I just recently hit two major milestones that are extremely meaningful to me. I'll share those milestones below along with three valuable lessons that I've learned in the process of achieving these milestones!
Milestone #1: Recently, I was chosen as one of the University of Florida's 40 Gators Under 40 awardees!
I truly love my alma mater and this is a HUGE deal for me in so many ways!
Milestone #2: A few weeks ago, after visiting over 50 homes and moving to 3 AirBnBs since mid-2021, we purchased a home in Metro Atlanta, GA.
This is such an important milestone to our family in moving to another state and finding the home that was the right fit for us!
In the process of achieving these milestones, I learned so much, and I wanted to share 3 lessons that have been reinforced from these two achievements:
Lesson #1: Don't let your current challenges prevent you from feeling peace and joy in the midst of your journey and in the midst of your wins.
Our home-buying journey lasted about 5 months longer than we thought it would. We visited over 50 houses and we put in 5 offers on homes that didn't work out. Some sellers were unkind, and some homes we loved were out of our reach because of so many competing offers. Yet, our family really placed a huge emphasis on trying to operate in peace, gratitude, and joy even in the midst of this process. This allowed our family to make great memories even amidst our home-buying journey.
In the midst of your greatest achievements, challenges might come your way, whether they come up in the journey or even in the midst of the achievement. Though it can be difficult at times, in those moments when challenges come, try your best to be in gratitude and see the light. In the end, what is for you will be for you, and operating in peace, gratitude, and joy will allow you the space to truly enjoy the blessings that come your way.
Lesson #2: Persevere. Keep being on mission.
I learned from my life coaching training that your life's purpose isn't as much of a destination as it is how you live your life daily. When I really dived into doing what I felt I was supposed to do when it came to serving the community and helping people to tap into their potential over the years, I was able to accomplish a great deal and make a significant impact over time.
There were challenges along the way. I experienced imposter syndrome, wondering if I was good enough to be on stages or to have certain contracts in my business. I experienced personal transitions along with highs and lows, but I still showed up and did my best to serve. In the end, persevering and being courageous enough to strive to find peace and be the best version of myself has not only been a blessing to me, but to others. Explore what your mission is and strive to be on mission daily in your personal and professional life. This can open up possibilities and opportunities not only for you but for others as well.
Lesson #3: To say yes to certain things, you have to say no to other things.
Though we visited over 50 homes over this past year, I still had responsibilities to my husband, to my children, to my business, and to other loved ones. I still desired to grow spiritually and maintain friendships. This meant I had to say no to certain commitments in order to fulfill the commitments that were a priority for me. There were events and entertainment that I wasn't able to engage in. There were other opportunities I had to say no to. But in the end, I was able to make time for what mattered during this season when it came to looking for a home. And my business still thrived in the process. Last month Daphne Valcin Coaching brought in the largest amount of sales since we started in 2014! And on a personal note, we were able to find our home after I prioritized making time to visit homes that might be a good fit!
Over the years, I've grown in my understanding of what to say no to in order to address priorities. It wasn't always this way. Years ago, when I lived in Washington, D.C., I was falling asleep on the road on the way to or from events and I had envelopes and notes around my house with things to do that I had forgotten about because I had too much on my plate. Though I was achieving much at the time and even being honored publicly for that, I wasn't prioritizing as well as I should. I've learned that it's possible to make a huge impact without stretching so much that it impacts you negatively physically. Prioritizing can be the game-changer that opens up more space for rest or achievement or adventure or whatever it is you're seeking in this season in your life.
I hope these lessons have been as valuable for you as they have been for me! Feel free to share this post with anyone you think this would be helpful for!