Are you following your own unique path? Or are you living a life built on someone else’s expectations? We all have dreams, goals and passions but sometimes they become so blurred by the expectations of society and others around us that we might wonder how we came to the point we find ourselves at.
Finding My Path
I reached this point a few years back. I’d recently completed my business degree at university and had a great job in the corporate world lined up, or so I thought. Despite having great expectations, what I realised not long after starting my career was that the business world was just not for me. It didn’t excite and motivate me, it didn’t ring true to my values and most importantly it wasn’t something I wanted to dedicate my life to.
I wondered how I got to that destination when it was not what I really wanted. The more I pondered this question the answer became clear. I realised that many of the decisions I had made leading up to this career had made sense at the time. They seemed logical and my next best step at every point along the way.
The problem was that with every decision that had gotten me to the point I was at I had been living up to the expectations of society and the people around me rather than listening to my own voice and following my own path.
Listening to my own voice took courage. Even though I was unhappy I spent many months working away in a job that didn’t light me up because I was scared to go against the grain. When I did though everything fell into place.
Discovering My Passions
I decided to start following my passions and with it I rediscovered a love of creativity. I had been very creative as a child, and even as a teenager, but in my last few years of school and throughout college it had somehow been lost.
Set on living life on my own path, bit by bit I rediscovered what I loved and started creating again. First it was some crafts and sewing, next it was a fashion design course and today it’s living my passion every day as a fashion designer of my own fashion accessories label and running a website which brings creative people from around the world together.
My transformation from corporate expectation follower to path forger didn’t happen overnight, it was a gradual process that took a number of years. Sometimes the transition felt long but those initial years of following my passions were full of joy and passion and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
I love the creative life I am living today and above all I love that I am listening to my voice and following my own path.
Follow Your Own Path
If you find yourself in a situation bound by other’s expectations it’s time to make a change. Listen to your own voice and start pursuing the things that light you up. The moment you do you’ll be starting a wonderful journey following your path.
It’s not going to happen overnight but every time you take your passions seriously the closer you get. With every true interest you pursue you create new opportunities and get one step closer to living your life on your own unique path.
Photo Credits
Forest Road – By ManoharD on Flickr – Some Rights Reserved
Flowers – By ManoharD on Flickr – Some Rights Reserved
Guest Author Bio
Michaela Cristallo
Michaela Cristallo is a designer, writer and all round creative enthusiast who inspires people to live their best creative life at For the Creators. Join her to embrace your creativity and get your free copy of The Creator’s Manifesto.
Blog / Website: http://forthecreators.com/
Hi Michaela,
Thank you for letting us read about how your journey has taken many twists and turns. I went to your website and have joined you in the ” creators quest ” something that none of us should loose no matter how young or old! I hope to be inspired!!
Thanks for joining us Martha! It’s great to have you as part of The Creator’s Loop 🙂 Glad to hear my story resonated with you.
Glad to hear you enjoyed this Ross. I agree, there is not enough of this taught in schools. Children should be inspired to live their best life and follow their unique path from early on.
I’m happy I’ve discovered my path early too, I know some people go through many years of unhappiness before they find what was within them all along. Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂
Wonderful article, Michaela. I believe that we should be using stories like yours to teach young people in high school the value of following their own path from the get-go. I am glad that you found your bliss fairly early in your life as you have many years of adventure and creativity to look forward to.