Ana Miranda
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What do you want to be when you grow up?

18/7/2013

10 Comments

 
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That’s one of the questions that have been messing around my mind since I was a kid. I remember saying I wanted to be an actress, so that I could pretend being lots of other things. Indecision right there. I also remember me thinking how unfair the world was and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to give a decent house and food for everyone. There’s more: I liked to imagine how I would fix my hometown, creating a clean, happy place to live.

I was always a good student, getting high grades and never failing my exams, but I never understood why we had to study stuff like complicated math, chemistry, physics. I wanted to learn first aids, cooking, driving and other useful subjects. I loved my history, language and literature classes.

When the time to choose my major came, I had no idea what I wanted to be. My choices were limited: I had to choose among the courses my local University offered. So I went through the brochure once again, crossing out what I definitely didn’t want: Medicine, Dentistry, Nursery, Law, Physical Education, IT and all that. I ended up applying for English Language and Literature and got first place on the exam. I didn’t really want to be a teacher, but I loved English, reading and writing.

On my second year at Uni, I started teaching and I did it well, but I didn’t love it. I graduated and decided I had to do something new. I needed a change or I would get stuck on that life. I knew I could do better. And so I left home and became an Au Pair.

I really believed that the time abroad, the adventure, the learning-more-about-myself thing would finally give me THE answer I needed. And I would be all “Aha! I know what I want to be when I grow up!”.

I wasn’t totally wrong. I did learn a lot about myself and life, but I realized that being absolutely certain about what you’re supposed to do is not that easy. However, as I talked to friends I saw that they had the same feeling and I read a lot about the mid-twenties crisis. These are indeed hard times, when you have to take control and responsibility over your life. When you have to make decisions for the future and take important steps towards it. When you “have to” do a lot of stuff you’re “supposed to”.

*SIGH*

I’m 27 and I just moved back to Belgium to start building a brand new life. I’m not a teacher anymore. I’m not an Au Pair anymore. I’m just me for now. Sometimes it makes me nervous to have such a blank page in front of me. I don’t even know how the next few months are going to be. Other times, though, I feel grateful and excited for this time to learn, change, choose and create.

I have been reading blogs and e-books about creating business from your passions and living the life you love and it really resonates with me. I want to have freedom and power over my own life. I want to work when and where I like and as much as I like. I want to share and be useful and helpful. Although I have a few faint ideas on how to do that, I still have doubts. What are my gifts and passions? How can I join my education, experience and passions and make a living? What would people pay me for? 

That’s when I decided I want to be supported on this journey. I heard of a place where women are changing their lives and the world; where they are learning to share their gifts and create abundant lives. And I thought “This is totally what I need now!”

I joined Leonie Dawson’s Amazing Biz + Life Academy*. There are courses, books, videos, discussion forums and so many tools to help me figure things out. I have been brainstorming like crazy, thinking, writing, asking around… I even created my very own vision board! 

And I’ve learned to:

1. Always invest in myself. Education, books, courses, seminars. You can never know enough.

2. Do what is doable at the moment. Don’t wait for it to be perfect or it might never come.

3. Look for support! I stopped trying to solve everything myself. Often times the answer I need is not in my head.

That’s why I’m sharing this, peeps! I’ll love to connect and hear your ideas, advice, personal stories, questions, etc. Let’s pick each other’s brains!

*  Originally posted on www.anaeasletras.blogspot.com

* That is an affiliate link. It means that if you click on it and make a purchase, I get a commission. I only recommend it because I truly love it :)


10 Comments
Sue Kearney (@MagnoliasWest) link
20/7/2013 02:13:01 pm

Ana Elisa, it might help to know that even decades later, I still get to discern and re-discern who I am and who and what I am becoming.

Enjoy the ride!

Love and light,
Sue

Reply
Ana Elisa link
22/7/2013 01:51:51 am

Hi Sue! Thanks for this lovely note. It does help to know that how old we are doesn't matter for our self-development journey. We can always re-think our path. It's a relief to understand that I don't have to have every detail figured out right now and that I am on the right path.
xo

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luandinha link
22/7/2013 01:41:23 pm

wow, at first it seemed like i was writing this! so me! even the course in college. i was also good at writing, english, reading... i had always thought i wanted to be a teacher. but i don't. or maybe. i just don't know anymore... on one side it's kind of fun not knowing but it's also scary. everybody keeps asking what i'll do after this year and my answer is always the same: i have no idea! i'll keep trying to figure something out...

Reply
Ana Elisa link
23/7/2013 01:40:41 am

Luanda, isn't it exciting to have this time to "figure things out"? As an Au Pair you learn so much about yourself and the world. I hope you explore all your talents and options. Let me know how it's going. xo

Reply
Christine link
1/8/2013 09:43:06 pm

Lovely post!
I'm also a survivor of the quarter-life crisis & I'm still constantly creating & re-creating myself, I've only just recently learned to accept & enjoy it :)
I felt/feel a lot of pressure to choose & stick with one thing & I'm trying not to pass that on to my little ones. So, I ask them what kind of job they want to have, rather than what they want to be--two totally different questions! I know I'm not my job & I don't want them to feel that way either.

Reply
Ana Elisa link
2/8/2013 01:23:05 am

Hi Christine! Thanks for your comment!
That is an awesome way to help your kids figure out what they want to do for work. I hope I can do that when I'm a mom :)
I still struggle to understand that what I do is not who I am.

Reply
Paige Zaferiou link
2/8/2013 04:15:26 pm

OOF - this is so true. I'm 26 and I feel like I finally have an inkling of the path I would like to follow in life. And when that's a "freedom and power" path, a "do your own thing" and be your own boss path, hooooo doggie is it scary!

But I think it's absolutely worth it.

And in a way, just acknowledging that as my path is immensely freeing (and simultaneously stressful, of course). I love the blank slate. I love getting to write my dreams big on the sky. I love it all.

And you are SO right - we can't do it without our people. So glad to be an ABLA sister with you!

xoxo

Reply
Ana Elisa link
5/8/2013 02:52:58 am

Hi Paige, thanks for your comment. It's great to connect with you :)

This is indeed scary and exciting and totally worth it. I wish you the best on your path!

xoxo

Reply
Maite link
2/9/2013 01:44:49 pm

Very inspiring post!

Reply
Ana Elisa
2/9/2013 02:23:40 pm

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Maite!

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    Hey! I'm Ana - a teacher who loves reading, writing, traveling and nature. 

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