Are you feeling adrift? I so relate!
The American Heritage dictionary defines adrift as:
“1. Drifting or floating freely; not anchored
2. Without (clear) direction or purpose.”
Here’s how I’m feeling adrift. I’m sleeping more than 9 hours a night. I feel low energy, particularly in mid-afternoon. I’m feeling overwhelmed by the number of emails in my inbox even though I’ve unsubscribed to many and now have two less email addresses to deal with. I opened up space for more creative projects, and in spite of knowing what my next book in general will be about, I haven’t yet started writing it. Even though my phrase for this year is “Playful Creativity”, I’m being challenged to be playful or creative. My passion and zest for life seems to have gotten up and run away.
I’ve been coaching people going through a variety of life transitions individually and in groups since 2009. My inner critic is saying: “You teach people how to navigate life transitions and have a 5-step Art of Change Framework”, don’t you know how to navigate this transition with ease, grace and playfulness?”
You’ve likely heard the phrase, “we teach what we most need to learn”. As someone whose gone through many personal and professional transitions, I am STILL learning.
I recently handed over the leadership of a national non-profit I founded. It is now led by two amazing women leaders, and I feel like I did a good job handing it over. For example, I facilitated the strategic plan for the next three years with the Board, and the one-year operational plan for this year. I’ve worked collaboratively with my Board since launching the organization and left a very strong Board who work well together. I thought I was clear on the next steps in my personal and professional life, yet I am still feeling adrift.
Is anyone out there feeling similarly or have you in the past? If you are or have in the past, I welcome your thoughts and comments below.
About 7 years ago when we moved and did a massive downsize, I wrote about that journey and shared it in my blog- https://pamela-thompson.com/culling-again-yet-another-learning-experience/.
Would you be interested in me sharing this current transition journey and the lessons learned along the way?
I feel like you – adrift trying to figure out where I go next. I fought it for about a week, and now, with snow falling outside, I am going to ‘rest’ and let what comes, come. And what doesn’t – well, I guess I didn’t need it.
I would be interested in learning more about your current transition journey.
Thanks!
Hi Diane,
Thanks for your comments. That’s a great thing to do to ‘rest’ and let what comes, come. I appreciate your interest in my current transition journey. I will keep you posted. 🙂
It sounds to me like you are merely still navigating the feeling of having spare time, and freedom. Feeling adrift due to not having multiple foci for the first time in your life. You now finally have the opportunity to pick and choose what you spend your time on, and it can be overwhelming. I think your brain is still processing that you actually have the time to rest and create and to just speculate where to spend your ‘wild oats’. Take your time, is my advice, and spend it wisely, not in a hurried rush to fill it up. You’ve earned it!
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom. I hear what you’re saying and value your advice. Warmly, Pam