A friend invited me to join a newly-formed Mastermind group of women coming together to share, learn and inspire each other. I love this kind of invitation – full of unknown, it has the potential:
- to give me answers I’ve been looking for
- to give me the energy to take a step forward
- to introduce me to my new best friend, teacher, mentor, or someone who is looking for exactly what I have.
A group of 10 women from different cultural backgrounds, educations, careers, stages of life, and even continents.
10 women almost all of whom I saw for the first time end yet…
I felt an immediate deep connection
As each of us was introducing herself, I noticed an underlying theme: Change. Each one of us was undergoing a transformation:
- in the last months of maternity leave peeking at the next career horizon (that was me!)
- freshly retired with a satisfying, well-paid career behind and in a search to reinvent herself
- a young professional in love with her demanding career, looking to build alternative sources of income and develop side projects
- a scientist looking for her way to connecting to her spiritual side
- a successful artist switching gears in her 50s looking for her authenticity and determined to Own her No
- women who’ve been through a (few) career transitions and face new challenges on the way
All travelers, all international women, all seekers. As if we were meticulously hand-picked based on one parameter: in the midst of a transformation.
Are we so special? Or is change the only constant, so any 10 random people you pick, will be undergoing a transformation?
I wanted to stop the time and to speak directly to each one of these women.
That’s what I would tell them
Each one of us has outgrown her (old) Self. You feel the need for change, the need for movement. It’s so subtle you can’t see it clearly, you can’t point out the final destination with the exact coordinates, make a plan and outline the path ahead.
All you can do is take what seems like the next logical step. Then just be present and listen for instructions. Listen to your body, to your curiosity, to the strange, new connections and hints the Universe throws your way.
Don’t hurry. This is the kind of situation where a seed was planted. It’s there, in the soil, but it’s not yet showing.
But don’t get fooled. The seed is not standing still. It is in furious growth, gathering juices, strengthening the stem, pushing upwards, aiming to one day peak out of the ground. Very gentle, very fragile, but stretching upwards to see the light. 🌱
From there on, it will require lots of sunshine, lots of water, attention and care to grow, to raise, to show what kind of plant it is.
You will know it’s your plant, it’s your authenticity, but you won’t know if this is a tomato, an apple, an oak tree, or a rose.
You will feel it’s something uniquely yours, something you feel at home with.
Grass does not grow faster if you pull it
– an African proverb
So, what is for you to do?
There’s not much you can do. Just be there, be attentive and give it care and love. Keep watering the seed. Connect to other gardeners, other seed planters, other seekers.
Trust. The seed has all the intelligence in itself. It knows the way. It will eventually flourish.
And for God’s sake, don’t compare it to the plant next door. You don’t know how long it took for it to grow. You don’t know what sacrifices it required. Be in awe of what it has become and the time it took for it to develop.
Do you know how much effort it takes the little sprouts to break out of the seed? To grow its way upwards, upwards, to the warmth, to the light.
This is Growth
Growth doesn’t always feel green and pinky.
On the contrary, 90% of the time Growth feels uncertain, itchy, uncomfortable, painful, dark, lonely, cold. You know it well, it’s not the first time you grow.
Make sure you are patient. Don’t abandon it for the sake of something ‘ready’ you can acquire, or someone is insisting to give you. Whatever you start, it will take time, care, and attention.
Make sure to listen to the inner voice that’s sometimes whispering, sometimes screaming:
There’s more. There’s something waiting for you, calling for you.
– your inner voice
As the little seed, it will show you the way, it will bring the wisdom within itself. Eventually, it will materialize in front of your amazed eyes. It will grow until it’s in full fruition, throwing generous shadow and delightful fruits to you and the passer by-s.
Remember, growth is not always green and pinky.
Invest in Change. It’s the only constant.
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Photo by Nikola Jovanovic on Unsplash
Hallelujah Sister!!
xo