It’s March, 2010 and I am yet once again on the road on a business trip. This time I land in Chicago. So, I do my normal routine of jumping into a cab, checking into my hotel room, grabbing the room service menu, plopping onto the bed, but then I happen to finally look up and I see a sign in my room.
Hmmm, I think to myself, that’s odd and not something I expect to see in my hotel room. The sign is at least three feet tall and is prominently placed on the wall across from the bed, so there really is no missing it. The sign says in all caps:
LIFE IS ABOUT CREATING YOURSELF.
Okay, that’s interesting. Of course my mind starts running …
I bet every room has this same sign. This really couldn’t be a message for me … could it? I know I have been trying to figure things out lately and decide exactly how long I want to stay in corporate America and when the right time will be for me to move on and pursue my passions, but this really can’t be the answer staring me right in the face. It just wouldn’t be that obvious. I know you get subtle signs about things and are often pointed in the right direction. I really believe the universe whispers messages that you are supposed to respond to, but this just seems too obvious to qualify as a sign.
This has got to just be a coincidence.
And, that is the trap we all can fall into. Perhaps it is one you are familiar with or have fallen into before.
We write things off as coincidences or we minimize the messages and signs that come our way.
We try to rationalize things and make them fit into our box of understanding when really our job is not to analyze, but simply to listen.
At my core, I have no doubt that everything happens for a reason. So, although I may have questioned the sign in the beginning and thought it to just be a coincidence, it was only a matter of time before I knew my job was to listen.
I asked myself why on earth would I try to write this sign off as a coincidence when I knew deep down it was so much more. I heard the message loud and clear, accepted it and knew I was supposed to follow it.
It was the answer I had been searching for that not only was it okay to follow my dreams, but that it was exactly what I was supposed to do. It was confirmation that we really do have the ability to craft and shape who we are and what we experience in this world.
We get to choose how we will act on our desires and interests and what actions we take to become that person we envision and desire.
Life really is about creating yourself.
So, that’s what I did. I followed the message on the sign and that message was reinforced and followed by sign after sign that it was time for me to move on.
It is now a little over a year later, I have quit my job, I left corporate America, my family and I moved across the country to Southern California and I am doing what I am most passionate about … my writing, my blog and all my other interests. Life is great. I am enjoying it and just taking it all in.
The Lesson. THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES IN LIFE.
(it seems pretty clear now, but doesn’t everything in retrospect).
I didn’t coincidentally go on a trip at that particular time when I was questioning everything, happen to choose a hotel that uses 3 foot signs with messages as décor, and be assigned to a room that had a sign with that particular message. That is no coincidence.
And, any of the things that have happened to you that you thought were just coincidences are not coincidences either. Everything, and I mean every single thing happens for a reason.
There are no coincidences in life and if you think there are, you should probably take another look because chances are you are missing a lesson or a sign.
From here on out, choose to look at things differently.
- Don’t write anything off as a coincidence. Understand there are not coincidences in life.
- Pay attention and be on the lookout for signs (especially the 3 feet tall ones that are staring you in the face).
- Listen when a sign comes your way. Allow the sign to overshadow any of your fears or doubts.
- Think through the message and what your best course of action is.
- And, most importantly … RESPOND AND TAKE ACTION. Do whatever it is you are supposed to do. Be bold, be confident and know you are being guided in the right direction.
Hi Sibyl,
I love this post! We always have to look for signs as everything happens for a reason. Often people start blaming their circumstances instead of taking responsibility for what happens and look for signs and lessons to learn from. I believe if each one of us looks for lessons in every situation, especially the situations that we are not fond of, our life changes dramatically for the better. It all starts with being aware… Thanks for sharing my friend
Dia: Thanks for the comment and stopping by. So glad that you like the post and I totally agree with you that it all begins with being aware. It is so important and allows us to see things we may have otherwise missed.
I don’t know if it is a coincidence or not. That doesn’t really matter.
If it is fitting, if it is something you need to hear, listen!
I was helping out at a baseball camp last weekend and one of the coaches said something incredibly powerful, at least to me, “Success is where preparation meets opportunity”.
That is such a deep saying!
Hey Daniel: That is one of my favorite quotes because it really goes to the heart of understanding what it is you are supposed to do and that you have more control than you may have thought over the things you create in your life. It really is all about understanding and believing in your ability. I agree with you that it is such a deep saying
Hey Sibyl , the Post definitely inspiring. I remember that when I see the first time, and I mean that I heard about it a lot before, but when I “really” understood that, it was for me like a revelation. The knowledge that I have the option to decide what will happen at every moment in my life, and the responsibility that I have on it, it was really exciting for me.
Joe: Thanks for the comment and stopping by. I think “really” understanding is so key. It is all about knowing and really understanding the true impact you can have on your life. Thanks again for dropping by and have a great weekend.
Sibyl
This post was the truth. I have come to realized that there are no such things as coincidences. Everything happens for a purpose and a reason and if we spent time finding out the reason and less on complaining our lives would be a whole lot better. It’s easy to miss the signs when you are speeding through life carelessly. We have got to take some time and enjoy the views.
Great post
Frank: It really is all about making sure you are paying enough attention to see and understand the signs and messages that come your way. So glad that you liked the post. Thanks for the comment and have a great weekend.
So all I want to know is what was the name of that hotel?! Just kidding. That is not the usual hotel room decor, that’s for sure. How interesting! I wrote a post not long ago about signs that keep popping up in my neighborhood in random places. “You are here.” “See you soon Space Cowboy.” “Thanks for the therapeutic smile, Stranger.” Like you, I wonder if they are just for me! Can anyone else see them? No coincidences. I agree. So what did that message mean to you??
Thanks for your post. I’m going to be paying closer attention today as a result of reading it. Coincidence? No way.
Hey Galen. It was actually the “W” Hotel:) I think that is what surprised me even more because it was so unexpected. I am glad that you liked the post and would love to hear about any signs that come your way. Have a great weekend.
Hi Sibyl,
Like you I am a firm believer in watching out for signs. Doing so has many benefits such as giving us ideas that we need to resolve issues or it could just nudge us in the right direction that we should be going. I also believe that signs are heralds of things to come and that if we pay careful attention, we can avoid pitfalls and seize opportunities. In truth, there is no reason to ignore signs because it would only be detrimental to us and our goals. As long as we have a destination in mind, life will help us by dropping hints and signs to help us reach our goals.
Thank you for showing us how to live today better than yesterday!
Irving the Vizier
Irving: Thanks for the comment. It is so true that we really need to pay attention and listen to whatever messages are coming our way. I loved what you said about life dropping us hints along the way. It is so true. Thanks again for the comment.
It’s a great reminder that we’re the most important meaning makers in our life.
I remember the age-old saying, “nothing is either good or bad, only thinking makes it so.”
So true J.D. We have to be careful with the way we label things because we may assume something is bad and overlook that it really is teaching us something important or pointing us in a particular direction. Thanks J.D. for the comment.
Sibyl,
Once again, a very thought-provoking, reflective piece! Thanks for sharing your wisdom, sistahgirl. Glad things are going well.
Hey Jen: Always great to hear from you
So glad that you dropped on by and thanks for the comment. Thanks also for the kind words about the post.
I love this story, Sibyl! Everything comes to us when we listen. Sometimes the hard part is acting on what we hear, but I have found that life is so generous when we let it show us the way.
Thanks for a great reminder to watch and listen.
Hey Gail. It really is all about watching and listening isn’t it? I really love how you put it … life is so generous when we let it show us the way. I love that statement. It is amazingly powerful. Definitely one to keep top of mind.
Sibyl, this is the BEST kind of sign – a literal one LOL. I love this story! I think about signs a lot and even have used numerology (a little) – noticing when the clock says 5:55 for instance (change!) and things like that. Have you ever seen the movie Waking Life? In it the character is getting messages non-stop. It really made me think about how random it is, say, when a car drives by playing a song with a message for you. We analyze our dreams but forget to analyze our waking lives!
Lori
Lori: That is such a great point. We really do analyze our dreams, but often overlook the importance of thinking through the signs that are coming our way. I haven’t seen that movie Waking Life, but it sounds like one I should definitely check out. I am so glad that you liked the story and thanks so much for the comment and stopping by.
Follow the signs! I believe this was a sign for me just by visiting this blog post! I actually am manifesting myself Chicago as we speak. Wanting to make a new life there. My messages as of late is to CREATE what it is I desire and to also follow my hearts desires. Synchronisity or coincidence? I think we both know what it is…
Kenya: I love that! You are so right … it is definitely not a coincidence. Just do you and create the life you want. That is what it is all about. Keep me updated. I would love to hear how it works out for you. I know it will be great.
Alright Sibyl – now this one hit home. By now you probably know that I’m an entrepreneur, but my business is managing my corporate career. It’s really difficult for me to just leave this behind because my income is what pays the bills, affords us the little luxuries of life and allows my wife to stay home with the kids.
I commend you for the moves you’ve made. For all the school that you went through, all the sacrifices you made to get where you were – and still follow your passion, I love it and I’m so inspired by it!
It must have been about 9 months ago when I responded to one of your post. I can’t recall which one, but it was on the lines of doing work within your passion (or something like that). Crazy ol’ me made a reply that was way left field (which we know isn’t unusual!), but it was really how I felt. What I said was something to the tune of:
“I have a passion for being flexible and adapting into any environment…not necesarily doing a certain type of work.”
And to be honest I can say that’s a terrible attitude. I will say that I’m good at being adaptable, and that I have a skill to mesh into different environments and find success (eventually!). But it’s certainly not a passion, Sibyl. I love having a great job that and I would be a fool speak down on it because I’m able to provide for my families in ways that many aren’t. But still, it’s not my passion.
My passion would be to be working under my own umbrella, making a difference in the world by helping others. And that, I will do! Hold me to it, please!
Each of the 5 bullets you shared potently affected me in a motivating way.
Thanks Sibyl!
PEACE
JK: Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment. I am totally going to hold you to following your passion
I really think that is what it is all about and everything else falls into place once you are doing what you love. I hear you though about your responsibilities and leaving your cushy job … trust me, I hear you loud and clear. That is exactly where I was and I do think you have to position the things in your life and most importantly your mindset to go ahead and jump. I am just as pragmatic and risk averse as you would expect any person who has worked in corporate America to be, but I also LOVE going beyond my comfort zone and seeing what I can put together. This has been a crazy and exciting part of my journey and I can already tell you are positioning for an exciting part of your journey as well 
I will be rooting for you.
Hi Sibyl,
Synchronicity..I just wrote about a blatant sign in my life:) I, too, believe in whispers, but sometimes the obvious is what it takes to catch my attention. I’m glad you followed through with this huge sign!
Hey Joy: I hear what you are saying about it sometimes taking the obvious signs to catch our attention. Hey, at least we are catching them at some point
Thanks for the comment.
Great informational post! What I personally believe is that people want to achieve goals with less effort. As you know there is not such thing as something for nothing and creating yourself, the lifestyle you want, the family or business, needs big effort and time! We learn from our mistakes but the quicker we act in a situation the better! I like a quote that I follow in my life. It says, “it’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it”. Most people stay and focus on their problems and not the solution of the problems. If you focus on where you want to go, there are more chances in life to achieve what you really really desire! Thank you for sharing!
John: Loved what you said here. It really is about what you make of everything and what you do about it. I am a believer that you must always make certain you are making the progress you desire everyday and always pushing forward. Great point.
Hi Sibyl
Your last line said it all… “Live Today Better than Yesterday.”
The gorgeous quote that I always remember is…
“Opportunity eagerly stretches out her arms to us. As we open our eyes each morning, she forgets and forgives any neglect of the past. Each night we burn the records of the day; at sunrise, every soul is born again”
Quote is by Cavett Robert.
Love that final line… “…at sunrise, every soul is born again”
I love that quote Keith and you are right that the last line is powerful. Thanks so much for sharing it here. It is perfect and really illustrates the meaning of the article. It is all about taking advantage of that opportunity that comes our way … recognizing it and then doing everything we can to go for it. Thanks for the comment and for stopping by.
This is such a strong message, Sybil! “Everything, and I mean every single thing happens for a reason.” Maybe it’s a sign ~ for me! What you’ve said is so true ~ the way we tend to downplay messages. You’ve given me a great wake up call. I’m so glad you followed the sign and for all the happiness that has ensued for you.
Sandra: Thank you for the comment and it always makes me smile when I hear about wake up calls. That really is what it is all about and it really is true that every single thing happens for a reason. Here’s to finding your answers and seeing the signs
Thanks again for the comment and stopping by.
OMGness, this is so true….Its my fears and doubts that keeping me from reading the signs, but I will be open from now on
Isn’t it a great realization to have … so glad that you will be open from now on
That really is what it is all about.
Sibyl,
This is great advice!
You know, a similar kind of thing happened to me at work today – which led me to take action.
Soon I will see what is the outcome of this. But yes, you should definitely look out for signs!
-Timo
Timo: Thanks for the comment and stopping by. Interesting that something similar happened to you at work just today. I am sure you looked for and saw the signs. Thanks again for the comment and stopping by.
Great post! Yet… you have to have some sort of “in-tunedness” with yourself to see, feel and respond to signs. If you haven’t got a clue what you want, what you need, what you are looking for, then the signs will either pass you by,or you will respond to things that you think are signs and they aren’t – that cafe mocha was meant for the gal at the next table, no one is trying to tell you to start drinking coffee!
Laura- So true. I think you do have to know what you want and that is when you are most receptive and can be most responsive to the signs that come your way. Loved that example about getting the cafe mocha and not thinking it is a sign to start drinking coffee … I smiled at that one
Thanks for the comment.
What a wonderful “God Wink”. I read a book…I think it was “When God Winks”…years ago and it used the “God wink” expression to describe coincidences.
There really is an energy bigger than ourselves navigating and coordinating this whole experience and it is a wonderful ride.
I can empathize with your deliberations of how long to stay connected to your job. I just wrote a post yesterday on the “fetters” of security. I have gone (and am going through) the disentanglement process. It is a challenge, but it is worth it.
Continue to have courage to pursue your life of joy. You deserve it.
Thanks Steve for those words and I hear you on that disentanglement process. You are right that it is a challenge, but it is definitely worth it. There is always light at the other end of the tunnel. Keep me updated. I would love to hear how great it is once you disentangle
Hi Sibyl,
Be aware of the magic in Life. Many co incidences are meant to be.
Be good to yourself
David
Thanks David for those words. I appreciate it.
I sometimes wonder how many signs I ignored in my younger years…….nowadays, I find them everywhere. Happy for you that you paid attention. Thanks for reminding me to be aware.
The most important thing is that you learned the lesson and are paying attention now:) So glad that you enjoyed the post. Thanks for the comment and stopping by.
I am very interested to now how you were able to afford to do this; how you could leave a job with a regular and do what you wanted to instead. How did you manage to replace your income?This is always been the hangup for me. Can’t aford to do what I love- no way to pay bills in the meantime, and doing a full-time job, taking care of house, family… any leftover time is very much needed as quiet, recharge time. So how do you make the transition and start replacing your regular in order to do what you love?
Hey Lisa: I hear exactly what you are saying and definitely had the same feelings for a long time. The best thing I can easily recommend is to create an exit plan and then start working at it step by step. At some point, you are going to have to jump and take some risk, but if you have enough pieces set up, it makes the jumping much easier;) Please feel free to e-mail me and I can give you some additional specific information that can be helpful to your personal situation.
Hi,
I am amazed by those persons who just seem to do always the right thing, that somehow seem not to have any problem in identifying the correct way and walking it, just because that is the way things should be.
My life used to be exactly what you talk about, a series of synchronized events that spelled out the reasons for every single thing happening around me, and the things that were next to come given present events…it was absolutely breath taking.
The close relationship started by making the ‘right’ decisions (not so easy at the beginning, but following my heart telling me it was the right thing to do), and then everything started to make sense more and more, to the point that, in all honesty, got me scared of what it meant. The understanding however brought me to a deeper and stronger fight between the bright and dark sides (I know it sounds a bit like star wars, but it is the truth) of the motives behind every choice. At some point, I had to stop. Prayed for a pure heart and to be doing the right thing, but not having such the strong inner-conflict any more.
Somehow in a given moment I started overlooking what was happening around me, and the relationship and understanding became far more silent. Today I just get glimpses of this relationship in any given day, but would love to be in that perfect peace and understanding (hopefully now without the conflict, now that I have decided my path is doing gods will for me), that tells exactly what the right thing to do is (coming from deep inside me) and that brings me closer to who I really am, that you must have guessed by now, needs to get clear once again.
Is the path I have chosen (God’s will for me), that hope will bring me in close relationship again, and hopefully further to fulfill myself. So I really hope to start getting the insight again. (just like right now I had the feeling that I had written this message before
).
Thank you so much for sharing that story Axel. I know it helps so many of us to hear how we really can follow our own truth and go in the direction we feel is right. I really appreciate you stopping by and sharing your insights here. Thanks again for the beautiful story.
We are a bunch of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done an impressive process and our whole community shall be thankful to you.
So glad Mirella. Thanks so much for the kind words. Please keep me updated. I would love to hear about what you are doing.