I think more and people are going to be leaving "the path" soon either by desire or default - so reflections like this are critical. Being super aware and intentional about how you navigate is not something we've been prepared to do. But now we've got to do it - we get to.
Yes, 100%. I’ve been thinking about this a lot too. In my case, the shift is coming from desire. But I’m pretty sure that in the coming years, many people will be forced to adapt to new circumstances, and there’s going to be a real need for support as they navigate that…
Haha, I know exactly what you mean! It’s the best feeling when someone puts into words what’s been floating around in my own head and makes me feel less alone. 😉
Super familiar and relatable. Love this a lot. I've been thinking about culture a lot lately, and how it is the scripts that tell us how to believe, behave and become. And those scripts are practiced into existence. It's how the 'personal becomes political', how individuals scale up into collectives.
You (and all of us on the path less traveled) are re-writing culture. You are part of emerging 'futures worth living in'. If you read Rahim Hirij's new piece on The Cult of Productivity, I think you'll be even further convinced of why what you're doing matters more than just building a life you want to live. You're carving a path others can follow out of corporate misery back toward meaning and purpose. That's certainly a false dichotomy (corporate = meaningless / unconventional path = meaningful), and the cult of productivity and its vast consequences on the human soul is very real.
Thanks for another lovely and life-affirming post.
Thanks, Jenn! Just had a chance to read the article - so true. Brought back vivid memories from my corporate days. I really hope we can all inspire new and different paths forward. 🙂
I recognize myself so much in what you’re sharing, Iwana. The unconventional path definitely isn’t always rosy, but I find the challenges to be so much more meaningful and rewarding. Building a business and life on my own terms has become the biggest self-development journey of all. There’s no one else to do the work but you and somehow, that’s where the magic (and growth) happens. ✨
Yes, absolutely! ‚Unfortunately’ everyone has to find their own unique path and it’s not always easy but for sure super rewarding 🥰 glad it resonated with you!
I love the graphics for your posts, do you do them yourself? (ps I started reading while I’m already in the middle of something else, so I’m going to have to come back to the actual post)
Thank you! It actually took me ages yesterday. It was a co-creation with ChatGPT. Lots of back-and-forth, me scribbling on paper, it trying to refine things, me getting super frustrated because it’s really not great at details... and eventually just giving up and being happy with some creative interpretations. 😄
And yes, definitely come back to it if you find the time!
I think more and people are going to be leaving "the path" soon either by desire or default - so reflections like this are critical. Being super aware and intentional about how you navigate is not something we've been prepared to do. But now we've got to do it - we get to.
Yes, 100%. I’ve been thinking about this a lot too. In my case, the shift is coming from desire. But I’m pretty sure that in the coming years, many people will be forced to adapt to new circumstances, and there’s going to be a real need for support as they navigate that…
I think you’re spot on here and see this coming wave of people as well.
this is such a cool reflection - thank you for sharing it!
Thank you for the conversation! Writing does feel like therapy sometimes. It did really help me to reflect on everything. 😄
It’s refreshing to hear this from someone outside of my brain. We don’t walk this pathless path alone
Haha, I know exactly what you mean! It’s the best feeling when someone puts into words what’s been floating around in my own head and makes me feel less alone. 😉
Thanks for sharing, Iwana, wish you all the best!
Thanks, Ash! :)
Super familiar and relatable. Love this a lot. I've been thinking about culture a lot lately, and how it is the scripts that tell us how to believe, behave and become. And those scripts are practiced into existence. It's how the 'personal becomes political', how individuals scale up into collectives.
You (and all of us on the path less traveled) are re-writing culture. You are part of emerging 'futures worth living in'. If you read Rahim Hirij's new piece on The Cult of Productivity, I think you'll be even further convinced of why what you're doing matters more than just building a life you want to live. You're carving a path others can follow out of corporate misery back toward meaning and purpose. That's certainly a false dichotomy (corporate = meaningless / unconventional path = meaningful), and the cult of productivity and its vast consequences on the human soul is very real.
Thanks for another lovely and life-affirming post.
https://open.substack.com/pub/boxofamazing/p/the-cult-of-productivity-is-breaking?r=5oy8bz&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thanks, Jenn! Just had a chance to read the article - so true. Brought back vivid memories from my corporate days. I really hope we can all inspire new and different paths forward. 🙂
Hope you’re feeling better ❤️❤️
Yes, always so helpful to have conversations about it! 🙂🙏
I recognize myself so much in what you’re sharing, Iwana. The unconventional path definitely isn’t always rosy, but I find the challenges to be so much more meaningful and rewarding. Building a business and life on my own terms has become the biggest self-development journey of all. There’s no one else to do the work but you and somehow, that’s where the magic (and growth) happens. ✨
Yes, absolutely! ‚Unfortunately’ everyone has to find their own unique path and it’s not always easy but for sure super rewarding 🥰 glad it resonated with you!
I love the graphics for your posts, do you do them yourself? (ps I started reading while I’m already in the middle of something else, so I’m going to have to come back to the actual post)
Thank you! It actually took me ages yesterday. It was a co-creation with ChatGPT. Lots of back-and-forth, me scribbling on paper, it trying to refine things, me getting super frustrated because it’s really not great at details... and eventually just giving up and being happy with some creative interpretations. 😄
And yes, definitely come back to it if you find the time!