The other day, I was reminded of what could have been my major career milestone.

 

I saw a social media post by a former colleague who just completed seven years of tenure at the international organisation in The Hague. This colleague had started working there one month before me in 2017. I realised, looking at the post, that I could have been celebrating my 'graduation' from the same organisation now if I had stayed working there. Instead, though, I left the job in August 2021.

 

I reflected on the path I took after that. I started teaching at a university while also trying to focus more on building up my coaching and facilitation business. But it wasn't easy. Teaching was totally new to me, and entrepreneurship was a whole new universe to me.

 

So, I ended up spending most of my time preparing for teaching, adjusting my skills for this new role. It was daunting sometimes. But I tried to keep my spirits up, thinking that eventually, I would have more time for my business. It wasn't until this school year (starting from last September) that things started to click for me. I've become much more comfortable in my role as a teacher at a higher education sector. Meanwhile, my coaching practice is expanding, although there's still progress to be made in facilitation. Despite the challenges, I feel content with where I am headed.

 

Now, my previous identity as an expat and international civil servant seems like a fond but distant memory, rather than a beloved piece of clothing I've misplaced and desperately want to find.

 

The moment I told my then-supervisor about my intention to leave in March 2021, I began to feel a sense of freedom and liberation. It's the freedom to express myself however I like, to imagine, reflect, and experiment beyond the constraints of job descriptions. It's about forming genuine connections and relationships with people beyond predefined roles and hierarchy. It's the satisfaction deriving from thinking beyond the organisation's mission that started to feel narrow and in silo in the broader landscape of global social challenges. Importantly, it's about the freedom to explore and engage in activities that are alined with my passions.

 

Today, I feel more grounded. My daily activities are much more in line with who I aspire to be and the values I hold dear. How I perceive the world has changed drastically.

 

Many of you may have seen the above photograph taken in 2003, where I'm looking at the sunrise in the Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan. It's one of my favourite places on earth, and a piece of my heart will always remain there. This moment captures my first assignment at a UN organisation, what I once considered a 'dream job' in my youth, marking the beginning of a 15-year career with the UN. The vast and rich desert and what lies beyond the horizon represented the future full of possibilities.

 

Today, they symbolise the liberation and freedom that I enjoy today.

 

What kind of path are you walking today? What type of scenery and landscape do they have? How do you feel walking that path? Would you like someone to walk with you and ask how you are doing? A coach can be that companion. Book a free trial session with me to find out how a coach can support you. Here is the link.