A: At times making choices can be confusing and difficult, but you don’t have to know all the answers about your future right now.
I believe what stops most people from going after what they are truly passionate about is fear of the unknown. Fear of unanswered questions: How will I get to where I want to be? When will I get there? Am I good enough? Will I like it once I get there?
Most of the time, we have to make a decision without knowing the outcome. We can only connect the dots looking back (e.g. meeting him led me to getting my current job, which led to being able to buy a car, which led to…)
What most of us really want is to connect the dots looking forward (ex. I will call this person, which will lead to me getting an interview, which will lead to that job, which will lead to financial freedom, which will lead to owning that cottage…).
We all have goals and plans, but be open to the possibility that our plans can change and evolve along the way. I will use myself as an example.
You asked if I always wanted to sing. The answer is, yes. Now, not only am I a singer - I am also a Motivational Speaker/Songwriter and Columnist.
If you had told me 5 years ago I would be doing all those things, I wouldn’t have believed you.
Ever since I was three years old I wanted to be a singer. Throughout my teens I sang at festivals, concerts and went into recording studios.
My dream was still to be a singer. I mainly sang other people’s song because I thought my own songs were not good enough.
I started to get more confident with my own writing and the messages I wanted to say. I was told by many people that I should go into schools to share my life experiences, lessons I’ve learned and life tools that have helped me. I always enjoyed speaking and singing in front of people, but I thought ‘No, I just want to sing- not speak about my personal struggles and triumphs.’
Then, one day, at the end of one of my shows at a mall, a school principal approached me about singing and sharing my story with her students. I agreed. Now years later, I have developed UPower Concerts - a mixture of sharing and singing to provide valuable life tools in an entertaining, memorable way.
You see, we can start off with a plan, but that plan can grow or change into something that you did not expect by simply meeting one person.
Be open. I have learned that the HOW and WHEN in my plan is not always up to me.
I have also learned that sometimes we have to figure out what we don’t want to do in order to find out what we do want to do. That is why I love the idea of co-op in schools. You have a chance to work hands on in a profession to see if you like it.
If your school doesn’t have co-op, you can always volunteer at a job that you think you would enjoy. This way, you have a chance to see if it is for you or not.
When you choose your job/profession, the good news is you can re-choose if it doesn’t work for you.
Choose to do something that you are passionate about - something that you enjoy and makes you feel proud.
Until next time...
This has been 'my voice' but I respect that this is your life, this is 'your choice'
Keep reaching out until someone listens.
