The car crash

I don’t know what frightens me more: the fact that I used to drive to work fantasising about a car accident, or that when I share this story there is at least one person in every room who says they have felt the same.

I was very specific about what I wanted: a non-life-threatening or permanent injury accident, with no injury to anyone else, but a crash that would immediately see me sent to hospital where I was forced (enabled?) to stop work and stop being responsible for anything other than resting and recovering my health (and sanity!).

Hearing myself say it out loud is shocking, but that was my truth.

I recall the precise stretch of road, the clinical, detached way I’d think about it, and the way I’d then pull into my work carpark, get out and step into my day dressed immaculately and performing in my corporate role. No one had a clue what was going on inside me. 

It is scary. And it’s telling. If you can relate, please know this - no job is worth it.

The thought of stopping, changing and redirecting can feel so overwhelming and impossible when you’re under a lot of pressure and stretched every minute of your day. Our thinking betrays us and we feel stuck, lost and helpless. But you’re not.

You have more control, more capability and more positive change waiting for you than your mind is letting you think. Please believe me on this.

Sometimes it just takes a reset, a refresh, a reframe or a realignment of values. It might be a small change in your role or conditions, or maybe it’s bigger than that and time for a fresh start. But letting it go on and on is only making it worse for you.

I got serious and decided that enough was enough. I needed to step away and figure out what I really wanted to do with my life; the way I was living, was not it. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. I didn’t have someone like me to turn to - someone who knew how to navigate this. So I did it the hard way. I did it myself.

I now use this experience and everything I learnt from it - before, during and after - to help people like me get unstuck, find clarity, confidence and purpose and move forward in the direction that’s right for them.

Clients say it’s life-changing (which is deeply humbling to hear) and I get to witness people move from feeling lost, stuck and confused to re-energised, reset and ready to go. And often, the change happens very quickly.

If you or someone you know resonates with this, please, please stop trying to do it on your own and let me help you. You are worth it, you deserve it and some would say, you need it.

Now I enjoy driving as a time to think, a time to listen and learn from podcasts, a time for adventure on the open roads and a chance to sing my heart out to great music. And never, ever wishing a car accident on me, or anyone else.

Drive safe. Be safe. And let yourself get back on track.

Lesley

Email me at lesley@littleshove.com.au to enquire about Little Shove mentoring.