Meditating, journaling, life visioning, contemplating.
I have not had breakfast yet or eaten any food. Just drunk hot water from the thermos set on my bedside table.
This is a typical Sunday morning for me. and one of my favorite things to do on Sundays.
This is how I tap into my intuition and inner guidance about my life. In silence and spaciousness of time. with no pressure to do anything and get anywhere.
A lot of the visions for dreams that become manifest in my life start there, from the comfort of my bed on a Sunday morning.
In my journal. in the listening. in the silence.
The vision for the O1 VIsa—US VIsa for individuals with extraordinary abilities—that allowed me to fulfill my dream to stay in the US and grow my business here started on a Sunday morning from my bed.
Many trips, retreats, and adventures I went to were birthed from my bed.
My dream of moving to California and the US started from my bed.
The vision for 2021 and for the next stage of my life and business are being birthed right now as I write this, from my bed in my PJs.
My bed and my PJs on Sunday mornings are some of my most productive tools.
Yes, productive. It’s what I wrote.
Staying in bed on Sunday mornings is productive.
I resisted it at first.
Like this morning. I wanted to stay in bed and have the spaciousness to meditate, contemplate, journal.
But a part of me resisted it.
A part of me was judging it.
That part was saying: “there are many things you need to do today, and staying in bed will slow you down. You don’t have time for that.”
The part that thinks “productivity” means “doing, doing, doing,” getting things done. Everything else is laziness and time wasted.
The part that was conditioned to think productivity has to look a certain way and that staying in bed for hours without a specific end time is the opposite of productivity.
What is productivity anyway?
Where does that come from?
Why in the US and in the Western world, are we running after it, all the time?
When one of the most powerful and “productive” guidance comes from the silence, the “non-doing,” the listening within, the leisureliness of the being and slowing down.
Most of my manifested dreams were birthed in the non-doing.
I am so glad I did not listen to the conditioned part of me this morning.
And, as a result, I’m being so productive from my bed.
Birthing the next dreams that I will manifest and celebrate in 2021 and beyond.
What is a “non-productive” thing you are going to do today?
If you leave the conditioned voice of “productivity” aside, what are you called to do and be?
As I was losing my job, I was also losing my Visa to stay in the U.S.
I wanted to stay in California and change careers to pursue my passion.
It was time.
I kept hearing voices telling me otherwise.
An HR person told me that “I had to choose. I could not have both: staying in California and changing careers.”
My heart was screaming at me: “no, I cannot choose. I’m not buying this. I think I can have both and I will.”
People were telling me: “What about you stay in the field of User Experience for now. It will be easier to stay in the US.”
I knew in my heart that this was not my path.
Despite the fears, despite the shoulds, despite the voices—internal and external—telling me otherwise…
…I chose the path of my heart and I forged ahead.
I went back to school to study coaching and psychology.
Two years later, I started my business to do what I love the most: helping successful professionals and entrepreneurs stuck in a career they no longer love, discover the next career they absolutely love, and the confidence to make it happen.
Eight years later, my business is thriving, I work with clients I love, I’m excited about my work… and I’m doing it from California!
If it was not for the layoff, I would not be where I am now.
Looking back, I see that the layoff was a blessing in disguise to help me on my path.
Are you facing a crisis that is trying to tell you something? Are you listening?
I’m where I am now because I listened and I did not choose the path of fear; I did not let the fears—inside and outside—stop me.
I followed my intuition and it led me to where I am now.
One step at a time. One day at a time. One victory over fear at a time.
This is what I tell my clients every time, to choose the path of intuition over the path of fear.
To do the work you truly love, you need to choose the path of your intuition.
Which path are you choosing?
the path of fear?
or the path of your true desire?
If you are ready to choose the later but are scared and need help clarifying the career you love, I’d love to help.
If you love your work but know people (spouse, friends, relatives, coworkers) who don’t, please share this email with them.
Isabelle
P.S. Erik started where you are now.
“Working with Isabelle has quite literally been life-changing. After a 23-year career in Project/Product Management, I was burnt out and didn’t know what to do next. I wanted to find a new career direction but didn’t have the first clue how to do so. During my first consultation call with Isabelle, she just reached me on a deep personal level I was not expecting.
Over a 4-month period, I completed a group course with Isabelle that allowed me to discover my ‘authentic self’ and truly discover what work I’m passionate about and what values drive me. Long story short, Isabelle’s course helped me see bad behaviors I had been perpetuating for years, and learn to appreciate the things that motivate/drive me. With Isabelle’s guidance and wisdom, I am now on the path to the career of my dreams that I’m excited to have for the next 25 years.
To say Isabelle’s work is life-changing is an understatement!” ~ Erik Z., Oakland, California.
It is bringing me inner peace as I start 2020, a new year and a new decade of my life.
I recommend this practice if you want to start 2020 with more peace of mind, empowerment, and acceptance of where you are in your life.
It may sound confronting or heavy at first, but it is SO worth it. It really works!
Try it and let me know what you find out.
It is like when you look at your finances. It may be uncomfortable at first, and then it brings you peace of mind to know where you are at.
Here is what I did.
It took me about 2-3 hours of reflection/journaling.
I looked back at the 3 past decades of my life. – 2010-2019 – 2000-2009 – 1990-1999
For each decade, on one piece of paper, I listed the main themes in terms of achievements and personal/professional transformation and lessons learned (work, life, personal development, travels, and any themes that are personal and meaningful to me and to my own journey. Eg. Living my life purpose, becoming bilingual, discovering my passions, doing what I love).
Then, I noticed the overarching theme for each decade and the evolution from one decade to the next.
As a result of it:
I feel great as I got in touch in touch with how much I and my life have positively transformed and evolved in 3 decades, despite challenges along the way.
I notice the evolution decade after decade, and how what I did in each decade prepared me for the next. I can see that there is a natural progression and unfoldment that I could not see at the time. Seeds planted in one decade beautifully blossomed into the next.
I feel so much clarity about the past three decades of my life and what the themes have been.
This clarity empowers me as I enter a new year and decade of my life.
I feel at peace and more accepting of where I am in my life, trusting that things are unfolding for my best and highest good.
I know that I don’t have to do it all alone: I can see a bigger plan and higher power at play in the unfoldment of my life purpose that is with me on this journey. I can surrender to it, instead of pushing, efforting, and complaining about things not going MY way.
I want that for you too.
It is SO worth it.
TRY IT.
and let me know what you find out by commenting below.
To you shining your light BRIGHT in 2020, doing what you love!
I have a question for you to help you start 2019. Probably one of the most important questions you need to ask yourself.
As I was playing one of these Facebook games (yes, I could not resist!), I received a powerful quote and I thought about you.
I thought you might need to hear this.
Here it goes.
Are you waiting for someone (your spouse, your parents, your co-workers, society, your boss, etc.) to give you permission to…
…BE who you are?
…DO the work you love?
…FOLLOW your dreams?
…LOVE what you love?
…LIVE the life you want to live?
Listen carefully. Sometimes, we do that in subtle ways.
If so, this is time to STOP.
Yes, STOP.
Stop waiting for others’ and the outside world’s permission to be who you are and do what you love.
If not now, when?
next year?
in 10 years?
on your death bed, when it’s too late?
A palliative nurse recorded the most common regrets of the dying and put her findings into a book called “The Top Five Regrets of The Dying.”
Guess what is the #1 regret of people at the end of their lives?
Well, this one:
“I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
“This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realize until they no longer have it.”
Is that you? Be truly honest with yourself. Stop and look within.
If so, don’t wait!
in which area of your life are you giving others or society the power to decide who you are and what you should do with your life or career?
In which aspect of your work or life can you be more true to yourself?
Slow down and take the time to reflect now.
If not, fabulous! Congrats on being true to you!
Are there areas in your life where you could be even more true to you and let go of others’ or society’s ideas and opinions?
Forward this email to someone you know (spouse, coworker, friend, relative) who may need to hear this message.
Whatever your situation is, say this out loud a few times with me.
Yes, out loud. Now.
There is a power in declaring out loud the reality we want. It helps enters into our consciousness more.
“I don’t need your permission to be exactly who I am.”
Say it again.
“I don’t need your permission to be exactly who I am.”
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