Part 1 of a series I’m calling “launch your next era at 36” and we’re starting here because I think this is the part everyone gets wrong firs when it comes to not forcing things to happen, but still getting to where you want to be. 🤍 We treat getting from point A to point B like it’s a straight line you can will into existence if you just push hard enough.  Force the job. Force the relationship. Force the timeline. As long as we get to B we’ll be happy and fulfilled and we can check it off the list. And then think about how many times we get there and realize oof I should not have forced that to happen. It then starts to feel like a failure and then you’re right back where you started of feeling behind. Here’s what I’ve learned: the in-between point can be more fulfilling than forcing the final destination. The middle point is usually the thing that pops up that’s unexpected, that for a second you want to say no to because it’s not “the exact vision.” It’s not new news to say don’t force things that don’t need to be forced, but it also doesn’t mean accept “it is what it is” The in-between only works if you don’t settle with what that is. It doesn’t have to be the ultimate dream. It just has to be a REAL upgrade from where you are right now, not a smaller, safer version of point A that you’re calling progress because it’s easier than admitting you stalled. This distinction is everything. One version moves you forward. The other just relocates you. So before you force anything, ask if there’s a real in-between you’ve been tempted to skip.  Tell me below: what’s the “point B” you’ve been trying to force? I’ll reply with what I think your real in-between might be. Follow @monicawoodhams - launching my next era at 36, in real time. Come with me ↓