I recently came full circle as I started teaching a course as an adjunct professor at Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology in Malibu. I remember growing up and passing by the campus on our family trips to the beach during the summers, and just a few years ago driving up the winding road as a graduate student myself. This winding road up the campus was symbolic of the path I committed to, all the while being filled with curiosity of where this academic and career path would lead me. Time has elapsed and my personal journey is life-long. As a therapist and professor, I still find myself holding a deep stance of curiosity.
I absolutely hate icebreakers- and I feel like I’m not alone in this experience! Yet, it was the first day of the semester and I needed to ask certain questions to familiarize myself with my students. As I went around the room asking questions trying to make the icebreaker portion of the introductions as tolerable as possible, I included the question: “Where do you envision yourself in the future?” with the caveat, “This can change and potentially will!”. Some students had a clearly articulated vision, others a more ambiguous one. One of my students answered boldly that she didn’t know and was open to all the possibilities. As I sat in this room with humans with a certain vision and commitment to the path to becoming a therapist- my recent reflections on my own life and ambitions became more salient: whether you have a clear plan of what you want or are simply open to the possibilities, this inquiry is essential to navigating your direction: am I on the right path?
Signs You’re on the Right Path (For You!)
You’re Moving Towards Something versus Away From Something
One powerful way to identify whether you’re on the right path is to assess which direction you’re moving in. If you find yourself moving towards a path in order to avoid something else, it may be time to reassess. Many times in life it is essential to just be, as well as to know how to move away from situations that are not healthy for us. However, if you find yourself moving in a direction and want to know if it’s the “right” one (p.s. There is never a “right” or “perfect” one, just right for you!), it may help to think of the saying: “wherever you go there you are.” This saying has become a palpable teacher over the years during my travels. I would find myself in completely new environments, stripped away from all the familiarities and comforts of my daily life – and all that remained was me. I was much more clearly able to decipher the patterns, thoughts, and struggles that followed me no matter what geographical location I was in.
You Get Excited *Thinking* About It
When you’re with yourself, do you find yourself fantasizing and getting excited about the direction you’re moving in? Whether it be a career, academic, or creative endeavor, talking with others is one thing… but when you’re with yourself, what are the contents of your thoughts? We tend to be the most honest with ourselves when we are alone–and if we are not, our bodies definitely tell us! This is where I like to identify if my body is telling me that I’m experiencing anxiety/nervousness or excitement. Our body processes these two emotions through the same physiological mechanism, yet there are subtle differences. With both, you may feel more antsy and restless, but anxiety usually leads to avoidance and burnout, whereas excitement leads to purposeful engagement with the endeavor at hand.
You Feel a Certain Level of Competence
Sure, imposter syndrome can happen in every field. We are always learning, after all! However, if you’re on the right path *for you*, you may feel a combination of ease and competence with an energized motivation to expand upon your gifts/skills! This may be due to tuning into what you want versus what others want for you. There is a deep freedom that arises from us connecting ourselves as our starting point, and moving onward from there!
Your Life Feels More Purposeful
A telltale sign that you’re moving in the right direction is the feeling of your life being more full rather than busy. A full life can be a busy one, as can an “empty” experience of your day-to-day life. Pay close attention to whether your days feel full, instead of focusing on the amount of responsibilities and/or opportunities you have. Do you feel purpose in the majority of your day-to-day endeavors? Do you feel a sense of meaning that you are creating through your pursuits? As humans, we are deeply wired to seek and create meaning in our lives.
Finding the right clinician to help you ascertain whether you are on the right path for you can be a profound process! Please get in touch with our Client Care Coordinator at Root to Rise to book an appointment with one of our therapists today.
With gratitude,
Atalie Abramovici, LMFT
