“Oh, The Places You’ll Go” by Dr Seuss

Anyone who follows me on social media will know that I’ve always loved books - including children’s books! My parents read to me when I was a child, and I started reading to my daughter when she was just three weeks old.

One children’s book which I still love - and revisit regularly, even now - is “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” by Dr Seuss. I was first introduced to it on my coach training, and I sometimes use it when I run my own training now, or give it to clients to take away with them. Not only is it full of wisdom and optimism, but it also reconnects me with the time when I was learning to be a coach and really inspired by everything that was possible.

Although it’s ostensibly a children’s book - it’s fun and full of fantastic illustrations - if you scratch the surface, it’s really a book about change:

“You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.”

And we can! We all have the potential to choose the direction of our lives, and decide how we want to grow and learn. 

But turning our dreams into reality can be unnerving. Right now I’m choosing the scary path: instead of staying in my comfort zone, I’m working towards expanding my business at the same time as writing a book, both of which are terrifying. But I know that these are necessary steps towards achieving what I really want in life, which means I’m prepared to venture into the unknown and face the uncertainty that comes with that. 

Change is scary, and getting where we want to be isn’t always plain sailing. In fact, life usually likes to chuck various unforeseen obstacles in our path:

“You can get all hung up

in a prickle-ly perch.

And your gang will fly on.

You’ll be left in a Lurch…”

Like it or not, change comes with ups and downs which we all need to learn to navigate. But when we decide to show up, be seen, and let our light shine, that’s when the good stuff starts to happen:

“Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!

There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.”

If you’re keen to begin 2023 with a positive mindset, then start by reminding yourself that however bumpy the path to change may be, it’s all part of the journey.

“You’re off to great places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting, 

So… get on your way!