Resilience Through Intentional Living

I’ve always been a “good girl.” I got good marks, had nice friends, and followed the path that seemed laid out for me. In high school, teachers suggested I should become a lawyer. It sounded impressive, my parents approved, and so I followed that idea into university—even though none of my true passions, not a single book I picked up or hobby I enjoyed, had anything to do with law.

I didn’t end up going to law school, but I did pursue a Master’s in Business. Once again, I ignored my inner compass and chose what society seemed to value most. An MBA sounded important, so I went all in. Finance, marketing, and strategy became my world—all aimed at climbing the corporate ladder in a big organization.

What I didn’t notice—or perhaps chose to ignore—was how I spent every spare moment in the wellness and spirituality section of the bookstore.

When I graduated and landed my first “big job,” it was in a large government organization. On paper, it looked perfect. My parents approved. Society approved. But within two weeks, I knew I didn’t belong.

I hated it.

Day after day, I sat in a sea of cubicles, doing work that left me uninspired. One day, my manager offered me a spot in a career development program that would lock me into a lifelong federal career. That was my breaking point—I knew I had to run.

I didn’t know what my dream was yet, but I knew it wasn’t that.

Much to my parents’ dismay, I quit my secure job without a backup plan. Shortly after, I ordered a Tony Robbins program. I still remember the day it arrived—a massive binder and CDs delivered to my little one-bedroom apartment. For the first time in my life, I gave myself permission to dream without anyone else’s expectations shaping it.

Through those exercises, I discovered a new vision: to teach and help others reach their dreams and potential. I even gave myself a title: “Human Potential Development Consultant.” I wrote it on a piece of paper and taped it to my fridge.

I had no idea how to make money at it, but that vision became my North Star.

It wasn’t an easy path, but having a clear vision gave me direction. That clarity became my anchor, helping me stay resilient when challenges inevitably came my way.

Living Intentionally Builds Resilience

Intentional living is about tuning into what you want—not what the world tells you to want. Resilient individuals set clear intentions and take deliberate steps toward them, even when the full path isn’t clear.

When you start living intentionally, something remarkable happens. Part synchronicity, part neuroscience, but suddenly, things begin to align in unexpected ways. A clear vision not only rewires your brain to believe in possibilities but also strengthens your resilience to life’s inevitable ups and downs.

What’s Your Painted Picture?

In the Certified Resilience Coach Program, we guide participants through an exercise called the "Painted Picture." It’s a powerful tool to imagine your best life and chart a course to make it a reality.

The beauty of this process is that you don’t need to have all the answers—you just need to begin.

To help you get started, here are three simple steps to train your brain for resilience and possibility:

1. Challenge Your Beliefs
   Think about the life you want. Are there assumptions holding you back? For example, do you believe you need a lot of money to take time off or travel? Ask yourself: Is that really true? What if something else were possible?

2. Find Evidence of What You Want
   Our brains are wired to notice the negative—it’s a survival instinct. But you can retrain your mind to see opportunities. Seek out people living the kind of life you desire. Follow them, read their stories, and surround yourself with proof that your dreams are achievable.

3. Visualize Your Ideal Life
   Your brain doesn’t know the difference between imagination and reality. Spend a few minutes each day vividly imagining your ideal life. Picture where you are, how you feel, and what you’re doing. This simple practice helps your brain align with the future you want to create.

If this resonates with you, I invite you to join the Certified Resilience Coach Program. It’s full of tools and practices like these to help you—and your clients—build resilience and create lives of meaning and purpose.

Don’t wait—Early Bird registration ends November 30, 2024! 
Save $300 USD when you sign up now. 

Let’s embrace the challenges together and build a life of resilience and purpose. 

 
Here's to living with intention, 

Monica