7 Steps To Take A Leap Forward With Your Life

“Wait – you’re moving where??!!”

This was the standard reaction back in 2016 when I’d tell family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances (ok just about everyone apart from the dentist!) that I was moving to Australia with my family.

Cue the questions.

“But Australia’s so far…”

“Australia’s so hot…”

“I’ve heard that every animal in Australia can kill you!”

“I’ve heard there’s snakes and crocs everywhere!”

“I once read that in Australia ……… happened” (insert jaw dropping story that is more unlikely than likely, certainly not Nat Geo nor David Attenborough factual!)”

The classic one… “Why are you moving there? You’ll be back (to Nairobi) in 2 years” (This from someone who’d never set foot nor eye in said country! Negative much?!

Anyway, I could go on. Few cheerleaders, apart from family, but lots of bewildered reactions.

Additionally, there weren’t many people (well, any people) that Alex and I knew that had moved to Australia. He had a few office colleagues, expatriates from Australia, but that was that. In fairness, his mum and sister had visited Sydney in the early 2000s on holiday, but hey, the size of a holiday suitcase is very different to that of a moving-to-a-new-country suitcase, right?    

Bit of background. I’m originally from Kenya. Alex and I moved to Australia as skilled migrants on permanent residency in January 2017 with 3 kids under 10 in tow. Fast forward 5 years, through the horror show that the pandemic was, and as planned we received our Australian Citizenship in January 2022 and shortly after, our Aussie passports in February 2022. Mission accomplished!✔

Well, forward again a few months of 2022, and we’re moving to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in July/August2022!

The standard reaction at present is the same as we had in 2017…….

“Wait – you’re moving wherrre?? Did you not just get all the way over here?!”

The inspiration for this blog comes from this second move, this second leap of faith, with my family. After making such a huge move to Adelaide from Nairobi, and as we’re about to move countries AGAIN, I realize that we have lots of life experiences to share. There are many considerations to make before taking such a huge leap forward in life. In our case we’re packing the kitchen sink, not once but twice, and waving everyone we love ‘au revoir’ with suitcases in hand, tears in eyes and trepidation in heart…. so there’s that!

You may very well be contemplating a major change in your life. It may or may not be as big as moving countries. Maybe moving to another part of the country? It could be taking an opportunity presented to you with your career or business. Change is inevitable as it is constant but whatever it may be, I want to preface by saying…. It. Is. Possible!  

Take One Step Back To Move Forward.

You may be feeling stuck. You have been contemplating or fantasizing about a change in your circumstances forever but haven’t made any move towards your desired position. Often, the first thing to do when you need to move forward but feel stuck is to:

• Stop. Step back.
• Look at what you want to do objectively. Don’t rush but don’t procrastinate either. After you’ve figured out what you want to do, break it down into smaller steps. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it has to be done.
• Take 1 step, the next step, no matter how little. The more you do, the quicker you’ll gain momentum, start to feel better and be in a position to take the next few steps after the first.

Block Out The Things You Can’t Change and Focus On The Things You Can.

It’s easy to see the obstacles instead of the opportunities because the human mind has a natural tendency to focus on the negative rather than the positive.

Focus instead on what you CAN change and before long, you’ll have a much more positive outlook and will end up making more progress than you thought possible.

Start Small.

Building momentum is absolutely crucial to your success. Take small steps every day, no matter how small, to gradually build momentum toward what you want to achieve. Momentum propels you forward and will build your sense of accomplishment with every action you take.

The ‘Magic’ Is In The Detail

Sometimes we may not realize just how many pieces are involved to get to where you want to be. It’s easy to think you’re facing one issue when it’s a combination of things. Figure out what you can change, what you can influence towards the outcome you want or simply and importantly, what you can let go and move forward.

Let Go Of Past Failures.

Just because you tried it before and had a bad experience or failed, doesn’t mean you can’t move forward or that you’ll fail again. Don’t let the past define you or your future outcomes.

Go through it but grow through it. The negative experience could be the catalyst for your future breakthroughs.

Devise A Plan And Stick To It.

“When you fail to plan, you plan to fail”, most motivational gurus will tell you. At some point, you may have all the information you need (for the next several steps anyway). Don’t get stuck collating too much information though because it’s also easy to have ‘information overload’ and get stuck. Again.

Set a goal and laser focus on what you want and where you want to be. It can be as easy as following your heart by seizing the moment.

Plan. Commit. Act!

Remember Your “Why.”

My biggest why for moving to Australia was my beautiful and amazing kids. They are my biggest blessings from God. I wanted to raise them in a safe, relaxed, family-friendly environment where they would grow up with the best opportunities available to them. With dual Australian and Kenyan citizenship, their options have expanded considerably. We achieved that, just by deciding to take the first step in 2015 and of course many other steps after that.  

Remember why you started your journey and what you ultimately want. This attitude will help you stay strong, focused, and determined.

Conclusion

There’s no time like the present. Life is short. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way and always remember your ‘why’. Even when things seem impossible, there’s always a chance for you if you have the patience, determination, and focus to persevere until you get to where you want or need to be.