My Journey… and the roots of Why Not Sprout?!
Once upon a time – not too long ago – I felt completely “stuck” in life. To an observer, it might appear that I had it all. But inside, it seemed as if I was spending most of my time spinning in everyone else’s tornadoes. I mean, who in their right mind runs INTO a spinning whirlwind? Hmmm – evidently, that would be me. I was becoming short-tempered and snarky; I was exhausted, resentful, and unfulfilled. And so freaking busy. And yet I didn’t think I was accomplishing anything! Nothing I did seemed to be enough. I knew it had to stop.
Little did I know that after a whole lot of effort to slow down and finally stop the pattern of getting all caught up in the problems of other people’s lives, I discovered I was quite proficient in creating my own spinning tornadoes! In my attempts to please everyone and “be nice,” I had actually pleased no one. And in the process, I lost sight of myself. Yup, I had pretty much “accommodated” myself right out of my own existence. In this busy life and culture of to-do lists and “what have you done for me lately” attitudes, I was living on autopilot. It is far easier to continue to do what you have always done. And before I knew it, I had accumulated more and more layers of stuff over my true “self.” At some point, I began to realize that something wasn’t right. I felt “off” – but I didn’t know where to look or how to start something different. While the sensation started off like a gentle nudge in my brain, I soon knew with every fiber of my being that I was way off course. And that was the beginning of my own personal journey back to the center of “me.”
“I learned a whole lot about myself during the discovery process. Some of it good, some of it surprising, some of it less than stellar and some of it downright disappointing. But mostly I learned that transformation is possible. Joy and hope are real and obtainable.”
The process is messy and not at all straightforward. But there is nothing that makes you feel more alive inside than going for your dreams and living a life that is in alignment with your core values. And when you put your strengths to work in the world, you sometimes are able to light up so brightly on the inside that people can see it shining in your eyes. And they begin to wonder.
There are so many ways we can choose to see the world. The way you see it – the places where you focus most of your attention and energy – well, that is the world you will get. So I asked myself – what world do I want to live in? And with the help of many friends and a great support network, I am actively creating my life.
An Idea Started to Germinate…
This was the seed of Why Not Sprout?! And this is why it is so important and personal for me to be able to “serve it forward.” I firmly believe that every single human being deserves peace, happiness, and contentment in their lives – regardless of what is happening in the world around them. Yes, it takes time and persistence – and it is well worth the effort.
Why Not Sprout ?!
So, if your old way of “being” no longer serves you well, and your new way of “being” hasn’t quite taken root… and you are feeling a bit like you are stuck in limbo, know that there is a way forward. There is a world of possibilities and opportunities for you to explore. It is my sincere hope that I can now support others on their journey, by sharing some of what I have learned on mine… so I invite you to look in your garden and nurture that which grows within. Take a chance on yourself and create something new in your life…. Why not Sprout?!
… and Sprout was Born
In my 24+ years as an International Marketing Research Consultant in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, I designed, planned and personally moderated hundreds of custom projects around the world. In my travels, I had the opportunity to experience how different cultures approach health and well-being.
The part of my job I loved the most was creating a discussion guide that flowed like an unfolding story, and then personally interacting with the participants as I led scores of one-on-one interviews and focus groups. I became known for my ability to connect with my audience – whether I was talking with a well-known physician thought-leader or the parents of young children who had just been diagnosed with a life-altering (or even life-threatening) disease.
People seemed to naturally open up around me. Our conversations generally led to uncovering what they were “really” thinking and feeling about their health care, a disease, a product, a promotional piece, and other health-related topics.
With Why Not Sprout?! I am blessed to have found a way to marry my research skills with my life-long love of psychology and continuous learning. I feel as though I have come home.