This morning, I felt some resistance to “work.” My mind was telling me “It’s Monday. You should go and work at your desk. This is the way workdays are supposed to be.”
My body wanted to stay in bed. Instead of fighting it, I reluctantly surrendered to it, while judging myself as “lazy” and “unproductive.”
Then, I started to journal.
And then I got inspired to watch a training video from my bed, so I brought my laptop. I felt a surge of inspiration again.
Then, I said, “what about I wrote this LinkedIn post.”
And then, I emailed my assistant.
And now, I’m feeling motivated to take on other tasks…that I was resisting earlier.
…all from bed.
It’s 2pm. I’ve not eaten yet. (It’s probably time now!) But I’m being productive and inspired… from my bed and in my PJs.
I found my inspiration from my bed.
If I had forced myself to do my usual Monday routine and go to my desk, I would probably not have accomplished as much as I did. I would probably still be beating myself up for not being productive.
Why am I sharing this?
Well, it is extremely hard to take action and be productive from a place of “should.” It is actually the most counterproductive thing to do.
Yet, many of us do it. We are trained to follow the “shoulds” and the “rules.”
– What work is supposed to look like.
– What Monday and a workday are supposed to be
– What “being productive” is supposed to look like.
Society and the work culture make the rules and we follow them, without realizing that maybe there are other ways, that don’t fit the box and that work better for us.
And then, we wonder why we are unproductive, and we judge ourselves as “lazy.”
It takes courage to challenge and break away from the “shoulds” to listen to your natural energy flow.
But, on the other side of it, there is inspiration, creativity, joy, and YOUR authentic contribution to the world.
You don’t create from a place of “shoulds.” You create from a place of freedom from the shoulds, inspiration, and aliveness.
Do you give yourself permission to challenge and break away from the “shoulds” to listen to your natural energy flow?
What is a “should” you can challenge today?
Even if you have a job you need to go to or a schedule you need to follow, there is always a place where you can find freedom from the “shoulds.”
How the Conditioning of Your Native Culture Impacts Your Career Choices
My interview on Dominika Miernik’s podcast “The Expat Career And Lifestyle” is LIVE!!
I talked about the Conditioning of Your Native Culture on Your Career Choices.
In particular, I shared:
▶ My story including how the conditioning of my native culture (France) impacted my career choices,
▶ Specific challenges on your career path that come from having a multicultural background (including challenges coming from the conditioning),
▶ How to start discovering a meaningful career in alignment with your true self, not the conditioning you took on,
▶ Strengths of your multicultural background and how to leverage them in your career,
▶ and much more.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I spent eight weeks traveling in France and Mexico this summer, for a combo of vacation and remote work. It was one of my 2021 intentions coming true and I loved it.
What I have not told you is that It took me two full weeks to readjust to my life in California after all this time away. During those two weeks, I had not much desire to do any work stuff except my clients’ calls.
I noticed last Saturday how hard I was on myself because there was business stuff that I had not done yet or important emails I had not followed upon.
Then, I realized how during those past two weeks, I was just not in an emotional and mental space to focus on my business as much. It is not that I was “lazy” or “unproductive” (as my inner critic wanted me to believe), it is simply that my system—emotional, mental, and physical—needed time to reset and reintegrate into my life here, after such a deep connected experience in my native land. I needed integration time. I’ve noticed over the years that the longer and deeper the experience is, whether travel, retreat, or training, the longer the integration back will need to be. And it is important to honor that. There is no bypassing it. This is a natural process, as natural as the change of seasons or the blossoming of a flower.
Being kind to yourself is giving compassion for that part who needs integration time, instead of judging it. Would you judge a flower for the time it takes to blossom? or the seasons for the process it takes to go from one to the next?
Well, now I feel at peace with exactly where I am at, what I’ve done and what I’ve not done yet. I feel relaxed about it and know that all will be done in its natural timing. My energy and motivation to invest in my life and business in California are back. They just went back naturally when I was ready, without forcing it or trying to make it happen. As things happen in nature. Organically and effortlessly.
Are you letting things unfold in their own natural timing or are you forcing things to happen before the timing is right?
Are you going with the flow of the river of life while taking the necessary actions you are called to take–this does not mean being passive–, or are you trying to push against the flow of the river in your life?
The second option is exhausting, will make everything hard, and will often not get you where you want to go. Rather the opposite.
Wishing you kindness and compassion towards yourself.
As I went to the beach after work on Monday, I saw sea turtles coming out of the Ocean. At first, two, three, four… and then a total of twenty! It was magical.
Working on an exciting brand new training during the day (more to be revealed soon!) and swimming with turtles in Maui after my workday is my dream career + lifestyle combined.
Yes! Maui… This is where I am for three weeks.
Travelling and working remotely has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I’m taking steps to make it happen this year.
What is yours?
If you could have ANY combo of work + lifestyle you want, what would that be?
Where would you live?
Where would you work? When?
What would your ideal schedule look like?
How would you spend your time outside of your working hours?
What would you work on?
Imagine it ALL. Exactly as you want it. On your terms. Whatever they are.
If you already have it, what is the next thing you are longing for? More balance? More freedom? More time with the people you care about? More time to travel?
Manifesting it starts with visualizing it! It’s how I start every single time. Getting really clear about what I truly want, NOT what I should want to “look good” or to “appear successful” according to external standards of success, but what my heart truly desires for my fulfillment.
Doing work that lights you up and makes a difference in the world is also about having the lifestyle, freedom, and balance you want, on your terms! What is the point of doing work you love or being very successful if you are living a life in conflict with your values?
To your next-level dream career and life,
Isabelle
P.S. If you or someone you know need help clarifying and stepping into your next-level dream career and lifestyle, I’ve space for 2 new private clients at my current pricing. Apply here to explore working together.
and I’m surprisingly excited about it. (the one-way ticket)
NOT because I want to stay indefinitely in France or move back there.
I don’t.
California is my home. At least for now. Even if France is very dear to my heart; It will always be.
I bought a one-way ticket because of some unknowns related to the US Covid travel ban. Whether I’ll be able to come back directly to the US or if I’ll have to spend 14 days in a country outside of the Schengen area.
(No matter what happens, I’ll be working and meeting my clients remotely, which is my joy.)
I’m realizing I LOVE one-way tickets!!! It feels SO good.
It means… FREEDOM.
Going with the flow Going with my desires Deciding when I want to come back. Letting things unfold and deciding from the unfoldment.
I LOVE living my life this way.
Open-ended Going with the flow With space for the unfoldment of what wants to emerge
This is where the magic happens.
In the unknown In the open space Where everything is possible.
Not in the constraints or the confinement or the preset and preplanned
It feels safer BUT it limits possibilities and creativity.
Let me ask you:
Where do you limit creativity and possibility out of fear of the unknown or clinging to safety?
In your career? in your life?
Where do you cling so tightly to safety that you have been stuck in the same place for years or even decades?
Where can you let loose to make space for the new?
Where do you plan things so tightly or you want things to unfold a certain way that you don’t allow anything new to enter your life?
Where do you sacrifice JOY and your heart desires for SAFETY?
This is why so many people are unhappy and never go for their dreams and desires.
Is that YOU?
Ask yourself honestly.
Change starts with self-honesty. Not denial
It takes courage but this is the path to the career and lifestyle of your dreams.
This is the path I’ve taken over and over again. This is the path my clients take to reach their dream careers.
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It means… FREEDOM. 
In the unknown
Not in the constraints
and around the world. 
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