"If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it's not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take.
That's why it's your path." -Joseph Campbell 

Ever feel frustrated that you are, yet again, in the place where you aren't quite sure what your next step is in your career?
I have felt that as well...often, too often. for the likes of this ambitious personality.
That is why when I heard the Joseph Campbell quote listed above, I got the chills. It resonated at such a deep level because it validated what I know deep down. 
When you are carving your own path, it can feel discouraging because no one else has cleared that exact path for you.
There are people who may be doing something similar to what you are trying to do but when you are playing in the world of thought leadership, what you are trying to accomplish has never been done.
While you want to have your career and your impact be laid out beautifully, it often actually looks like fits and starts like this:

So when you are in that moment of, "what am I doing again?", how do you gain clarity? 
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1. Cut out the noise - This is something I talked about in my article "How to Stay Calm When Chaos Surrounds You" as I recently experimented with cutting out distractions and building in time for daily quiet and self reflection.
2. Set the intention - Our lives seem to go where our intention and attention go. If you find yourself thinking about how frustrated you are that you don't know what your next steps are, odds are more frustration will show up in your life. Instead, write down once every day that you intend to find definitive (such a scary word!) clarity on your next steps. Your brain will begin to index for that clarity.
3. Seek help - From coaching people for over 10 years, I have experienced the alchemy that occurs when two people get in a room and brainstorm. There just isn't anything like it. Either hire a coach or seek the help of a friend or colleague who you really respect to be a thought partner on your next steps.
4. Get moving - I have also seen that our brains tend to follow our body. If our bodies are stagnant, our thoughts can become stagnant. Get out and go for a long walk or a run or a class or whatever it is that you enjoy. But move your body.
5. Put pen to paper - When faced with a piece of blank paper, our thoughts tend to become more productive than in just free thought. What ideas are coming to mind that feel worthy of putting on paper? Ask yourself what is energizing you right now? What is draining your energy right now? What is a big dream you have? Play around - draw pictures, write bullet points, compose a song - whatever it is that inspires you to get the ideas flowing. (Currently I am listening to a symphony composed by Bach on Spotify!)
6. Be patient - This is often the most difficult one. But there is something to be said for trusting that in due time, the next step shall reveal itself. So, how can you show up and cherish the anticipation of the possibilities that are about to reveal themselves to you? 

Remember, true change in the world comes from doing things differently than they've been done before. In order to be one of these thought leaders, you must do this internal work to access the ideas and have the motivation and courage to put these ideas out into the world. 

The world needs the unique impact that you bring.

If you are interested in having me coach a leader in your organization to have a greater impact or lead a workshop / offsite for your team, please feel free to reach out. I'd love to speak about how we can partner. Feel free to also watch my TEDx talk - Why We All Need to Take The Road Less Traveled

I don't know about you but in the last few months I have felt like the world is going to hell in a hand basket.

"North Korea tests nuclear missiles."
"Russia has infiltrated our government."
"Neo-nazi movement on the rise in the US."
"Worst weather on record - climate change upon us."

Towards the end of summer, I started to feel really down about everything that was happening in the world. I also found myself addicted to checking the news, Facebook and Twitter. As if, I had some control over what happened.

"If I stay informed and check Twitter every 15 minutes, I will then feel more in control of what is happening.", my ego told me. 

"See, I'm not crazy, there are people who think the same way I do.", I'd tell myself as I retweeted or liked a post from someone I respect.

On and on I'd go like a dutiful robot programmed by the brilliant engineers who built these social media programs and the skillful journalists who put out the news. 

Until one day, I realized, enough was enough. All of the retweeting, all of the articles I had read and all of the CNN analysis I had listened to, none of it had resulted in the news changing.

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Unknown 

So I decided to take back my time and my emotional well being. I deleted the news app, I deleted the Twitter app and I deleted the Facebook app off of my phone.

In addition, I decided to commit to meditating every day for at least 3 minutes a day (I believe in setting the bar low when creating new habits). I use my favorite meditation app, Insight Timer, to stay on track.
Today I am 15 days in and I feel a huge difference in my emotional well being.

What I've learned is the lesson we all learn over and over again in our lives - we cannot control the world around us but we can control how we react to it.

Maybe you've had the same reaction to the news that I have. Or maybe you work in a toxic work environment. Or maybe in your community there is drama. 

How do you stay calm amidst chaos?

"Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death." - Nelson Mandela 

​You do what you need to do to stay calm. You cut out the noise. You create the boundaries you need. You build in habits of self care - sleep, meditation, healthy eating, exercise, quiet reflection, time in nature, laughter and whatever else it is that fills you up.

And from THAT place, you are able to create positive change in the world. You get re-inspired and your creative juices start flowing. New ideas have the space to emerge in your life without all of the noise and stress.

Join me in being a calm but powerful force for good in the world.
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*Curious how your organization and leaders can operate in this mode? Send me a note to talk about the off-sites I lead for other companies like yours.