I’ve noticed how attached I am to finding my purpose. I seem to want to label it, define it, and sum it up into a nice elevator pitch.

What I also know is that I DO NOT LIKE labels and I don’t buy into the old ways and the “shoulds”. None of it works for me anymore. I know I’m not alone. It’s a running theme in many conversations I have had of late.

Where does that leave me and anyone else who wants to jump on “the old ways don’t work anymore” bandwagon? I’m mostly talking about running a business - the likes, the follows, the income, the optimum # of clients. You can apply “the old ways don’t work anymore” theory to just about everything these days, though.

This is the first episode of my travel journal, The Intentional Roamer. If you missed the intro video, I am on a drive-about visiting friends and family. I thought I’d share my experience. It is similar to my posts about the emotional impact of change and transition, but in audio form.

Speaking of what’s getting in the way, this trip sparked a couple of realizations about my need to feel productive and how I judge myself. Scarcity mindset got some airtime too.

Also, did I retire and am just not willing to admit it? On that note, can we retire the word “retire”? It sounds like we are taking a big nap for the rest of our days.

Honestly, can we come up with a new word or phrase, or maybe just acknowledge that we are moving onto something different?

Hey there—welcome to the intentional roamer, a travel journal, of sorts!

I’m at a point in my life where…I actually don’t know what’s next. At all. I just sold my house, put my stuff in storage, packed my car, and now I’m basically free as a bird—just me and a dog named Bebe.

I’m not gonna lie. It’s a little disconcerting. But it’s also crazy exciting. Normally, a moment like this would send me into a full-on overthinking spiral. Where will I live? What will I do? What’s my five-year plan? 

And then I realized: I don’t have to decide anything right now.

The relief was huge. Like, deep exhale, shoulders-down, kind of relief. I experienced a complete sense of freedom…

I am going to tackle a couple of topics: fear of judgment and the importance of feeling grounded during unsettling times.

I’ll start by sharing a personal story about my experience with judgment. I have wanted to add video content to my blog for a very long time and have been 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. The ironic part is that I was a producer for 20+ years, so I know how to do this. It didn't matter. Knowing I am an expert in this field just made me more nervous.

I finally got up the nerve to record my first video 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙣. I don't look very good. The audio and lighting could be better. The picture quality is not great. I don't like how I positioned myself in front of the camera. I don't like the background. Is the content compelling enough?

Here's the thing. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀. Am I right?

In the midst of analyzing a spreadsheet full of career options, pros, cons, and practical considerations with my client, I noticed something missing: the heart. We were fully immersed in the logic and next steps but the emotional and intuitive aspect of decision-making was left out.

It’s easy to forget how powerful the heart is when making choices, especially in something as monumental as a career change. I dare to say you should consider your heart in almost any decision you make from what ice cream flavor you want to bigger decisions that impact you as well as everyone around you.

Honestly, why wouldn’t you add your heart to the mix? After all, major life decisions like switching careers, relocating, retiring, or beginning a new relationship all deserve to be viewed through your heart. Heart-centered decisions resonate on a deeper level. You are not only considering external success. You are considering internal fulfillment.

Asking questions like “What would your heart say?” and “What would your heart do?” seem pretty relevant to major decisions. You are thinking about committing to something big. It is a 24/7 change. It will affect how you view yourself, how you live your life, and how you interact with others. It will affect your emotional and physical well-being. It should feel right—not just logically, but emotionally.

You are probably asking “How do I ask my heart if I am making the right decision?”, “What if my heart says no to a decision I thought I should make?”, “What if I’m not sure?”

Here are a few things to consider when making heart-centered decisions...

We all have thoughts, ideas, and dreams about our future. You may want to own a company, get a promotion, make a lot of money, start a foundation, buy a house, get a master’s or PHD, teach a course, travel the world, run a marathon, learn how to play a musical instrument, make a documentary, visit all of the national parks…

But what if you didn’t do any of those things? What if you chose to ignore your ideas or dreams, sidelining them indefinitely? How would you feel?

You may find yourself wondering why you didn’t take that leap, start that project, or pursue that passion. Over time, the missed opportunities could weigh heavily on your mind, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction or even resentment. Without following through, you might never fully understand your true potential or discover what you’re truly capable of achieving.

Regrets can be powerful and persistent emotions that linger long after opportunities have passed. When you set aside your dreams and ideas, the initial sense of comfort in avoiding risk or uncertainty might be quickly replaced by a nagging sense of “what could have been.”

Regrets can manifest in different ways...