Brooke,
I have a bit of a testimonial for you…
When I found your podcast, I was unhappy in my job and looking for a new one. I have been with my company for 21 years next month (and I’m only 42 – wow that’s half my life!) and have worked my way up the ranks. Ownership recently changed for the worse and many key people left. So, I was unhappy, confused and terrified about the direction I wanted to go because I basically grew up working at this company.
I literally would think “I want to have a job where I never have to feel bad or have drama or have to supervise difficult people” even if it meant I took a massive pay cut. I basically wanted to live in a cave. Also, I’m about 100 lbs. overweight and have been on Weight Watchers for years with ups and downs but no real success.
Well, my mom lives in a cave. She is disabled but still somewhat independent. She sits in her home all day, every day and worries about everything. My dad died a year ago so it’s only gotten worse.
Then I found you.
I decided that I needed to think differently about my job before I made a decision to leave. I have now been promoted and am making more money than I ever thought I would. It doesn’t mean I won’t leave…but I know that I’ve NOT made my circumstance the problem. I realized I was talking to people whose opinions were not serving me and I have distanced myself from the negativity. It’s amazing how your job looks and feels different when you change how you think about it.
I have been doing the no sugar/no flour which evolved into low carb, high fat, which is on its way to keto. I did some research but didn’t let it overwhelm me and not take action. I have lost 10 lbs. in the last few weeks after a 2-year plateau and I feel like I have the secret to the universe. My WW leader is asking MY advice on what I’m doing. I have no cravings for sugar. WHAT??? I know that I will get this weight off. It will be hard and it will be scary. But scary = amazing!
My mom, the cave dweller, is now actually considering a trip to spend time with her friends in Northern California (about 11 hours away) and said to me last week, “If I don’t do everything I can to go on this trip, I will never go anywhere. I’m not ready to be done living.” I’ve never pushed her on this kind of stuff and once I heard that, I said, “Ok then we’re going.” THIS IS MAJOR (or maybe EXTRA ha-ha).
I live with my 97-year-old grandfather who recently fell at home and my partner and I weren’t there. He laid in his hallway with a dislocated hip for 5 hours until we got home. The immediate guilt was overwhelming. And then I stopped it. Guilt will not serve me and it will not change it. This could have happened in the middle of the night when we were there. Same outcome. He is now recovering but we believe he may not come home. And I can’t help but think this may have been meant to happen. He doesn’t want to die at home and he’s in constant pain that can’t be relieved unless he’s basically non-functional. I’m dealing with the reality of this situation in such a different way than I did when my dad died. I can’t even put into words how amazing this work has been for me. On my way to work, I listened to your podcast “The Case for Pain.” Best decision ever.
Brooke – to say thank you does not even touch the gratitude I have for you and your work. It has made me want to be a life coach – to share these secrets of the universe.
Jennifer R.
