“My work is so boring! I do not identify myself with my position anymore! I want to give meaning to my professional life! I want to feel energetic from morning to night!” If these few sentences speak to you, but you do not know which direction to take, then maybe my story can help you out! Are you ready to make the first step?
Eighteen months ago, I left my stable and well-paid job as a Human Resource Manager for becoming an entrepreneur in coaching and yoga. I have always had personal fulfilment as a drive, both mine and that of others. One day, however, the contribution I made to my last employer was not enough anymore. I wanted to act as Simone, not as “Mrs. What is your name again”.
At the beginning of my career in Human Resources, I decided for that specific job because we were working on projects that made sense, as they were intended to help the well-being and fulfilment of employees. But since the global economic crisis of 2008, my position had turned from “Human Resources Manager” into “Human Restructuring Manager”. After 7 years down the line, I gave it all up.
I reassure you, I had still prepared for this departure, or should I say this 180-degrees turn. This was not a decision that was made on a whim.
There were two distinct phases in my path towards a new career.
The first was the phase surrounded by the first feeling of discomfort and my last day of work. At first, we always start by complaining a lot about our work, daily life, employer. I know from experience that quite a few of you recognize yourselves in these words. One solution is to of course change companies, but many realize from experience that the discomfort tends to come back pretty quickly. Then comes the big question: “But what else can I do?”
This question I asked for a long time until the day I stopped looking in the wrong place. Let me tell you a little story inspired by the philosophy of yoga:
“A man under a street light was searching for his keys.
A passer-by seeing him do so began to search with him.
After a long time, the latter asked him:
– Are you sure you lost them here? – said the passer-by.
-No, I lost them inside the house! – replied the man.
-So, why look for them here? – the passer-by asked again.
-It is dark inside and I can’t see a thing …. but over here, under the light of the street light, I can see just fine!”
Isn’t it silly? Did you understand the metaphor? It’s simply about no longer looking outside for the answers to our questions. Naturally, we see more clearly in the outside world and we work daily to find the answers. This story invites us to realize that no matter how much the light of the street light is shining our way, it is still artificial. The key, or true light, is inside us. Although it is dark at first, this darkness is transformed into a soft and warm light that will not fail to bring us the keys we need to step forward in peace.
The practice of yoga, and of course meditation, allowed me to begin glimpsing at the light inside me and find the first key. It was it that brought me upon my training as a professional coach.
I then found a perfect balance in the search for my “But what else can I do? ” question. That was it – practicing yoga and meditation, going inside and receiving the deepest answers from my soul, coupled with coaching that allowed me to grasp over these new emotions in the outside world and evolve step by step toward my goal in a confident and concrete way.
I had finally accessed the big door with THE key in my hands. That door that allowed me to leave my HR career behind and opened me up to my new one as a personal development coach, yoga teacher and Ayurveda wellness instructor.
Here I was, ready to begin the second phase towards my new career. I found myself in a new room that was frankly still in the dark. It was completely empty and it was my task to make it light up, create the atmosphere, decorate it for my taste, use the desired aromas…
And there lied still a bit of shock. On the last day of my old life I thought I knew what I was going to do – I was going to be a coach and a yoga teacher. And yet, there was a field of infinite possibilities that were offered to me, I was going to be a coach of what? Life, yes, but there are still a multitude of different lives out there. Was I to be a yoga teacher? Yes, but did I want to teach yoga to children, beginners, pregnant women, the elderly? …
I then used my magic formula: yoga + mediation + coaching = answer. And since yoga and meditation had never left me, I just needed to9 call up my coach. Ugh, I just need to find out what kind of coach and yoga teacher I am!
And now, after a few months of re-introspection and re-concretisation of ideas, my first 100% Simone-made, home-crafted “babies” were born: Zen for Monday is one of them! It is your well-being break every Sunday in Geneva! And then there is the Yoga & Fun for children workshop too! Both are evolving in confidence!
Regarding my coaching, I still have very different aspects of it coming to me but all of them are looking for the same thing – to find their way back from the fog of life!
Am I going to stop there? Of course not, I understand that life is like a treasure hunt. The map is inside us. The outside world is full of clues that bring us closer to the treasure and obstacles that slow us down and sometimes make us lose our way.
I especially understood that there is a multitude of treasures to discover. Some more precious than others. As long as we are in this life, we hunt again and again, turn on the light and help ourselves to each one we discover, as we become a little richer. Rich in experience, maturity, happiness!
I wish you merry treasure hunting!
With love.
