“Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar.” Antonio Machado (1875-1939)
This translates to: “Pathmaker, there is no path, you make the path by walking.”
Most people I work with in coaching are in transition between an ‘old’ and a ‘new’.
It could be a new job, new career path, building something new etc.
There’s always this edge, this place between the old and new that can be uncomfortable.
I accompany people in this place often.
The reason is in this place of between worlds, it creates anxiety, self-doubt, fear, questions of identity, questions of purpose and commitment etc.
Often, people look for answers to what next step to take.
This is because it’s a new space to them, so the uncertainty is really uncomfortable.
However, this is a a well-walked space.
Many have been on the journey and travelled across this path.
There’s models to explain each of the stages.
Sometimes, the comfort of knowing there’s a model helps us contain the anxiety and feelings.
Anxiety can be excitement though and we forget that in this space, there is an opportunity.
An opportunity to explore, to redefine ourselves, to leave behind what’s needed, to embrace new with energy…
Some questions to make this space a little easier to walk through:
– Where am I going?
– Why am I going there?
– Where have I been?
– What have I learned?
– Who am I now?
– Who do I choose to become?
The space between old and new is full of life – open up to it with curiousity rather than retreating because of fear.
You get to create the path by walking.
Onwards.
