A few months ago I returned to Western Canada. Like many, after dedicating 10 years to a financially secure career, I reached a point of being torn between the life that 'made sense' on the outside and the life my heart wanted. While I started the dream in 2009, it took another 5 years to make the leap and go on my own, and another 2.5 years to relocate successfully.

As the transition and journey continues forward, I can admit that I've learned so much being on this road less travelled. I'm known for inspiring and motivating others towards a goal or a dream, to help pinpoint their path and clear the way forward. Doing this for myself has been my life's work.

Reaching a point of empathy and compassion for yourself can seem almost impossible when the going gets tough, even if you are fortunate enough to have a shoulder to lean on. This road less travelled requires constant recharging, practicing a rest ethic and returning to a whole emotional state.

I recently had a chance to speak with the retired Olympian Coach Jason Dorland.  His fiercely competitive and excessively driven nature, while important to his career, also led to immense pressure and internal negative self-sabotage, and emotional defeat. This prevented him from bringing his best self and performance forward. We found a common space sharing the pressure that dreams bring with them - of identity, goal attainment, experiences in the day-to-day transition, and steps towards those dreams. 

As we go into 2018, I want to encourage you to begin again. Pick up your goals and dreams where you left off. As Jason shares in his article Find Your Inner Success, if your current lifestyle is causing you inner conflict and preventing you from moving forward, it's time to shift your approach, and reconnect with your values and intrinsic motivation.

Remember, you're worth it!