Personal Transformation

Sometimes, in order to change, you only need to change one thing: EVERYTHING. But that's just the start.

And sometimes, you need to find your ENOUGH.

I've been through a couple of transformations in my life. I'm not talking about changing the hairstyle or growing a beard, but a complete personal transformation, changing the habits, thinking, perspectives, and sometimes even location. I've learned along the way that there are small changes and adjustments needed for personal growth, but when you get stuck, the only way forward might be a complete metamorphosis.

At one point, I was stuck as a lost young man in my early twenties. I knew I wanted more and something bigger than what I had at the time, but I didn't have a clue what exactly.

I started searching and soon stumbled upon an opportunity that sounded scary: getting a job at a company I wanted, but I had to move to another country. Up until then, I had barely visited less than half a dozen countries in my life, but not this one. I had no idea of the culture, language, habits, or daily realities of living there. Fortunately, I realized that it was a lifebuoy, and I grabbed it despite being frowned upon by everyone around me.

The second time, I was in my early thirties, a good decade into my sales career, and I went the "usual" way of the yuppies — I worked hard and partied even harder. There were no sports activities in my life; it was filled with working, eating, smoking, and drinking too much, and it showed: I was significantly overweight, completely unfit for my age, and I was sick more and more often.
But Lady Fortune struck me again, and I stumbled upon a book that changed my life (again).

I started running, very slowly at first, but the best thing about being significantly overweight and sedentary is that the results show very fast, and that can be super motivating.

Instead of being a smoking or alcohol addict, I eventually grew into a health addict. Addiction is an addiction, and while being a workout addict might be better than an alcoholic, it's still not very healthy.

At one point, I was running 50K per week, eating only a vegan diet, not consuming any alcohol, and measuring everything I could measure. And I wanted to keep running faster and faster, being perfect in my diet, and win the longest streak of teetotalism of any adult person I knew (I went on for 863 days!).

The more I thought about things, the more I realized it's time to find my ENOUGH also on the health front. I'm not a professional athlete, so I don't need to keep going faster. I can enjoy social situations more if I allow myself to indulge in some tasty wine with a good meal and great company. And while I'm still mostly plant-based, I do consume meat, although I prefer fish or seafood whenever I have a choice.

The magic is in realizing when to change everything and when it's alright to evolve, adjust course, and keep the trendline in the right direction. That's called experience, and only you can make that judgment for yourself.

If you feel you’ve lost your balance, the first thing to understand is that finding your ENOUGH is a deeply personal journey. It requires self-reflection and introspection to understand your values, priorities, and limits.

Here are a few steps you can take to help you embark on the path of finding your ENOUGH:

• Reflect on your values what brings you joy: Take the time to identify what truly matters to you in life — and what brings you joy and makes you happy is probably where you'll find your core values and beliefs. Understanding yourself will help guide your decisions and actions.
• Set realistic goals: Define what success means to you in different aspects of your life, such as career, relationships, health, and personal growth. Set achievable goals that align with what brings you joy.
• Practice self-compassion: Be kind to yourself. Avoid comparing yourself to others, and embrace your unique journey.
• Establish boundaries: Learn to say NO to commitments, activities, or relationships that do not serve your well-being or align with your values. Setting boundaries helps you prioritize what truly matters to you.
• Embrace balance: Strive for a balanced life that encompasses different aspects of your well-being, including physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects. Allow yourself to enjoy life's pleasures while maintaining a sense of moderation.

Remember, finding your ENOUGH is an ongoing process. It may evolve and change as you grow and gain new experiences. Be open to learning, adapting, and adjusting your path along the way.

Having said that, I do realize that the subtitle of my first book is grammatically wrong. It should say, "Finding your ENOUGH." I'll work on fixing that in my next book. ;-)