Carmel has a social work and aged-care
“Bingo!” A piece with a flying bird appears
background. Their friendship and support
and helps you put that final part of the
is priceless to me and they are still my
jigsaw together.
closest friends. I believe our friendship has
survived because we saw each other expose Some suggestions to help
our fears and insecurities, and we worked
you move along this path
through them together.
I wonder how many friends and
• Always keep in mind what life was
family members stay with us through our
like before the change, and how
challenges? It’s a bit like a marriage – it
life is now.
will survive if you see and accept even
• Always remember this question,
the worst of your partner. I now look at
“Do I want to look back on my life
my friends and family thinking, “Thank
in 10 years and find that I’m stuck
goodness I was able to learn about myself,
in the same unfulfilling career or
and not have to pretend to be someone
relationship?”
I am not.”
• Always have one or two really close
I imagine that if you’re reading this, you
friends who understand why you
may want to change too and move ahead
wanted to turn your life around. Try
in your life. Certainly, there will be times
to have people who come from a
when the path you’ve chosen will reach
neutral position, rather than those
a dead end - then you must return to the
you work with. Special friends are
creative part of you and find another path
those who listen, have lived an
that connects.
unconventional life and importantly
I must add that you’ll be fine. I know
understand themselves. They are a
that when we have the courage to move
rare breed - take care that they don’t
into a new stage of our life, things happen
fly away, or become extinct.
and the challenge is that they may not
I believe that when we have the support
appear in a structured way - but instead,
of special friends we can climb the highest
appear randomly. It’s like putting together
mountain and let your inspiring woman
the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle - at times there out. She has always been there. With your
will be heaps of blue sky and you think to
special friends supporting you, now is the
yourself,” How does that fit together?” Then time to set her free.
Sally Arnold integrates her passion for performance excellence with her skills as
a facilitator to unlock greater productivity and fast-track success for individuals
and teams through her award-winning coaching programs for performance
improvement. Sally is particularly interested in the field of work life balance and career
reinvigoration, the subjects of her book ‘Creating Encores – A Wake Up Call for Women
Leaders’. www.creatingencores.co.
CLICK HERE to book a 15-minute Power Coaching Session with Sally.
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