In a conversation with a client recently over coffee, I heard – once again – the painful (but door opening) story of realization of a top performer who – by resume – had a charmed career. From college to a swift climb on the American Corporate ladder, to finding love, marriage and creating a family and building towards financial freedom – in many respects, the storyline appeared as a Normal Rockwell painting. Then, stress at work, pressures with the family, and the final knock of the economy removing much of the hard earned assets financially had Tim fall into a deep somber where he began to discover a new truth about his life and world. Simply put, he realized that much of what he created was externally-based from childhood impressions, an unconscious motive to keep up with the Joneses that shaped his early-on decision-making around what he believed to be the right path for success.
Imagine getting half way through your life and discovering that your intended road to success was not built of concrete but rather terracotta stone that dissolves over the years if not attended to.
For Tim, this discovery proved to be hard, uncomfortable and with feelings of failure. However, in his moments of despair, Tim had a pin-poke of an opening of a possibility that his life could be rewired for a positive – a new journey that would be corded to his core values and beliefs. Tim had the courage to believe he could make a bold move – for himself and his family – fueled by an innate desire for an adventure he rarely allowed himself to believe. And, from that opening of possibility – he stepped onto a new pathway that brought him joy, fulfillment and a purposeful life and meaningful career.
It makes me think about how courageous are we to assessing our current situation and – if not desirable – being open to the possibility to make a change.
