*Children’s stool at the end of the Malibu Pier shot by myself.*

ON MY MIND

I’ve been navigating my career and purpose for the past few months. Being creative and strategic, I’ve often felt conflicted about “what I should do” and have been working on reframing that into “what could I do?” It’s been a period of self-discovery, stepping outside my comfort zone, a few breakdowns, and personal growth.

Learning more about myself has been great. There have been quite a few ah-ha moments where I felt understood, seen, and validated. When was the last time you took time to learn about yourself? What are your values and motivations? It’s a great exercise to increase self-awareness and reflect on how you’ve grown, shifted, and evolved. Here are a few tools I’ve used:

Myers-Briggs
Enneagram
Human Design: A newer one I’ve loved learning about. I had a call with Jillian Bremer, a coach who incorporates Human Design into her work.

And in case you’re wondering, I’m an INFJ, Type 2 & 7, and a Manifesting Generator.

I’ve been having quite a few conversations, reading articles, and listening to podcasts, and a few takeaways have resonated with me during this season of life:

CLARITY

It is important to find clarity to have a sense of direction, focus, goal, and purpose. I’ve had some great conversations with Katy Culver around this. She’s an excellent resource!

TAKING ACTION

Adam Grant recently shared, “You don’t have to build confidence before taking action. You build confidence by taking action. Standing still breeds rumination and seeds self-doubt. Motion fuels progress and elevates efficacy. Never let doubts about your ability undermine your faith in your ability to learn.” I’ve been focusing on progress over perfection. Just start. Build energy and gain momentum. “Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good.”

COMMITMENT

My friend and one of my role models recently shared a quote by Anne Morriss that I profoundly relate to: “The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating—in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around like rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life." Being in a grey area is challenging. Making a choice and committing is empowering. It allows me to shift my mindset, work towards a goal, focus, relax, and get into a flow state.

When reflecting on this, I've found that quite a bit of what I’ve mentioned applies to other major life decisions, like relationships and moves. In times of chaos, overwhelm, or unknown, it’s essential to quiet the voice in my head, ground myself, and remember to trust the process.

So, if you’re at a point where you’re navigating a transition or have previously, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s support one another and start a dialogue. Transitions can be scary, challenging, and complex; I’ve retreated at times but have found that connection and community lead to great things. If you’re a woman in business, here are a few resources I’ve found incredibly helpful:

MKTG WMN is a community that provides support and resources for women in business. You can use the code NICOLE for your first month for $10.

SCORE: A program to support entrepreneurs through mentorship and community.

AS OF LATE

Listening: Bibi’s Bay by Elle Múse

Reading: Maximize your Potential: Grow Your Expertise, Take Bold Risks & Build An Incredible Career by 99u. It’s co-authored by Scott Belsky, Founder of Behance, and Jocelyn K Glei.
Listening: Sarah Blondin on Insight Timer, her meditations are the best!
Inspired: Sara Prince is a photographer, business owner, and mother in Santa Barbara, CA. I admire her photography and the business she’s built. She’s easy-going but dialed, supportive, and has the best energy! She’s got an exciting project in the works. Follow along here.

CURRENTLY COVETING