We will all embark on our unique journeys, experiencing periods of darkness, bewilderment, and sorrow. Life’s path is filled with twists and turns, and it’s easy to lose sight of our true selves and our purpose when the road ahead is shrouded in fog, and our hearts are heavy with grief. But what if the answers we seek are not in external advice but within our souls? This exploration is an invitation for you to embark on a journey within to discover your inner compass and wisdom. Together, we will delve into the power of your heart and learn valuable strategies for overcoming life’s obstacles, emerging on the other side more robust, more resilient, and on your true path.
My Heart Was Aware of the Way Out of the Shadows
Fortunately, my heart continued to nudge me to find things I liked doing, so even if it was merely to cheer me up, I attempted a wide range of hobbies.
During the first few months of my new job, I would go for morning swims at the neighbourhood pool several days a week, knowing that physical activity would help reduce stress. Even though it required work, it improved my mindset and gave me an excellent start to the day.
To meet people outside of work, I joined a local women’s football team (soccer, for those of you in North America) since the job required me to move to Swindon, a place far from all of my family and friends. Thanks to the training sessions, I had something to look forward to every evening.
Even though I’m not very good at football (understatement!), spending Sunday mornings with my teammates racing after the ball on a muddy football field in the rain or shine was the perfect remedy for my bad mood.
I jumped at the chance to run the London Marathon with a charity through my place of employment. I’ve always liked running and have wanted to undertake the race since I was a child.
I worked out with two guys from work every week, come rain or shine, and the endorphins, friendship, and increased physical condition eventually made me feel like the happy person I used to be.
Through these physical pursuits, I was able to reconnect with my body and escape my thoughts. They encouraged me, helped me make friends, and quieted the evil thoughts in my head so that I could focus on more upbeat ones, which improved my attitude toward life in general and my mood.
The Value of Having Lofty Dreams
In the midst of my what-the-fuck-am-I-doing-here dilemma during my first year on the job, I met a woman who had been selected to travel to The Gambia in West Africa as the company’s representative. (Our organization selects one individual year to see its charitable endeavours in poor nations.)
She said to me, “You’d be surprised, Saad,” when I asked her how she had been chosen out of the 12,000 employees. Most people don’t even apply because they believe they won’t get selected.
I felt the flame of possibility flare in me right then and there. The following year, I promised myself that I would seek to be the company’s representative on its charity trip, which ended up being to Tamil Nadu in southern India.
I have always had a particular place in my heart for India, and I have always desired to go there for a purpose other than to travel.
I got chosen, reader! It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that fulfilled a desire I had had since I was a teenager. I toured water projects, assisted in building toilets, participated in community groups in isolated villages and inner-city slums, and generally learned about the charity’s activities in the area.
Even though I was still not in love with my job in London and the Sunday night cycle of dread never entirely went away, my feelings toward the company I was working for gradually began to shift toward thankfulness and respect.
I took this position since it was with a big, global corporation, hoping to use my language and travel/work elsewhere in the future. Being the worst business analyst in the world and still feeling like a linguist trying to pass for a businessperson made my chances look pretty bleak.
However, languages open doors that might otherwise stay closed, and after working and living in Swindon for eighteen months (apart from the beautiful trip to India), I was finally transferred to the international division. That meant spending six months in Paris and then moving to beautiful Madrid for two years.
I knew I had to leave the corporate world and find more meaningful employment that I was actually halfway decent at, even if I was living in my beloved Spain and using my language talents.
When your goals are clear, the path will become apparent.
The more time I spent at that job, the more obvious it became to me that finding work I enjoyed was essential. If nothing else, the agony of working so far outside of my “zone of genius and joy” day after day brought me a great deal of clarity on that front.
I had a lot of alone time on flights and in hotel rooms in foreign locations after I moved to the company’s international division, which was ideal for planning my next move. I began to plan, and two years into my time in Madrid, I eventually left the corporate world behind.
Although I didn’t know exactly what was ahead, I knew that I had to follow my happiness rather than suffer through employment I didn’t enjoy. I enrolled in a Spanish institution to pursue postgraduate studies in Hispanic literature and Spanish language instruction, two areas of my passion.
During my third year of graduate studies, I was hired by a Spanish institution to teach English. During my time in college, I got involved in freelance work, translating psychology articles for different academic journals and university clients. I still like this job to this day. In addition, I began fusing my love of languages, positive psychology, and writing to create self-directed learning resources for online and language magazines.
Over the years, my work has become increasingly intensely rewarding despite its winding course. Because of advancements in translation technology, I’ve noticed a decline in my primary line of business, which is translating psychological texts. However, after twenty years of listening to my heart rather than my intellect, I’ve learned that even in uncertain times, there’s always a road to follow.
I’m continuing to concentrate on my passions and strengths, and I have faith that the road will eventually reveal itself—it always does. To gain even more clarity on what my heart truly wants moving forward, I’m going to write my answers to the next two questions in my journal. Do you want to do this with me, reader?
Step forward and radiate your light.
Go forth and be the most authentic version of yourself, my love. In both major and small ways, follow your heart to show your true self in your daily life.
Since we don’t have much time left on earth, life is a priceless gift. If you make small efforts to do more of what makes you happy every day (or every week), you will thereby illuminate the world around you in ways you could only have imagined.
My love, your heart is aware of the path. Stand motionless, listen, and make sure you follow its whispers.
Now, what one action can you take this week to follow your passion and do more of what you enjoy?
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.
