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Intentionality of Action
As I read FGB posts and hear from other women, I see a clear trend in facing ‘choice points.’ A choice point, as I understand it, is when you are at a cross road of sorts. When you are faced with a decision to pursue an option that fits the life you want/were meant to live according to your values or to move away from that life. I have heard other coaches refer to this concept and upon researching it, I discovered that it came from work created by Bailey, Ciarrochi, and Harris in 2013, in a book titled ‘The Weight Escape.’ The authors created a therapeutic model that essentially reflects intentionality and mindfulness in actions. Their interesting model is far more dimensional than I am making it sound, but for purposes of this post, I thought I would keep it simple.
I would imagine that there are many circumstances that can bring us to choice points. I made one in the past after a defining conversation I had with a manger, in which it became clear he did not understand the multiple complexities a working mother faced. For me it was a personal decision based on my own health and well-being as the stress of the grind was getting the best of me. To help me in my decision, I created a list of current priorities. And then – and I realize this is morbid – I created a list of priorities I would have if I only had one year left to live. I cried when I looked at the priorities that I had lost sight of when I was in the throws of work. How had I let myself get to that point? How was I to get back to the life I was meant to lead?
This one choice point created several more, I found. To manage the complexity, I set goals. Some short and some longer term that would get me back on track. Those goals were modified along the way as I intentionally considered what was working and not working for me. I am still a work in -progress but I am in a place where I know what my TRUE priorities are and I can make decisions that best align with those.
What choice points have you faced in your career? How did you make a decision that was best for you?
Thanks for sharing such heartfelt insights! I went through something similar, started my own business, and have evolved into coaching. I have had to reevaluate priorities again in 2020 like most everyone else. Being intentional about where I focus my energy is what keeps me going.
Truth: I re-wrote the post several times before sharing, as it is not always easy to be open about aspects of our lives. Another truth: 2020 has been rough. The uncertainty that 2020 presents makes it difficult to be intentional, but it also makes it all the more necessary.
Good luck with your business! Thanks for replying!