Empty asphalt road towards cloud and signs symbolizing success.
Sometimes career inspiration comes when we least expect it. For me, it came from some classic rock. I got in my car and turned on the radio to the song "Don't Look Back" by the band Boston. Remember that one?
I was a huge rock fan when I was a teenager, so this was very nostalgic for me. I cranked up the volume and sang along.
Maybe it's because I hadn't heard the song in a while, or maybe it's because I was hearing it at the right time, but the song's lyrics really hit me:
Don't look back
A new day is breakin'
It's been too long since I felt this way
I don't mind where I get taken
The road is callin'
Today is the day
I can see
It took so long to realize
I'm much too strong
Not to compromise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I'll turn it around
I think Boston got it right: There will always be something that isn't going exactly how you want. But everything that has happened to you so far, good and bad, has led you to where you are. And you’re exactly where you are supposed to be.
Think about where your focus is. If you are dwelling on the regrets of the past, look for what you learned from those experiences and how that opens up possibilities for the future. On the other hand, if you tend to "fast forward" in your mind, try to bring yourself more into the present moment. It's great to make plans and look ahead, of course, but you don't want to overlook opportunities that are available right now (and that includes mini-epiphanies from listening to the radio!). Remember to be open to those little moments that re-energize you in big ways.