For the next 7 days I’ll be sharing one story a day about a woman who reached her turning point. I don’t believe there is a single “way” to transformation. There is only our own unique way, and only we can do the work necessary to achieve our own sacred success…

We all have them: Those defining moments when the forces of head and heart come together with crystal clarity and we know that what we’ve been doing, or haven’t been doing, is no longer enough. For some of us it’s like standing at the edge of a precipice looking out at the vast open space beyond; for others it’s like standing at a fork in the road, looking left then right, but not moving because we can’t decide which road to take. Still others of us feel that nagging vibration in the pit of our soul that refuses to be silenced.

These moments are defining ones because it’s then that we realize we must make a decision: to jump; to turn in one direction or the other; to listen to the voice reverberating from some still small place within us. It’s then that we reach our turning point. That moment when we acknowledge the need to do something differently; to let go of something that’s holding us back and away; to step into the extraordinary life we glimpse on the other side.

Since I’m sharing stories about turning points and transformations I thought it only fair to begin with mine. I had a number of mini “a-ha” moments over the course of several years from the age of 45. Mine were more like the vibrations I mentioned earlier – these little nagging voices that resonated somewhere deep within just itching to break to the surface. You’d think I would have welcomed these moments, but in truth I did not. They were uncomfortable. They were unsettling. They interfered with the path I was on and the life I told myself I wanted to live.

They would bubble up to the top, catch my attention long enough for me to realize my discomfort and then I’d push them back down. I wasn’t unhappy. I didn’t hate my job. I loved my husband. So why was I feeling this restlessness? Why was I feeling like there was something more, something I was missing? Just so you know, I’m not a woman who thinks the grass is always greener on the other side. I’m a big believer in gratitude; in being present and in the moment. It wasn’t that I wanted what someone else had. I didn’t know what I wanted. 

On the surface, my career as an executive with a national non-profit organization was rewarding. The salary was well above what most non-profits pay; my co-workers were great to work with; I traveled a lot, which I enjoyed; the mission of the organization was compelling and important. And yet, I began to feel a slow draining of my energy, like a hose with a tiny leak in it. It became more and more difficult to rouse myself to the level of commitment and action that was needed to do my job effectively, and that was critically important to me. Giving 70% when I should be giving 100+% was not enough for me.

I would entertain thoughts of moving on to something else; to something that would relight that fire in my belly, but weeks turned into months, which turned into a year, then two, and I was still standing at that fork in the road. I was working long hours, taking care of my elderly mom, newly remarried, and a foster parent to boot. I was so busy I didn’t have time to sit down and really ask myself if this was what I wanted for my life.

 It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with a serious and progressive illness that I reached my full blown “a-ha” moment. I wasn’t at a fork in the road any longer. I was standing at the edge of a cliff.  It may sound like a cliché that it took a major illness to serve as a “wake-up call,” but clichés are based on truth. It often takes a crisis – medical, spiritual, financial, professional – to force someone to make changes.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could reach these “a-ha” moments; if we could navigate these necessary transitions without having to be in crisis? What if we listened a little more intently? What if we acted a little more quickly when the rumblings first begin? What if we took the time we so often spend on others to figure out what we want our lives to look, feel, smell and taste like?          

It takes courage to take that first step; to make that commitment to our own unique turning point. Are you there yet? Are you wondering if there’s something more? Are you unsure what that first step is, but you’re ready to find out? Don’t wait for that crisis to hit. Your unique and sacred path is there waiting for you.

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Are you a woman executive whose career is beginning to wear like a tight-fitting pair of heels? If so, this call is for you! There is still time to register for my free one-hour teleclass: “Your Turning Point: The First Step Toward Your Extraordinary Life Waiting for You” scheduled for January 12, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT. The only thing you need to commit to is 60 minutes of your time, and I’d love to have you be a part of the conversation and the journey.  You can learn more by following this link: http://www.evelynkalinosky.com/yourturningpoint.

 

Tagged as: authenticity, Business, Identity, Life, Professional Women, Transitions, Women Executives