Hej, predivna! Spremna za malo ljepote i inspiracije?

Hey gorgeous! Ready for a little beauty and inspiration?

The world as we know it is in a major state of flux. From new technologies to rapidly changing social norms, every day looks different from the last (hello, Age of Aquarius!). Our work lives are no different. But it’s not just AI that’s impacting the professional world; the very patterns of careers have changed drastically in the past decade or so. And they’re only evolving more as society changes around us. 

Gone are the days of joining a company in your 20s or 30s and working with them until retirement (or at least for a decade or two). Now, it’s common to not even remain in the same industry for years at a time, let alone with the same employer. No one knows this better than me; heck, I launched my own beauty brand in my 50s after decades in the corporate world!

Growing Pains

So, when the sand – be it personal, professional, social, or technological – is constantly shifting under our feet, how do we keep a level head? How do we define happiness and the “made it” moment when paths, regardless of stage of life or industry, are no longer as linear as they once were?

To get personal for a moment: this is something I deeply struggled with as I felt myself growing uninspired by my HR job. What had been a source of satisfaction, pride, and joy for me became hollow and less than fulfilling. To be clear, there was nothing wrong with the job itself; it was me that had changed. And so I had to redefine what happiness and success looked like for me. In other words, before I looked outward to see what I could alter, I had to turn inward and reflect on what the new me truly wanted. 

If you’re feeling similarly right now (which you wouldn’t be alone in, in this topsy-turvy world), I want you to know that I’ve been there too. And today, I’m here to share some of the practices that helped me create some internal peace AND forge an unexpected new path for myself. 

Steps For A New Kind Of Success

• Internal Vs. External

• As I briefly mentioned earlier, the lynchpin of updating our outlooks is shifting from an external view on goals and achievements to an internal one. Traditionally, success in your field may be regarded as a corner office or a C-suite title. But what do you think it is? Is it creatively fulfilling work? Leaving the world better than you found it? Simply paying your bills? Once you define what is most important to YOU, the being that is actually participating in your life, it becomes much easier to plan actionable steps to achieve those goals. 

• Being Gentle

• Having compassion for ourselves is absolutely non-negotiable while making these changes. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was a perspective shift – or the life that comes with it. Expecting immediate results or being upset with yourself for reverting to old habits is countereffective to the progress you ARE making. Plus, you’ll be shocked (I know I was) by how much brighter the sun shines when you give yourself grace and focus on looking after your emotional wellbeing. 

• Making Decisions

• This one sounds strange, but stick with me here. If your world seems like it’s tumbling down or you feel like you’re treading water without any sign of progress, just make a decision. You don’t have to tackle everything all at once. You don’t need to solve every problem immediately. You don’t even have to know how you’re feeling at that moment. Just choose to do something that changes your immediate situation, no matter how inconsequential. Intentionally making decisions, even if it’s just to get out of bed or to put work down for the night, is way more impactful than it might seem; for one thing, it moves you forward in some form, no matter how small it may seem. It also gives you a sense of agency; your journey may be tough, but you still have the power to influence it. And there’s comfort in that. 

Final Thoughts

Redefining what happiness and success look like to you is just one way to create a more beautiful, fulfilling life for yourself. No matter the backdrop, career, or life stage, we all deserve contentment. There’s a real courage to taking your life into your own hands and intentionally challenging old habits; if you’re doing this right now, just know that I am proud of you and cheering you on. Because no matter how the world changes, if your goals are anchored in your true self, there will always be sunshine.

Good luck on this journey! I’m rooting for you! 

Ljubav, sjaj i poljupci!

Love, shine, and kisses!