At 5 years old, I got my first serious job. 

My grandmother had a small homemade yogurt shop after she retired, and decided that I was old enough to get involved. 

Grandma made the job description clear. 

I would help her in the yogurt making process. Mainly passing her the little cups to pour milk in while occasionally stirring the pots. 

I would greet our customers, mostly children and teenagers in the neighborhood; nicely asked which frozen level they wanted: soft, medium, or super icy; and served them accordingly. 

I would also collect money and give change. If I had problems calculating the change, which happened quite often, I was to ask grandma. 

I took my job very seriously and was very proud when I got paid at the end of the week.    

Give yourself full permission to follow what calls to your heart.

From that very first job until now, I’ve gone through dozens of career changes: making and selling handmade keychains, freelance editor for a manga publishing house, freelance translator online, English teacher, business development for an NGO, freelance content writer at a social media agency, making and selling mandala drawings, yoga teacher, creative workshop facilitator, studio owner, blogger, brand influencer, writer, coach… 

Sometimes, I worked for someone else. Other times, I was my own boss. I made little money in some jobs and a lot of money in others. 

Many of my friends, when hearing my story, said: “

You have the most random jobs!” 

I always smiled:

“Yeah, I did.” 

In retrospect, I’m glad I did. 

I’m glad I gave myself permission to follow what calls to my heart (despite my parents’ dismay.) 

I’m glad I didn’t let the voice of others as well as the voice inside my head stop me. 

You know what I’m talking about. The voice in your head that says:

“What if you fail? You will waste your time! This is not a good idea. Nobody will care!” (blah blah blah)  

In my coaching work now, I frequently meet clients who are stuck in an unfulfilling job. That voice is often what keeps them stuck in the first place. It makes them second-guess, procrastinate, overcomplicate, paralyzed in indecision. 

Even if something doesn’t work out, it will lead to something else.

Ironically, the fear of wasting time is what wastes their time. 

If you are feeling this way too, I have a secret to tell you: Nothing is a waste of time. 

I repeat: Nothing is a waste of time. 

Even if something doesn’t work out, it will always lead to something else. 

I opened a boutique yoga studio in Vietnam in early 2015. After nearly 2 years of running, I decided to close it. 

As much as I loved my students and our staff, running a studio simply wouldn’t allow me to have the freedom lifestyle I wanted - a realization I had only during those 2 years. 

Yes, closing the studio broke my heart. 

But the experience of intensively teaching yoga, meditation, leading weekend retreats gave me a rich understanding of working with the body-mind. This serves as a strong foundation for my coaching work, adding more depth and nuances to how I run my sessions. 

It’s easier to keep it moving when you keep it simple.

Another big thing I learned is to NOT sit down and make a big hairy plan. Instead, focus on what I call the “Tiny Passion Project” that will take you further in the direction your heart points to. 

If you’re playing with the idea to become a wellness coach, don’t spend days perfecting some complex business plans. (Full disclosure: I’ve never written an official business plan.)

Think of a Tiny Passion Project. What about a 3-part video series, each of 10 minutes, sharing your top tips on how to eat for radiant skin? 

Post on Facebook and see how people respond. Yes, your friends, colleagues, and family will know it. But don’t panic, they will not think: “Who does she think she is?” (Only the voice inside your head says so.) 

Tell them that you’ve decided to share your passion for wellness. They will be thrilled or even inspired by your courage. 

Do not wait around until you feel ready or confident enough. Do it afraid. Confidence is like clarity. It comes from actions. 

Don't wait until you feel ready or confident enough. Do it afraid. Confidence comes from actions.

Also, beware of the fear-based tendency to overcomplicate. If you don’t have a camera, record on your phone. Your phone doesn’t have a video record function? Borrow your friend’s phone. You’ve got no friends? Write things down and make it into 3 articles instead of videos. 

It’s easier to keep it moving when you keep it simple. 

When you notice anxiety creeping up on you, take a full belly breath, and remind yourself to stay present. (Try mindfulness meditation, it helps.)  

You do not need to see the whole path. You don’t even need to see 5 steps ahead. Just take the one single next step, and the next will reveal itself to you. We live in a benevolent Universe made of Love. Trust it. Let Love love you.  

I still remember many afternoons when I sat with my grandma on the floor in her tiny living room, big pots of milk all around us. Grandma calmly stirred the milk with a big spoon. The sunlight shined from the window, the milk glistened. She smiled quietly.

The key to contentment is having your own definition of success.

Grandma loved food. She loved cooking. She also loved seeing the faces of others when they ate her food. I had never, even once, heard her comparing our tiny shop with others’. 

She wanted a small place where she could run it how she wanted, open and close it when she wanted, and make yogurt the way she wanted. 

A place where she could also teach her granddaughter the value of dedicated work and how important it is to welcome customers with a smile. 

She has her own definition of success, and in that she found contentment. 

My grandmother ran her yogurt shop near the day she died. 

I remember her steps: sometimes slow, sometimes fast, always steady forward, backed by the love in her heart and the care of her hands. 

As I continue my exploration, I hope I, too, can hold love in my heart, care in my hands, and steadiness in my steps.   

And I hope you do the same. 

With so much love, 

Milena xo

P.S: finding purpose

The work you love will not be complete without a clear purpose. That’s why I’ve created a gorgeous 15-page workbook to help you do just that: discover your unique purpose.

Download below and enjoy the exploration!

SHARING = LOVING