I quickly realized the workplace was broken and placing my happiness all in my career wouldn’t pay off. I decided to switch careers and move again. A few jobs and a masters degree later, I realized the dream job I was chasing didn’t exist. Once I was honest with myself I could admit that I didn’t want my dreams attached to one job or company. I wanted dreams I could take with me no matter whose name was on my paycheck.

They say to have a life you’ve never had you have to do things you’ve never done. I finally did something different. All my attention turned to building a meaningful life full of purpose, adventure, and love. I invested in my development in a BIG way. I attended retreats, hired a coach, went to therapy, worked with a professional organizer, attended yoga trainings, and read tons of books. I visited new cities, continents and countries for the first time. I failed … A LOT. I started to face fears (ask me about the swing in Bali) and grew in my faith. I gave more than ever before. I experienced new things. I learned the negative effects of stress (this part was painful and scary but the lesson is one I’ll forever carry) and the positive benefits of rest.

Along the way I learned a new philosophy for my relationship with work, invested more time with the things and people I love, and started prioritizing what matters most. I left college looking for a dream job, but realized I care more about building a meaningful life. I love empowering and equipping people to find more joy, freedom and purpose by living intentionally. 

Today I am thankful to do work I enjoy, but more importantly I am thankful to have a life I enjoy. There are plenty of hard days and it will never be perfect, but I try my best to make time for the people and things I love. After learning most of our behavior is on autopilot, I committed to disrupting the defaults in my life and want to help others do the same. Maybe one dream job or a dream life doesn’t exist, but I think we can still have lives full of meaning and purpose and have a lot of fun (and failure) along the way.