I quit the corporate world back in January 2020 without knowing there was going to be a pandemic - but honestly, it was the best thing to ever happen to me.
It forced me to jump without looking back.
I had been feeling unfulfilled and burnt out in my corporate job for a while.
The long hours, the office politics, and the feeling of being stuck in a rut were taking a toll on my mental and physical health.
I knew I needed a change, but I was scared to take the leap into the unknown.
I didn't even know what else I would do.
I thought my only options were corporate and waiting tables.
Here's my whole journey of how I went from being miserable in my 9 to 5 to having the most financial, time and location freedom I've ever had in my life.
Over time, the built up anger and dissatisfaction of being on the wrong path became too much.
I couldn't take it anymore.
The office politics got to be too much and I felt like I had to be this version of myself that I didn't recognize anymore.
I felt myself wasting my life away in a job that I hated, so I started plotting how to leave.
I was nervous to simply quit my job cold turkey without a plan. So, I got my teaching English as a second language certification and had plans to teach English in Thailand.
I geared up to get ready to go and a plan came together.
I would go to Bali, Indonesia first to get my yoga certification, then I would go to Thailand to teach English for a year.
At first, I was filled with uncertainty and fear. Is this going to completely bash my career?
Am I making a mistake?
What if I'm more miserable and then have to come back to the US with my tale between my legs?
Would I regret leaving a decent steady paycheck behind?
When I first quit, I felt a sense of liberation and freedom that I hadn't felt...well ever.
The thing was, on the last day of my yoga training, the world shut down.
I didn't freak out because I had my plans to go to Thailand and thought the whole thing would blow over in 2 weeks.
Obviously, we know that that wasn't the case.
I had been planning my travels for a year, and I didn't want to run back to the US right away.
I was determined to stay in Bali and figure it out!
What unraveled was a beautiful exploration of what path I really wanted to be on.
I was able to slow down and rejuvenate from the burnout of my job.
I started to explore my passions and interests, diving into new hobbies and projects that I had put on hold for so long.
I dove into marketing, video editing, website design, and teaching yoga.
I enrolled in online courses, connected with like-minded individuals, and started to build a new path for myself.
I started to meet the right people who needed my skills, which helped me build a portfolio of clients and work.
I found myself adapting and thriving in ways I never thought possible since I left my corporate job.
I discovered new skills and talents that I never knew I had, and I found a sense of purpose and fulfillment that I had been searching for.
My path finally felt aligned with this coveted freedom I had been seeking.
Quitting my corporate job was scary and uncertain, but it was also the best decision I ever made.
It forced me to confront my fears, take a leap of faith, and embrace the unknown instead of searching for another corporate job. And for that, I will always be grateful.
Are you feeling like you want to quit but you're nervous about leaving corporate?
In this blog post, I’m going to share the three key pillars that helped me transform my life, travel the world, and ultimately make more money than I ever did in my corporate 9-5 job.
The first step was developing the right mindset to leave my job and make it work. I had to cultivate a mindset conducive to change and growth. This mindset shift enabled me to leave behind what no longer served me and pursue my passions.
I also realized that my subsconscious beliefs were running the show. The idea that I could only make money a certain way or that I wasn't worthy enough to make X amount of money was keeping me playing small and not chasing my dreams.
I really had to confront myself and see how I was holding myself back.
Once I was aware of what was stopping me, I was able to make a plan to move forward.
Constantly raising my vibration was crucial to attracting new opportunities. I engaged in practices like yoga, meditation, journaling, and brain rewiring to elevate my energetic state.
I opened myself up to new opportunities and experiences that aligned with my goals. Additionally, I made a conscious effort to surround myself with positive and supportive people who uplifted me and encouraged my growth. I also practiced gratitude daily to maintain a positive mindset and attract abundance into my life.
By consistently working on raising my vibration and staying aligned with my goals and desires, I was able to attract new opportunities, connections, and experiences that positively impacted my life.
It may sound silly, but it was through this intentional practice of maintaining a high energetic frequency that I was able to manifest the life I desired and create a future filled with abundance and success.
Aligning my values, goals, and strengths was essential to developing a strategic plan for my new life.
I relied on what I call the “freedom equation”:
Skill + Dedication + Strategy = Freedom.
Knowing the right way to get what I wanted allowed me to create a roadmap to success.
First, I took stock of my skills and strengths. I listed out everything I was good at, whether it was a technical skill, a soft skill, or a natural talent.
I also considered my interests and passions, as those are often indicators of where our strengths lie.
This gave me a solid foundation to build upon.
Next, I identified my goals. I asked myself what I wanted to achieve in the short term, as well as in the long term and got real specific.
I gave myself permission to visualize what I wanted my dream life to be like.
This clarity helped me focus my efforts and stay motivated.
With my skills and goals in mind, I developed a strategy to achieve them.
I broke down my goals into smaller, actionable steps and created a timeline for when I wanted to accomplish each one.
I also considered any obstacles or challenges that might arise and planned how to overcome them.
By aligning my values, goals, and strengths, I was able to create a plan that was both motivating and achievable.
Each step I took brought me closer to my ultimate goal of freedom AND allowed for unforeseen magic to come into my life.
By following the “freedom equation,” I knew I had the tools and mindset to live the life I was excited about.
Have you been feeling frustrated with your life unable to find anything to be grateful for lately?
Are you ready to learn all about gratitude in order to find more joy and raise your vibration?
In this FREE Attitude of Gratitude Masterclass, you'll learn how to fully utilize the power of gratitude in order to bring more fulfillment into your life.
You'll leave feeling calm, peaceful and connected to yourself in just 45 minutes!
For today’s neuro nugget, we’re going to talk about Ikigai.
I’m sure you’ve probably heard this term before since it’s been trending.
But, what exactly is ikigai and is there actual science behind it?
Well, it's this beautiful Japanese term that encapsulates your reason for being—the things that make you jump out of bed in the morning with a smile on your face.
Whether it's pursuing your passions, leveraging your strengths, or aligning with your deepest values, ikigai is all about finding that sweet spot where what you love intersects with what the world needs.
The definition of ikigai is the intersection of what skills you have, what the world needs, what things you love doing, and where you can make money.
Living with ikigai isn't just good for the soul—it's also crucial for our neurological health.
When you engage in activities that light up your ikigai, it's like giving your brain a boost of happiness and vitality.
Neuroscientists have found that when we're living in alignment with our ikigai, our brains light up in all the right places, from the reward centers that make us feel amazing to the regions responsible for keeping stress in check and our emotions balanced.
Research suggests that embracing ikigai isn't just a short-term mood booster—it's also a long-term investment in our brain's health and resilience.
By regularly tapping into our ikigai, we're not only rewiring our brains for happiness and fulfillment, but we're also fortifying them against the negative effects of stress and aging.
How cool is that?
Now that we’ve learned the immense impact of ikigai on the brain, let’s talk about how you can actually get in alignment with your ikigai.
Grab a piece of paper or use a digital tool like Canva.
Draw five big circles: two on top of the page, two on the bottom, and one in the middle.
Label the circles as follows:
Now for 1. Skill: reflect and write about the skills you already have built in your life.
2. Passion: Think about what skills you want to learn more and where your innate passions lie.
3. Money: What skills do you have that will make the most money?
How can you use the skills you have to make more money?
4. World: What is it that the world is needing?
How can the world benefit from what you have to offer?
5. All: Where is the intersection of these 4 things?
What are your conclusions?
Reflect on these areas and how they intersect in your life.
This exercise will help you uncover your ikigai and take concrete steps towards a fulfilling and aligned career path.
Do you feel like your negative thoughts are controlling your life?
Are you ready to finally find peace and joy in your life?
Learn the fundamental tools to change your neural pathways to live a more joyous, liberating and satisfying life in a group cohort that will hold you accountable toward your goals.
Let's figure out your goals together and see if this is a great fit for you. Book a call for a FREE Goal Setting Session.
If you're wanting to align your path and feel more fulfilled and excited about your life, you're in the right place.
I’d love to support you in getting off autopilot and shifting your mindset, raising your vibration and crafting a plan to get you to achieving your dream goals.
Want to work together, but want to know more about how I can help you?
Thank you so much for tuning in today! If you want the podcast version of this article, you can tune into Podcast Episode 10 on Radically Rewired, available on all streaming services.
To continue this beautiful journey of exploration and self-discovery with me and live a life you’re excited about, sign up for my newsletter to get notified about my newest episodes.
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I’m sooo grateful that you’re here taking another step toward living a life that feels extraordinary.
Radically Rewired is a step towards getting off autopilot and soaring toward your dreams.
Let's continue this transformative journey together, my friends.
Until next time, keep rewiring, keep thriving, and keep shining.
Much love,
Nicole
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