"...the longing for awe as a path for self-growth and transformation is universal, a shared need to connect with the mystery of who we are." — Marcelo Gleiser, The Dawn of a Mindful Universe
This is benefit of Choosing Awe when smack dab in the middle of a messy season.
When we choose awe we embrace the tension between exhilaration and fear. Often these are messy seasons that ask new things of us. They invite us to look at things we've perhaps shoved under the rug and out of view. They also invite us to explore what we really want.
What am I putting off? What am I really afraid of? What happens if I move in an entirely new direction? What happens if I prioritize myself? What do I really want?
It takes something to answer these questions. We sometimes feel that if we don't have the full answer we can't even get started exploring what's possible. For all my A types and hyper achievers, there's a need to understand exactly what the path to the end game looks like. With that approach, there's no opportunity to enjoy the journey and often we don't even begin it.
Perhaps the better question is: what happens if I don't pursue my path?
When the answer to that question is more of the same, you know you've hit a roadblock and it's about to get messier. Any time I resisted answering that question, that season just got more intense and more drawn out.
Once you truly get that the most growth comes from those moments of tension, you can look at every hurdle as a signal that expansion is about to happen. It may not always look the way you think it should, and sometimes the lessons come later upon reflection, but I promise you, you will not have gone through those periods in vain.
I recently embraced my messy middle while preparing for Season 2 of Thriving in the Messy Middle and relaunching my website with more resources and content to support those navigating some rough seas. This was confronting, especially as I prepare for surgery in mid-September. And yet, I kept coming back to my north star (my heart goal): supporting those in the messy middle and making sure they're not going through it alone. So what I did was accept support and take the small steps that all started to add up.
Season 2 Episode 1 of Thriving in the Messy Middle is live today. Enjoy wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know someone in a messy season, share this with them.
Uncovering your north star or heart goal is part of the work I do with those I coach. Once you uncover what really lights you up, the steps to make it all happen really begin to take shape. We have this one big, beautiful life. Let's not waste it.
If things feel messy, naming the season can help. Take the Messy Middle Archetype Assessment™; it's a great place to start.
So grateful to be connected with you,
Amy P Wilkins, PCC, CPCC, CPQC
The Messy Middle Coach
