I’m Right Where I Need to Be

Coming back from a two-week vacation and heading straight to San Diego for my work offsite, I was catching up on emails and messages when I saw that I was scheduled to lead a full-day session on Wednesday.

At first, I felt a bit of resentment. While many of my coworkers were off doing fun team bonding activities like escape rooms and whale watching, I’d be indoors, guiding my team through business problems and giving a presentation.

I felt stressed. I felt the pressure. And whenever I feel this way, I turn to Inner Excellence, a book I brought with me on this trip. There’s one passage I’ve dog-eared and returned to again and again:

In the pursuit of extraordinary performance, it’s easy to succumb to anxiety and pressure, because so much is out of your control. When you learn to live a life that is fully engaged, however, then you can perform your best and love the challenge. Every performance, presentation, or problem you face is an opportunity to learn and grow and vividly experience each moment. You will find, as you take this journey with me, that your best moments always come from a clear mind and unburdened heart. This allows you to take the risks necessary to be everything you were created to be.

Reading that always feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders.

Now that the presentations are over, I can say that the stress pushed me to perform and the adrenaline I’m feeling right now is amazing.

I’m right where I need to be.