There was no tipping point or cathartic event. It was the realization that I wasn’t living a life in line with who I wanted to be.
You Are Not Exactly Where You Are Meant to Be
There is a phrase that tends to surface when life feels uncertain, when momentum slows, or when we quietly question the path we are on. It’s a free pass that lets you off the hook when things aren’t going your way.
“You are exactly where you are meant to be right now.”
It is usually offered with good intentions. It gives us a false sense of comfort that there is order in chaos, but IMHO, that phrase does more harm than good. It asks us to stop asking questions at the very moment we should be paying closer attention.
It’s time to question the value of this statement that we don’t even think twice about. It is not a mantra to be tattooed on your body, or a sign to give you peace that you put on your wall. It is a dangerous, self-limiting belief that needs to shift.
You are not exactly where you are meant to be. You are simply ‘where you are’ right now.
That distinction matters. Where you are today is not a reflection of destiny or failure. It is simply a snapshot of the current state of the union. It is nothing more than the current sliver of reality. Whether things are going well or not, the only guarantee is that they will change.
Entering year 5 of making a mid-life leap into self-employment wasn’t the popular choice. It has been scary and exhilarating, but I’ve started again every time I gave up.
For me, resilience is the thread that keeps momentum from grinding to a halt. As I wrote in Human Being Human, “Courage is a moment, resilience is a movement towards continual mindfulness”. Courage may happen in a single decision. Resilience comes from the repeated attention you give to your life, the conscious choices you make again and again, the willingness to notice and act.
You are where you are right now. Nothing more, nothing less.
That statement carries no judgment. It does not imply failure or success. It simply tells the truth.
And truth, unlike comfort, gives you options.
From here, you get to decide what comes next. You can take one small step. You can set a boundary. You can say no to something that no longer fits. You can explore an opportunity you once dismissed. Notice and name what feels off. One small act of awareness can begin to shift the path of your life.
You do not owe loyalty to a version of yourself or a version of your life that no longer fits. You do not owe adherence to expectations you never consciously agreed to. You do not need to wait for permission to course correct. You are allowed to decide differently, to act differently, and to imagine differently.
This is the starting point. Acceptance without resignation. Awareness without judgment.
Courage to notice and resilience to move toward alignment. The life you are building is yours to shape. The life you tolerate is not.
You are where you are right now. From here, you get to decide what comes next.
Every post, email, and feeling I have about business ends with the word ‘Onward’. Whether it’s a win or a setback, continue…
Onward
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