I really valued how you framed the reinvention of oneself, like a spiral. It always includes what we have developed before, either deepening into it or expressively seeking to distance ourselves from it. The sweet spot may be someplace between them.
Dear Jeffrey: I'm so glad it resonated with you! It was one of these articles that I kept writing and re-writing for a week (lol) - so I'm so happy to hear that it landed with you!
If anything, it made me eager to hear more. What was it you found, are you still doing it, how can future writing help you shift identities even when you are not sure if they are going in the best direction, etc. We need more!!
Love this: Your Next Chapter Doesn’t Owe Your Past an Apology.
I’m also going to say that your present and future don’t need to apologize for your past. A lifetime of journaling has given me compassion for past versions of myself and your future journaling method has been revolutionary in moving forward from now.
Thanks Magdalena for sharing your wisdom. I also hope you were able to continue your biking late into the fall season. Cheers.
Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, isn't it? For me, the question remains: how come you went back to corporate? Did it bring the hope of a different environment this time around? Do you think you're more ready to tackle typical corporate dynamics better? Is it the pay, the stability?
I'm asking because I've always been against working in corporate; I avoided it for the better part of my career, but ended up there eventually. And now I'm swearing it off *for everrr* and I'm already scared of the prospect of one day going back...! 😊
I absolutely loved reading this. You didn't break any promise to yourself. When you said never again, that day you left? That meant you would never be 'her' again. It didn't mean avoiding 'corporate' forever. That would be putting it outside of you. A kind of blaming for what didn't feel good to you. But it was you who chose the role and stayed in it as long as you did. That is where the clarity comes in.. that is what you didn't want to BE ever again. So you chose different.
In my own life I have seen every evolving into new chapters—quite a few—and the new roles, new environment, new connections, new adventures, as accumulation of skills and insights, and discovery of my talents. It all comes together each time. Just like you now mentioned that as integration of the old identity or role into the new one.
I am writing, and made a breakthrough related to this role playing as well. I'll be posting about that sometime today.
It's great to see your honesty so well written: it breathes security and confidence now you've crossed that threshold in your new chapter. That's powerful.
With a smile and a wink, I secretly wonder what would 'become' after that?
With lots of similar soul searching, I try to see the work that I do as a symptom of who I am, not the root. Corporate or not, you are the same core self underneath and your work is how it shines through and your relationship with work will be a mirror of how you value yourself. It’s so easy to both align an identity with an external “symptom” because we reward it in our culture. Can’t wait to follow you into this next chapter.
Thank you for sharing your thought process as you navigated this really challenging, potentially life-changing decision, Magdalena. It might not have been the right opportunity a few years ago, but if it excites you now and aligns with who you’re becoming, it’s absolutely worth breaking a promise you made to yourself when you were a different person.
Identity is a strange thing, it's powerful, but also a double-edged sword. Lately, I’ve been trying to hold mine more loosely and stay open to it changing. I’ve noticed moments where I made decisions just to stay consistent with who I thought I was, instead of choosing what felt right and allowed me to explore, stay curious, and grow into something new.
Identities aren’t meant to be rigid. They’re meant to evolve as we do.
I really valued how you framed the reinvention of oneself, like a spiral. It always includes what we have developed before, either deepening into it or expressively seeking to distance ourselves from it. The sweet spot may be someplace between them.
Great article!!
Dear Jeffrey: I'm so glad it resonated with you! It was one of these articles that I kept writing and re-writing for a week (lol) - so I'm so happy to hear that it landed with you!
If anything, it made me eager to hear more. What was it you found, are you still doing it, how can future writing help you shift identities even when you are not sure if they are going in the best direction, etc. We need more!!
Hoping these ideas may appeal to others, too ;-)
I love the way you have told your story. And congratulations on this bonus chapter!
I also really resonated with your quote “You become dangerous in the best way”.
Love this: Your Next Chapter Doesn’t Owe Your Past an Apology.
I’m also going to say that your present and future don’t need to apologize for your past. A lifetime of journaling has given me compassion for past versions of myself and your future journaling method has been revolutionary in moving forward from now.
Thanks Magdalena for sharing your wisdom. I also hope you were able to continue your biking late into the fall season. Cheers.
Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, isn't it? For me, the question remains: how come you went back to corporate? Did it bring the hope of a different environment this time around? Do you think you're more ready to tackle typical corporate dynamics better? Is it the pay, the stability?
I'm asking because I've always been against working in corporate; I avoided it for the better part of my career, but ended up there eventually. And now I'm swearing it off *for everrr* and I'm already scared of the prospect of one day going back...! 😊
I absolutely loved reading this. You didn't break any promise to yourself. When you said never again, that day you left? That meant you would never be 'her' again. It didn't mean avoiding 'corporate' forever. That would be putting it outside of you. A kind of blaming for what didn't feel good to you. But it was you who chose the role and stayed in it as long as you did. That is where the clarity comes in.. that is what you didn't want to BE ever again. So you chose different.
In my own life I have seen every evolving into new chapters—quite a few—and the new roles, new environment, new connections, new adventures, as accumulation of skills and insights, and discovery of my talents. It all comes together each time. Just like you now mentioned that as integration of the old identity or role into the new one.
I am writing, and made a breakthrough related to this role playing as well. I'll be posting about that sometime today.
It's great to see your honesty so well written: it breathes security and confidence now you've crossed that threshold in your new chapter. That's powerful.
With a smile and a wink, I secretly wonder what would 'become' after that?
~Mika
With lots of similar soul searching, I try to see the work that I do as a symptom of who I am, not the root. Corporate or not, you are the same core self underneath and your work is how it shines through and your relationship with work will be a mirror of how you value yourself. It’s so easy to both align an identity with an external “symptom” because we reward it in our culture. Can’t wait to follow you into this next chapter.
Thank you for sharing your thought process as you navigated this really challenging, potentially life-changing decision, Magdalena. It might not have been the right opportunity a few years ago, but if it excites you now and aligns with who you’re becoming, it’s absolutely worth breaking a promise you made to yourself when you were a different person.
Identity is a strange thing, it's powerful, but also a double-edged sword. Lately, I’ve been trying to hold mine more loosely and stay open to it changing. I’ve noticed moments where I made decisions just to stay consistent with who I thought I was, instead of choosing what felt right and allowed me to explore, stay curious, and grow into something new.
Identities aren’t meant to be rigid. They’re meant to evolve as we do.