Image by Liane Metzler. Used under a creative commons zero license.
“But Claire, work is supposed to be boring"
So a family friend said to me when I told her that it was because I didn’t think law was going to be for me.
Read MoreImage by Margot Pandone. Used under a creative commons licence.
In my first graduate job, I was a employed as junior tax consultant for a firm that specialised in helping FTSE 100 companies claims for tax relief on some expenditure.
It was a small company and for that reason we were exposed to lots of what was going on. There was good company atmosphere, regular training and celebrations on Fridays at 4pm when we won a new client or piece of work.
Read MoreMany people complain about the situation they’re in. (I have, as they say, got that particular T-shirt)
They want to get out of a stressful job, live somewhere hot and have money coming in from several income streams.
But they don’t have the one thing that will actually give them what they need to start actually getting out there and making the change.
Read MoreWe can drive ourselves crazy trying to over think things. Going round and round in circles of loopy logic. Looking at a sometimes dazzling array of options or merely a choice between two, and a mundane two at that.
We meander through those 'wishful thinking' fields, zooming off on a certainty and then running into a very pleasant looking whitewashed wall.
How important is desire?
Many of us have forgotten how to desire; by the time we’ve been in our jobs a few years, worn down by office politics, trying to change and failing, trying to fit our current knowledge of what we think we could do into our existing lives, we just want to get through the day.
Read MoreWe look at people we admire and we envy them. We want their lives, their ways of being, their mindsets. We’re envious.
Envy is one of those annoying, uncomfortable feelings which you feel you ‘shouldn’t’ have.
I've loved travelling back to England this week, although I'd forgotten how much travelling can be tiring. I have a tendency to try and fit too much into a few days and it's taken its toll.
In navigating through the last week, I've become even more aware of the power and effect of self-care. It is really an art and if it's new to us, it requires us to practice.
What do I mean by self-care?
Read MoreI found magic in Venice.
What is this magic? It is the freedom of beauty in the midst of complicated decision making. It is being overwhelmed with magnificence, everywhere you look: history, culture and art, yet not losing sight of the wonder of yourself. And it is choosing to say ‘no’ to when the rest of the world says: ‘Come, see...what? Are you crazy?’
Read MoreHow many times a day does a person in your life tell you they love you?
3 or 4 times?
Every hour?
Never?
I’ve made choices this week that were reminiscent of choices I used to make when I was back living in London, responding to the demands of my job. Choosing to push on through and finish up into the early hours of the morning: get things done, fit in as much as I can. It’s left me drained and tired.
Why did I do this?
Read MoreImage by Thomas Nugent. Used under a creative commons licence.
This week I’ve been thinking ahead to my next move - to Tuscany. Another set of challenges, a change. I’ve been wondering what I’m going to do after that - do I come back here? Do I stay in Tuscany? How does that work with my two trips back to England over the next few months. Can I make it all work?
Lots of questions. This week I’ve had moments of fear that I haven’t got all the answers yet. It’s all a bit, well, open.
Read MoreBefore we step up to our most awesome selves, before we can step into the place of living deliciously, delightfully, uncompromisingly and abundantly - however that looks for you - there is often a process of undoing.
Read MoreI'd love to pursue my dreams Claire, but I don't have time!
So I heard this week.
I know how you feel. I was the same.
Read MoreI've got a couple of nagging questions inside me. I think the answers are a bit bigger than I think I'm ready for. They're niggling at me.
These are my two questions:
What am I not letting myself do?
Who am I not letting myself be?
Read MoreThat moment when I found a sunhat on at Accessorise in Gatwick Airport and knew that THIS was the hat that the person I wanted to be would wear. The delightful, fizzy little feeling I had when I put it on.
Read MoreMost people settle for something less than that which they really want: Why?
Read MoreYou’ve heard about these people who do amazing things and you know you have that itch. (Another itch story here).
So you ask yourself: What would I want to do if I could do ANYTHING?
Read MoreYou might have heard about your core being. The soul. The inner you. The true you. The authentic you. But you have NO idea how to get in touch with that part. You feel pulled around by other people and you’re constantly seeking peace. You don’t even really like being with yourself.
Read MoreI used to work in a shoe shop and, although, I would only work during holidays, I would occasionally be involved in the stock take. A stock take is a methodical appraisal of what you have at any moment in time compared to what you think you have - identifying discrepancies between your inventory and the physical goods you hold. We use the phrase ‘taking stock’ as an expression to describe the moment where you assess the situation, working out where things are.
Read MoreWe have tough weeks sometimes. When it all gets on top of us and we don't know where to turn. So how do you get back in a place of peace of who you are and where you're going?
These are my top 3 tips for keeping hold of that dream and not losing sight of where it is you want to go.
Read More
