I have reinvented myself so many times. I was a lawyer. Then I was a yoga instructor. Then I managed a gym. Now I’m a life and health coach, and top Wellness Advocate for a premium line of essential oils. I was single. Then I got married. Then I got divorced. Then I got remarried. Now I’m a mom.
In all of the times that I have reinvented myself, I didn’t go into it thinking that I had to create a whole new me. I didn’t put out some big announcement: ***NEWSFLASH. HAYLEY HOBSON WAS A LAWYER AND THEN SHE QUIT HER SIX FIGURE INCOME TO BECOME A YOGA INSTRUCTOR. NEWS AT 11.*** Why announce it – just so that the whole world could witness if I fell flat on my face? No. I just knew that I was not leading the life I really wanted as a lawyer. I knew that by becoming a yoga instructor I would.
Going from a lawyer to a yoga instructor wasn’t the biggest piece of my self-reinvention, by the way. It was everything I learned about the world of yoga that created the real change. I got in touch with my breath, with my body. I learned how strong I was. I loved how good I felt on my mat and I developed a passion for it. I wanted to teach others how to feel that good. I embraced a healthier lifestyle that would later fuel my stepping forward again into becoming a life and health coach. From lawyer to health coach – think about that.
If there’s something you’re interested in – that lights you up inside every time you do it or even just think about it, go for it! Let it define who you are and who you want to be.
I get it, though. Change is scary, it’s hard, and it doesn’t always work out. Some brave ladies posted on my blog last week titled “What Would You Do If You Had Nothing To Fear,” about how they took risks to make big changes in their lives and were and are really struggling to get back on their feet again. Every story and every leap does not end with a happy ending or a soft landing.
So, what would I suggest if you are feeling like it’s time to start over to prevent the crash landing? Here are some tips:
Do The Research
Maybe you read my blogs or follow my website and think, “I want what Hayley has.” First off, if you do – thank you. I really hope that my life inspires others to shoot for happiness. But, don’t jump off the ledge without planning where to land.
The key to purposeful reinvention is research. @hayleyhobson (Click to Tweet!)
Take time to learn everything about what you’re passionate about, what it would take to start your next chapter doing it. Learn what training or certification you’ll need, how long it will take to get it, what it costs. Find out what the income potential is, figure out if your current expenses can take the change, what you’ll need to save up to have something to fall back on if it takes a little while to get there. Don’t jump blindly. Plot it out, think it out, and don’t forget to dream about it (that’s where the energy and motivation to keep going will come from).
Stay Focused
Successful reinventions don’t happen overnight. Nobody gets super successful without serious hard work. You need to remind yourself every single day that you are working toward something that you know in your bones is going to fulfill you in ways you have never experienced before. And don’t let anyone tear you down or discourage you from what you are after. Don’t let their doubts and fears get into your head. Those doubts are their problem, not yours. Unless they’ve been in your shoes, chances are the naysayers are just jealous that you’ve got the balls to go for it that they don’t have. Don’t let your own fears discourage you either! As long as you stay focused and clear about the steps it will take to get to your goal, chances are really good that you are going to succeed.
Find Your Joy
I have a friend who landed a job right after graduating college. After twenty years, he still has no executive office, can’t afford to splurge once in a while, he hates his job, and that hatred infects the rest of his life. You can’t possibly carry that kind of negative energy while you’re at work and think it’s not seeping into the rest of your life. So… why keep doing it? It’s like being in a bad marriage. I wouldn’t want to sleep in the same bed with someone I couldn’t stand waking up with. Why stay at a job that has you watching your watch all day? Are you stuck in a job you hate because you’re afraid to try something else? Believe in yourself enough to do what you dream!
It frustrates me when people tell me ‘they can’t’ follow their dreams. Of course you can! Figure out what it is that you’re passionate about and then take the steps to get there. Really throw yourself into your passion. Get interested in becoming an expert in your passion. Get educated, take classes, read, teach.
Remember, it’s possible. For decades, no one could run a mile under four minutes. People tried and tried. Then someone broke the four minute mark, and tons of people followed. Once it became possible for one, it became possible for all. There are people who came before you, and if they did it, you can too.
If you think about it, we are changing, every single day. Every day we’re a little older. Every day we learn something new. Reinventing yourself isn’t just about making big, dramatic, sweeping changes. The little things add up too.
It all adds up to being brave enough, confident enough in the person you want to be, and open enough to allow all of those little AND big things become a part of you.
I just gave you three tips for how to be successful reinventing yourself. Have you reinvented yourself? Have you had to? How did it go? What tips would you offer to someone who’s at the end of their rope? Post it here or share it on Facebook or Twitter.
XO Hayley
Hayley Hobson is an author, speaker, business coach, yogi, Pilates instructor, and holistic nutritional expert based in Boulder, CO. Her unique and intelligent style promotes strengthening while softening—empowering her clients to heal not only their physical bodies but their hearts and minds as well. To learn more about her nutritional courses, events, and custom programs, visit hayleyhobson.com or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.
