The sunset shimmered its last pinkish-orange breath of the hazy evening as my mom announced, “This is the place,” as we descended into the valley of twinkling lights. Snow was still glimmering on the mountainside as the day began to wind down. This was my view the first time I could call this valley my home.
Previously in the week I packed up all of my possessions and psychologically prepared myself for the move. A trek of twenty-two hours in the car from the windy city landed us in the sweet spot situated between the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountain ranges. The metaphor of this seemingly mundane car ride became more and more evident to me. I couldn’t help but feeling I was driving straight into my future when I was behind the wheel, as if an anchor was pulling me closer and closer to my new home. I was as excited as I was anxious about what lied ahead.
I was inescapably entering the era of my life everyone asked about ever since kindergarten. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I finally knew. Alright, maybe I had an idea before, I was never “undecided” in college, but I now knew the exact position and company that would fulfill my dream.
Two months ago I wasn’t sure if all of my plans were probable or not. After living in Europe for nine months, I knew I had a nice douse of reality headed my way; my list of ‘things to do’ loomed over me. For starters, I needed knee surgery asap. Second, I needed to find a job in my career. I remember feeling overwhelmed my first week back in the states with the amount of things I needed to sort out in such a short time frame. Nevertheless, I attacked the situation the only way I knew how.
Yesterday I accepted the job offer of my dreams. My self-identified secret to success? Persistence – attacking each day with the same enthusiasm I had on Day One. If you don’t believe in yourself first, how do you expect anyone else to believe in you either? You know yourself best, and you know you can do anything you put your mind to. Sometimes that right there is the hardest part for people to accept, that they have power beyond their imagination. Throughout my career search, my mom told me over and over to visualize the life I want, the job I want, and in the location I want, a term called “manifestation.” Funny how moms are always right isn’t it?
Writing this “inspiration” if you will, made me think of the well-known quote:
“Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
Marianne Williamson
Wherever you’re at in your life, it’s never too late to believe in yourself again, or more. Start tomorrow…….hopefully that didn’t sit right with you. Start today. Change is a mindset that can start immediately. I believe in you, it’s time to believe in yourself.
“Believe in yourself” is a common cliché we’ve all heard numerous times. When we hear something too often we subconsciously ignore it. But pause for a moment, what does Believing In Yourself really mean to you? What actions do you take that show you believe in yourself?
“This is the place,” is what one of the pioneers proclaimed as he first laid eyes on the valley of Salt Lake City. My mom also said it. But it can also be the phrase you can use to signify the place where you renewed a commitment to believe in yourself more. Use this or use anything else that suits you.
Are you going through any major life changes right now? Do you have any goals you’re waiting for the perfect moment to start on? Any advice for me as I enter my career? Will believing in yourself more be one of your New Year’s Resolutions?
My personal blog can be found here: https://poemsandprose.travel.blog/
This hit me right where it needed to. I can relate to this in many constructive ways. I lost that feeling of believing in myself for a while until I decided no one’s coming to save me!! You have to do it yourself. I have learned to change the way I feel about certain things so they don’t get a rise out of me. I lost some of my independence and it made me a sweet and then really sour. I’m finally coming back to the old me except with more wisdom of how to move through life in a positive yet realistic manner. Great post. You just cannot give up on looking inward for the love and instincts you need to survive It’s kind of primal.
Thank you for your comment, Maggie. I can really relate to the lessons you learned of inward love, independence, and that no one’s coming to save us! They’re all very useful and there’s no easy way to learn it. Positive yet realistic is indeed a great way to live life. Namaste!
“This is the Place!” I know the Brigham Young quote from 1847 as those pioneers first laid their eyes on the Salt Lake Valley but I never contemplated the meaning could translate into my on life. Ellen you give this grey haired man some fine words of wisdom for my own life. In return, I’ll give you this advice… now that you have identified the place and landed the job you were seeking… roll-up your sleeves and go to work. You have a priceless opportunity and a blank canvas to paint as life moves you.
Sometimes looking at things through a different colored glass helps you realize how it can be related to your own life. Thanks for reading, your comment, and your great advice. I am looking forward to painting my canvas!
You are the creator of your own reality:) you got this!! We are all unique beings. Have fun and take life by the horns.
Yes great advice to anyone and everyone! Thanks for reading and for some great advice.
Please consider using your values as a compass. Why do people have mid-life crises? Living out of accord with self and values. The best things in life aren’t things, so if money is the answer, maybe rephrase the question.
Yes indeed, having strong values in life serve as a great compass when life will throw you in a spiral. Thanks for reading!
I love this post! It’s about persistence, which is something I KNOW I lack. One day I want to do this, one day I want to do that. And the indecisiveness comes mostly from excuses that I make for myself because deep down, I know I’m afraid of stepping out my comfort zone. Good read! 🙂
Thank you for reading and I’m really glad my message about persistence resonated with you. Becoming self aware is the first step and sometimes hardest step, the next all come after that. Best of luck to you in the new year!
I like the description of the valley in relation to changing. What happened with the knee? I missed that part, I think. Otherwise, great writing.
Thank you Olabisi! And I hurt my knee playing soccer so I needed to get surgery. Thanks for your support!
Hope you recover well.
You are right: it is all in the mind. Thank you for sharing this post. Happy new year
Thanks for reading and I’m glad you liked it! Happy new year and best of luck with all your resolutions!
Love this! So true you must believe in yourself first and foremost. Good luck with everything ❤️❤️
Yes it is true and can be so easily bypassed with all the other things we as women deal with in our lives. Best of luck to you in the new year! 🙂
Thank you love! Same to you ❤💞
I’m also a “retired athlete” and have had two knees surgeries as a result of a high school football injury, one that caused a tear of my ACL. Speaking of injuries and surgeries and such, I made an interesting discovery back when I had my second surgery. When my body felt unwell, I found that my mind was unwell too. I guess this proves how integrated the mind, body, and spirit really are.
I’m so please you’ve joined us. I’m really liking your pieces, and based on the positive responses you’re receiving from other readers, I can see that many are happy that you are here, at PO.
I fully relate to how when your body feels unwell, so does your mind and vice versa. Yoga has been the key I’ve found to connect the mind, body and spirit for me which I’ve done every morning for the past three months and relied on heavily the past 2 years of my life.
Also, thank you for your support and bringing me on board, namaste!