What I love most about my work is interacting with others, being creative and making a difference but in recent times the growth of my business meant that my day was filled with administrative tasks, managing and marking assignments. Not so long ago it got to the point where I dreaded the day ahead. Whenever I got to this stage in the past I generally sold or closed my business down, deciding that owning a large business wasn’t for me. That decision though was always followed by a long period of uncertainty and searching for what to do next.
What it took me many years to learn is that dissatisfaction of any kind is merely a sign that tells me to reassess. Reassessing doesn’t have to mean walking away and making radical changes, although it could, it often means making adjustments. Feeling disgruntled at the thought of going to work was just a little nudge from the Universe that reminded me that I needed to get back to doing what I love most.
Your soul constantly gives you signs when you take a wrong turn. These signs can come in many forms such as:
- dissatisfaction,
- unhappiness,
- problems,
- opportunities,
- insights,
- dreams,
- even books.
When we get caught up in resisting, blaming and complaining we often see theses signs as burdens. When you take time to be still, open your heart and your mind, you begin to recognise when your soul is guiding you. Some people think they don’t get signs but everyone does, but if you aren’t aware you may not recognise them.
When most people feel stressed they switch off their intuition, then they feel confused, and they miss the signs that could make their life easier, happier and more prosperous. Sometimes what we love, or what comes easily, can be a sign to go in that direction. More often though signs come in the form of dissatisfaction and that is simply our soul’s way of reminding us to fill our needs. Sometimes signs come in the form of unexpected opportunities.
Christiane Amanpour led a sheltered life in Iran. She had no great ambitions, she expected to do what most girls her age did, marry young. In 1978 two incidents occurred that changed the course of her life. When Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew the Shah of Iran, people around the world were taken by surprise. Not long afterwards Christiane’s sister decided to leave her journalism course in London after only one term, Christiane took her place so that her family would not lose their tuition fee. While studying journalism Christiane instinctively knew that she wanted to be in the middle of global events, to be a storyteller. To do that effectively she felt she needed to live in America so when she finished her journalism course she went on to complete further study in America. When Christianne graduated she went to work for CNN and for more than 20 years she has been one the world’s leading foreign correspondents telling human stories of people affected by world events.
A simple unexpected opportunity led Christiane to a fulfilling career and lifestyle.
Problems can either be stepping stones which help you uncover your gifts or they can keep you stuck in your fears. When I first became interested in personal development, I felt that the authors of the motivational books I read led a problem free life, so I always expected to reach a point in my life where I wouldn’t face any more major challenges—I was so wrong. Problems are a part of life and everyone experiences them. Often positive people don’t talk about what is going on in their lives, so it’s easy to assume that their lives are better than yours.
Wayne Dyer said, and I’m paraphrasing because I can’t remember the exact quote, “When you have a big dharma (purpose), you get big problems”. Problems are not a form of punishment—they are opportunities to let your fears go so that you can grow to your full potential.