss and mentor I ever had once said something (one of many somethings, actually) that has always stuck with me. I was working in retail management at the time. He said, "None of us ever chose this path. We just fell into it." And he was right. No one answers the question what do you want to do when you grow up by saying I want to work in retail! Well, no one I've ever met anyway. And I'm not knocking anyone who works in retail. I did it for almost twenty years. I learned a lot, from a slew of talented people. I learned about myself, I learned how to be a leader, I learned how to help others grow and overcome obstacles, both external (what the world throws at us) and internal (what we throw at ourselves). But ultimately, I learned it was time to make a change.
The first change I made was I quit drinking. Then a depression hit. Real hard. That sparked a spiritual quest, because it seemed everything had lost all meaning, and I needed to know there was a purpose to life beyond work, beyond play, beyond family, because none of it seemed to matter anymore. I read all the religious and spiritual books, watched all the YouTube teachers, went on meditation retreats, started practicing Yoga. And at some point I quit my job. With no idea what to do next.
Long story short, I found it, that purpose. I found mine, anyway. And then I went back to graduate school to study psychology and counseling. And now I'm here to help you find yours, if you'd like. If any of this resonates in any way, please reach out.
~ Michael McVey, Owner & Therapist at Paulson Counseling