I find myself at a stage in my life where I am asking myself the same two words: “What next”? What comes next? What exercises do I want to find that will hold my attention? What comes next in my wellness and balance? What is the next place to go that can help remind me who I am, what makes me feel good in my body and what helps me achieve balance within myself? What is that next great find in my life that will help me round up something meaningful and enjoyable? What is the next project I want to create and chase in my quest for creative wellness? What is the next book I am hoping to write? What is the next thing to help me get to any of the next steps?
It’s the first time in several years that I have no next book on the horizon, even though I know exactly what book I want it to be. The words have not yet found their way to the page, and the publishing contract isn’t even in the works. There is nothing yet to pitch, though I know the content so intimately. While respecting the laws of divine timing, I keep going back to those words, what’s next? What is the next right step in any direction? The in-between space I am finding myself in, I feel the energy brewing. It’s all coming to a bubble, and I feel it, but the clarity I need to move toward it is not quite yet ready to make itself known. It’s an exciting place to be, not knowing exactly what I’m doing or how to get to where I want to be, but still clearly knowing the place I ultimately want to end up.
So, what comes next?
The answer is different of course for all of us. However, the quest for finding something that reminds us that we are alive, that we are healthy and can move and live in a way that achieves an even higher level of being…what that is, is not in the next diet fad. It’s not even necessarily in the next workout fad, though this is the area that I find myself the most anxious about finding what that next thing is for me. It’s not in any one thing. The only thing I know for sure is that I want to find what connects more dots for me so I can move toward the big goal that I know I want to achieve. I believe there is some internal work to be done before I make it to that place, and that is perfectly alright!
“The truth is we don’t have to have everything figured out.”
The truth is, no matter what age we might be sitting in, we don’t have to have everything figured out. We don’t need to have all the things lined up and so solid that the goal becomes so rigid that we miss other opportunities that might be waiting in the wings. I’m here to remind myself and all of you, that it is OK to be in a space of in-between and know that this is not a landing point. It is, however, a necessary rest stop on our pathway to self-discovery and building something new for ourselves in whatever capacity we wish to do so. It’s not being stuck. It’s taking a rest to redefine our goals and then make a plan when we are ready to make the next exciting move. What I want to remind us all is that it is entirely OK to not know exactly what’s ahead.
So again, I ask myself “What next”? The answer is, today, I don’t know the answers to any of those questions. I will find out when I’m ready. That old adage of when the student is ready, the teacher appears. This also applies to our path toward what’s next, with or without a teacher. It’s also OK to go it alone and at your own pace. It’s not always about the destination. Enjoy the slow pace for a bit and see how it feels, without guilt or shame. I think sometimes we all need that reminder depending on where we happen to be in our lives. Always remember if the rest stop appears, don’t drive by and wish you would have stopped. Take the rest. Sit in neutral for a bit. It’s all going to move again, and when you are ready, that path will appear.
Trust yourself and the path. You got this!
