A Sign Restored My Purpose

Early on in my business, my intuition led me to a deep desire to help others be more balanced in their lives and as leaders.

In January 2017, I wrote my first blog post, “What Does Work-Life Balance Even Mean?”, which started me on a writing path.

Over the years, I’ve taken on other focus areas in business, such as resilience, leadership, and communication, and I’ve found that balance has been a core theme in all of them.

A calling within me, you could say.

More people than I can count have also told me that it’s a waste of effort to focus on balance, saying things such as…

“You’ll never change the corporate rat race”

“Balance is impossible”

“People don’t really want that”

“Focus on improving at work or at home, but not both—it’s too big."

"Call it something else"

“You can’t be happy, balanced, and successful. You get two out of the three if you’re lucky.”

One day, early in 2023 before I wrote the book, Your Balanced and Bold Life, my doubts about making balance the main focus of my business were high.

I found myself letting other people’s opinions and skepticism creep in, and I wondered if I was really meant to be doing this and if I could effect real and meaningful change at the level to which I aspired.

On this day, feeling deflated in my work, I decided to complete the vision board I'd been working on for awhile, wanting to do something creative.

I had purchased about 140 used Oprah magazines from a garage sale so I could cut out words and pictures that aligned with my aspirations and goals.

I’d already gone through about forty magazines in the past few weeks, and I told myself I was going to go through only one or two more on that day and be done.

Instead of just picking the next one off the pile, I let my intuition choose. I closed my eyes, ran my fingers along all the magazines, and then selected one that seemed to nudge me.

It was an issue from 2003—and it was all about balance. I took that as a sign. But the next thing that happened was the real sign and gave me goosebumps.

While flipping through the magazine, I got to the main article on balance. Across the two-page spread was an image of an elephant balanced on a beach ball…

The exact same photo I’d used in my first blog post!

Tearing up, I found my inner confidence. I knew without a doubt that this was, in fact, what I was meant to do and how I could help others.

If I could make even one person’s life better, it would be worth it—though the goal is to impact far more than one, which we can do together.

Since then, I haven’t doubted my mission to help others be more balanced and present in how they live and lead, and that’s what gave me the courage and commitment to finally write the book.

To make a bigger positive ripple.

WE can be the positive ripple.

What do you say?

What’s one thing you can start doing this week to be more balanced in your life? Small changes can make a big difference.

What’s next? Get your copy of Your Balanced and Bold Life: Work Less, Live More, and Be Your Best, available on Amazon and other major online retailers, or visit www.staceyolson.ca/book.

This book will guide you to be happier, balanced, and successful—whatever that looks like for YOU!