Being a beginner is kinda awesome (and scary) - Part 2
Turns out, "me time" is a career strategy. Who knew?
Remember when I said I traded my fancy corporate title for a junior designer role? Yeah, that wasn't just a career move but a full-on life reset. And let me tell you, everything changed.
As I mentioned in my previous post, my ego took a hit. It had to. I needed to pause and look at what was important in my life right now. And what I found was that it wasn't the corner office or the LinkedIn accolades. It was… well, it was everything else.
It was… prioritizing myself, my family, and those connections and little things that truly nourish your soul. It was about finally giving my mental and physical health the attention they deserved – learning to regulate my nervous system with simple joys and consistent routines. It was about remembering that a job, at the end of the day, is just that: a job.
And honestly? One of my biggest lessons was the bittersweet reality of workplace friendships. At my previous job, I made this happiest mistake: I genuinely considered my colleagues friends. And some of them still are. We still keep in touch, see each other, and have our little groups and worlds where we share the details of our days. But leaving that job after all these years, and saying goodbye to those connections was incredibly painful. It was a decision that weighed heavy on my heart.
Look, I know I might not always wear my heart on my sleeve, and even my playlist might lean towards the tougher side, but I care deeply. Leaving those friendships was a real emotional hit.
Right now, I don't think I have the emotional bandwidth to build those kinds of deep workplace bonds again quite yet. It's like… after a breakup. You need "me time." You need space to heal and rebuild. And that's where I am. I'm focusing on myself, on my well-being, on creating a life that's fulfilling beyond the confines of a job title.
And you know what? It's working. One of the biggest, and most unexpected, joys has been the resurgence of my creative energy. All those creative projects I'd pushed aside, the ideas that were always 'someday' projects? This is their time to shine.
It feels like I'm back in university, scribbling down ideas in my notes app at all hours of the day and night and it gets me excited like a little kid. There's this sense of pure joy in simply creating for the sake of creating.
It starkly contrasts the corporate grind, where creativity often felt stifled by deadlines, endless meetings, and KPIs. Now, it's just me, my work at my job, and my creative ideas on the side - and I love the new vibes. I'm rediscovering the joy of design and the thrill of creating something new. It's a reminder that creativity isn't just a job skill; it's a fundamental part of who I am.
But since it's not all rainbows and butterflies, let’s be real. This newfound joy comes with its own set of challenges. Remember when you were a kid and started a new school? That mix of excitement and nervous butterflies? That's exactly how I feel.
I'm a beginner again, something I haven't felt in a long time when it comes to design. And it’s a weird feeling that I’m starting to embrace. Starting a new job, learning new systems, navigating a new team – it's all a bit overwhelming. There's this underlying anxiety, this nagging voice that whispers: are you sure you can do this? It's a completely different experience compared to the confidence I'd built up in my previous role.
But that's okay. It's part of the process. It's a reminder that change often comes with discomfort. I'm learning to embrace the uncertainty, to trust that I'll figure things out. I'm reminding myself that being a beginner isn't a weakness or something to be feared; it's a chance to learn, grow in unexpected ways, and stay open to opportunities, even to those who weren't part of my career path.
My biggest take so far? A decision that makes you humble is better than an achievement that makes you arrogant. Because humility brings inner peace. It allows you to let go of the need for constant validation and external recognition. Arrogance, on the other hand, fuels a relentless pursuit of status and power, leaving you perpetually dissatisfied.
And that inner peace? It’s the foundation for building a life I truly love and enjoy. A life where I'm not defined by my job title, but by my values, my connections, and my ability to embrace the unexpected. And I hope that by sharing my story, you can too.
Big smiles,
Mira