“It felt like you were telling my story”.

I want to thank everyone that took the time to read, comment and send me DMs following my post last week, many of which included words like the above.

I was blown away by the reaction - I had no idea it would resonate with so many people, for different reasons.

Some related to my personal struggles, others with the environments I worked in.

Many of the DMs I received were from people finally realising that they are not alone.

It seemed many had not spoken about how they were feeling before and that there was shame - shame that people earning a lot of money should have anything to complain about.

I find this aspect fascinating.

Why are so many of us putting ourselves through such turmoil?

The financial rewards from jobs like ours can be huge.

But what is money good for?

Buying things, sure. Giving us a sense of safety and security, maybe. Freedom?

Ultimately, many of us believe financial security = freedom, either consciously or not.

But we sacrifice our mental, emotional and physical freedom to get there.

And where is ‘there’? And when do you get ‘there’?

When the kids have left home? When you retire?

It seems that whilst we pursue this imagined future, we can slowly lose our identity.

We start to become attached to our work as our sense of grounding in the world.

‘As long as work is going ok, then I’m ok’.

So we work harder and longer and faster.

But for anyone searching for more meaning than making money and feeling successful, there is another way.

For anyone that feels they’re losing their identity, there is another way to be.

For anyone who feels trapped, there is a way out.

And the first step is to recognise where you are at.

To acknowledge what is really going on for you. Not just the story you tell yourself, but what’s REALLY going on for you.

And if there’s a nagging feeling that something’s not right, that you’re not completely aligned with what your life should be about, then know that change is always possible.

Always.

—----

They say the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.

The second best time is now.

I’m here if you’d like help planting your seed.