You didn’t see a post from me last week. That’s because I recently had to undergo an unexpected surgery for a detached retina. I say “unexpected” because I didn’t know I was going to need such a surgery, but there have been signs of a problem for several months which I chose to ignore.
Why did I ignore them? First, I didn’t want to have to go through any out-of-pocket expenses for tests or treatment. Second, I didn’t want to face the pain of possible treatment. But, the signs didn’t go away. They started out as whispers and just got louder, and I knew what I had to do even though it was scary and somewhat costly.
Listen to the Whispers
Have you ever done the same thing? Have you ever noticed little whispers that something needs to change? Either in your health, your personal life, or your work situation? And when you ignored those whispers, did they eventually get louder?
I find this to be common among many of my clients. Most of the time they come to me only after the soft whispers have become deafening shouts. They’ve known for a while something in their work situation has to change or they’re personal life and health is going to suffer. Many wish they had listened to the whispers right away and started planning their next steps sooner.
The Consequences of Ignoring the Whispers
I wish I had sought help sooner from my opthamologist. I was lucky though. The retina specialist said my detachment was a slower progression than most, but if I had waited any longer I could have lost my sight in my right eye.
Sometimes the consequences of ignoring the whispers are much worse than the pain and expense of improvement. My recovery will take time, five to six weeks. The first two weeks were extremely painful despite how well I’m healing. I’m having to be patient with the time it takes to recover, and have faith that I’m healing properly. I’m just thankful I still have my eyesight in my right eye.
I share all this to remind you who are considering the difficult decision of leaving a job, changing careers, relocating, or even starting your own business. If the whispers have become shouts, don’t ignore them! Face the facts, push through the fear, and get the help you need.
I promise that career coaching, while it takes time, is not nearly as painful as eye surgery! In fact, it can be fun and is very freeing! Once you get started, you’ll probably wish you had started sooner.
Is it Time to Listen to the Whispers?
If you know it’s time to listen to the whispers (or shouts), let’s talk. Although I still have a few more weeks of recovery, I’m able to chat over the phone to help you determine if coaching is the next best step for you. Just take a moment to fill out the paNASH intake form and we can schedule a time to discuss your situation. I look (with both eyes!) forward to talking with you!
Lori Bumgarner, Owner of paNASH
Note: due to my recent surgery, plans to launch the on-demand coaching programs have been delayed by a few weeks. However, I will announce in my newsletter and on this blog when they are available. Thank you for your patience!
