Reconnect to Redirect
Time for a refresh. Rebrand incoming
“Your passion is waiting for your courage to catch up” - Isabelle Lafleche
When I started my Substack “Caroline’s Contemplations” in January 2024, it was a form of mindfulness. A place to express myself and connect with a lovely community. Then, I got distracted and life took some interesting twists and turns.
Since my last post in February, my path has become very clear. The clearest it has been since leaving my corporate job almost 2 years ago. I feel excited about what is ahead.
I credit my newfound clarity to the time I have dedicated to reconnect with my true self, what brings me joy, and embracing every aspect of who I am. My mission is to guide others in the same way, because lacking direction, a sense of purpose and fulfilment is a frustrating place to be.
On my last day at work in July 2022, I imagined my career shift into sustainability would be relatively quick - I would be in a shiny new sustainability job within 4-6 months. I was eager to get going, to make an impact.
Looking back I underestimated how much reflection, healing and reconnection to myself I needed before taking that next step.
Enter my Substack rebrand: Reconnect to Redirect.
Reconnect: “to be joined with something else again after becoming separated”
Redirect: “to change the direction or focus of”
This describes the reality of a career shift when you start following your passions and curiosities instead of following expectations and "the norm". You connect back to your true self, who you are deep down, before society got a grip on you. Only then does the redirection, in any aspect of life, become clear.
Reconnect (to self) to Redirect (your path)
My focus had been on moving from one corporate (non-sustainability) role to another corporate (sustainability) role, because that was all I had known for the last 18 years. That mindset was keeping me stuck.
I eventually turned inward to determine my next steps. To step off the treadmill, at last. I rediscovered a love of old hobbies and an interest in new hobbies. I worked with my coach to tap into my powerful self. I attended sustainability networking events. I volunteered my skills to a non-profit. I learnt my true essence through Human Design. I followed my curiosities. All of this, and more, made my world more colourful, and continues to do so.
Yes, it is important to know what your transferable skills are, what your work background is, what the world needs. But it is just as important to know who you are and what lights you up, to ensure your redirection is sustainable and the right path for you.
My career transition has been a long winding path. Feelings of confusion, frustration, loneliness and uncertainty have been prevalent. There have also been many highs, new friends made, knowledge gained and new communities joined, whether in sustainability, writing or my self-discovery rabbit holes.
The world is changing, there are so many opportunities and different ways of working in the world, that benefit you and the planet.
WARNING: it is not a quick process! You need a foundation, that foundation is to tune into who you are, deep down, your true essence - with a dose of experimentation along the way. From there, the clarity is blinding.
It took me a while to realise that the foundation was what I was missing. As soon as I had that, my path ahead was much more enjoyable!
I am now a Strategic Advisor to the Board of an environmental non-profit and run my own consultancy guiding purpose-driven founders and conscious career shifters to clarity.
I am bursting with ideas, topics and knowledge that I cannot wait to share with you. The courage to take these first steps in a new direction finally caught up with my passion: to guide others in reconnecting with their true selves enabling a new direction in life, career and business. Are you ready to Reconnect to Redirect?