Dear Friends,

I decided to give myself a vacation from writing this month. And am I glad I did! This month's fabulous insight — "As Serious as a Heart Attack" — is authored by a wonderful client of mine.

The article speaks for itself, and I can't resist the opportunity to throw in my two cents.

Following your heart may initially feel like you're following a path that seems illogical, irrational or impractical. What you need to focus on is the end goal — the desire for a job, a relationship or a life that in alignment with who you are. Being in alignment with yourself is one of the most practical shifts you'll ever make.

My best to you!
Claudette

As Serious as a Heart Attack

This 40-something guy told me how when he had his heart attack a few years ago, he thought it was just indigestion. So he went home after work, took an antacid, and watched television. An hour later his arms started to hurt, so he took some acetaminophen. Later his hands turned black, and at that point he decided it was time to drive himself to the emergency department. He paused there in his story and waited for a response. When I didn't say anything, he smiled sheepishly and said, "Yeah, I know. I know I should have done something sooner. But I just thought____."

Typically heart attack victims wait about two hours after onset of symptoms to seek emergency medical attention. The warning signs can be misleading, especially if your idea of a heart attack is the chest-gripping, bring-you-to-your-knees pain often depicted on television. I've heard other survivors say how they dismissed the warning signs for hours, days, even months, because they thought it was the flu or a pulled muscle or "just stress." Even when victims suspect they might be having a heart attack, there's still a reluctance to dial those three little digits that can bring immediate and qualified help. For some, it's because they didn't think they were at risk. Others didn't want to worry their loved ones or be embarrassed if it turned out to be something less serious.

I understand how tempting it is in that situation to wait and see and hope it's not the life-altering event you dread it might be. I've never had a heart attack, but I have lots of experience ignoring my heart, especially when it is trying to tell me something I didn't want to hear. In a culture that places such a high value on our brains' ability to reason, it's that "just thought" that can make you deny your heart and stop you from doing the right thing.

The most recent experience I have had with this was with my job. For several years I have had this feeling of profound yet vague dissatisfaction. To my mind it's a perfectly good job, perfectly suited for my skills and temperament. It's a great organization, the salary and benefits are good, the work is meaningful and important. But my heart just isn't in it and hasn't been for a long time. I tried all sorts of "remedies" to alleviate, or at least mask, my symptoms, but they always returned, a little more forcefully each time.

Then a loved one gave me the phone number of a coach and begged me to call. I, of course, balked. I had all sorts of reasons why I shouldn't call. It was a perfectly good job. I just needed to wait and see. Besides, how embarrassing to admit to a coach that, at 41, I no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. My heart knew, and she tried to share that with me, but I wouldn't listen. As the symptoms got harder to ignore—for me and everyone around me—I finally had to admit there was a problem about to turn into a midlife crisis. So I finally made the call. And now, months later I can say with the most sincere heartfelt honesty, "Yeah, I know. I know I should have done something sooner. But I just thought____."

Working with a coach on this has been a lot like angioplasty, except without the sedatives. As with any procedure involving the heart, it hasn't always been a comfortable experience. But where once I felt blocked and constricted, I now enjoy a sudden surge of possibilities. I am still in the same job, but I am doing things I never dreamt would have been possible, all while I strategically navigate this flow of options. At this point I still am not sure where I will be in 6 months, but I know that what I do next will get me that much closer to the place where my heart has been dying to get me. All I had to do was listen.

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Products & Services

If you liked today's issue, you'll love these services!

• Career Coaching with Claudette.  Does your heart's message elude you? Are you hearing your heart, but having a hard time following it? If the answer is "yes" to either of these questions — there's no time like the present to begin the process of identifying the work you'd love to do.
  
  Please contact me today for an introductory 30 minute coaching session, find out more about my process, and we'll clear away the obstacles to following your heart's message. Reach me directly at 781.316.1923 or claudette@metavoice.org.
  
  P.S. Remember, when you enjoy your work, you have so much more to give the rest of the world — purpose in action.
   
• A Clear Compelling Vision. Looking for a tool to help you follow your heart? This book can help. Too often, we attempt to create a vision based on what seems practical, what we think we can have or what we think we "should do".  A Clear, Compelling Vision will arm you with new tips, perspectives and tools for created a heart-based vision.
  
  Order your copy today -- please visit http://www.metavoice.org/store.
   

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Useful Resources

• Now, Discover Your Strengths. Have you taken the Strengthsfinder assessment? This is a must do! Buy the book Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton and you'll receive a code in the back of the book for your very own Strengthsfinder assessment. Once you take the test, you'll receive a report that outlines your top 5 strengths.
   
• How to not be afraid of your own life. Susan Piver, a writer based in my hometown of Arlington, MA, has written a wonderful book about the ways in which mindfulness can help us overcome the fears that block us. Piver teaches us how fear blocks us from joy and fulfillment — specifically opening our hearts to relationships, gaining the confidence to pursue a meaningful career, and achieving perspective to live our authentic lives. Highly recommended!

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