Anxious? Feeling stuck? · Thriving Professionals Network

Anxious? Feeling stuck?

As I pass the year mark on my journey for a new adventure I feel like I should share some insights I’ve gained.

The start: Exciting, hard work, deep thinking, and exploratory. All of this and off we went to find opportunities. Applying and restructuring and applying more, wash rinse repeat. Hear nothing and hurry up and wait again.

Networking: I hated this idea being a private person, so we started. I was horrible at this and needed insight. I realized I had turned a part of myself off after leaving the sales industry and I had to find that part of me again. Unfortunately, it took me until October and November to become frustrated enough to start believing in this approach.

6 month mark: Questioning my decision, process, value. I was not motivated, my patience was gone and I forgot why I was looking to make a change. I had to find rejuvenation. I started by looking at my networking and how many relationships were meaningful. I refocused my efforts into people that I found like mindedness, posts that aligned with my passions, and work that reminded me of what I want in my next step. I started to give more during interactions versus thinking about what I could gain or what may come. I’m human and it’s easy when feeling anxiety and pressure to put yourself first, a direct opposite of what I enjoy doing. When I started to approach all my new connections through curiosity and how can I best support them my network changed into my people, my group. I found motivation in connecting with those who understand that bumps in the road make us aware, stronger, and are just a learning opportunity. I started to find myself again and all of a sudden I started noticing I was missing opportunities to be thankful.

When I realized I had been presented positions that didn’t quite align I would pass, but more importantly I was not recognizing that this was still a chance that was presented; be thankful. Instead of why didn’t this happen I had to recognize the positive of the opportunity to say “No.” Just getting that was an achievement in itself.

I found my network started to give me confidence again and that I’m on the right path. I’m back to cheering for others and not worrying about my time, I know it is around the next corner, but until I’m called I will continue to mentor, lead, and help others succeed and celebrate those wins with them.

Today: I have found joy again and it has allowed me to show up for my team the best I can, to continue growing others, and be the best version of myself. I have been able to connect with people who I can volunteer time and get behind causes that truly matter to me. I have been able to help friends with their ventures and realize there is more than one way to work in my passion even though it’s not in the traditional sense. Ultimately my goal is to find that opportunity, however I have been able to realize I can do more of what I enjoy by recognizing where I was stuck in “stinkin thinkin.”

Long post but I wanted to share this as I believe many of us have or are going through these emotions. We have fear of the uncertainty and it can cause us to forget the why. Find your enjoyment and recognize small wins when they happen. We won’t always have the big win when we want it, but stay the course and you will achieve it. As my journey has not come to a close, my way of thinking and approach has truly transformed and I have been able to reconnect with a part of me that has allowed me to build some fantastic new friends and build new connections that I can be optimistic about my future. I am cheering for you and hope your called up for your new adventure. Stay positive and find your joy in the things you can. The seasons are changing and you will be ready.

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