Nowadays there are countless resources for guidance in personal growth and the achievement of maximum potential. This entry does not intend to provide yet another argument in defence of the Law of Attraction or positive psychology. It is simply a personal anecdote which I will use to describe mindsets and attitudes that have been helpful for me. My intention is to share with the reader an important chapter of my life, to which perhaps, they themselves will identify. Ideally, it will evoke personal reflection and application. At the very least, I hope it is an enjoyable read.  

In December of 2016 I was in my third year of coaching in a small village near Malaga, Spain. As perfect as the setting of my everyday life was- with endless sunny days, beautiful scenery and the most loyal and competent set of colleagues one can ask for- something within me was imploring for change.  I knew my time had come to an end and that I was ready for new challenges.  My internal compass, which has guided me around the world, was now pointing North.  I was especially attracted to the renowned high quality of life in Scandinavia and the fact that it would be completely unknown territory.    

At the end of the year, as hard as the decision was to leave such a comfortable lifestyle and close relationships, I made my intentions clear that at the end of the season I would be leaving. “Where?” – my boss and colleagues would ask – “Not sure yet…” – was the best answer I could give them, “… but somewhere in Scandinavia.”  

I devoted my winter break to writing emails to all teams in the 1st and 2nd divisions of Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Holland (don’t worry, I am aware this is not Scandinavia but thought that wouldn’t be a bad place to be either) and Norway. I was confident all this work would lead to something. Nevertheless, three months passed, and I had not received one positive response. Naturally, I was getting discouraged, but I had plenty of work to keep me busy including the pursuance of a coaching licence in England in March.  I headed to Britain excited to expand my coaching knowledge and unaware of just how influential of an experience was awaiting me.  

I was one of the first coaches to arrive on the first day, so I picked a seat in one of the round tables and patiently waited, feeling butterflies in my stomach as if it was the first day of school. After some time, a coach walks in wearing a jacket imprinted with a logo I recognize. I search in the extensive football teams’ database stored in my memory, and quickly realize it is the Norwegian capital’s team logo, Vålerenga. This is the brake I had been waiting for, a direct connection to Scandinavia. Eventually throughout the day I introduced myself and got to know this coach better, we immediately got along, and continued to do so during the remaining 4 days of the course.  

The few weeks after the course were incredible, in less than a month Darren, the coach wearing the Vålerenga jacket, had arranged a small role for me in the Oslo club. Not only did he help me with housing and settling in the new country, as if we had known each other for decades, he became and continues to be an extremely close friend.   

My first role within Vålerenga did not match my ambition, yet I knew even the smallest crack in the door would be enough for me to kick through.  I have now lived here in Norway for the past two and half years, thoroughly enjoying a rich professional and personal life. So, what did I learn from this experience? 

From the beginning of the process I had an unshakeable belief that I would be able to achieve my goal of moving to a Scandinavian country. However, I knew that I would actively have to pursue that dream to transform it into reality. This mindset can be applied to any goal that we propose ourselves, whether personal or professional. Do you have a destination (goal)? Excellent! but, what are you doing about it? Take action and be the catalyst of the changes in your life. For me, it started by sending emails to ALL the clubs in Scandinavia.  Although nothing came out of that directly, I felt I had won a small battle. I had taken the first step toward my objective and was now prepared for the next.  

Some believe in karma, some in destiny, I believe in opportunity. When I saw Darren walk into that room, at that moment a stranger, I saw an opportunity to pursue my goal.   

 We always have a choice to act upon cues in our lives. I encourage you to be attentive of these moments and use your wisdom, information and resources to determine the best course of action. Awareness is key.  Picture life as an intricate video game, with hints and clues awaiting to be found.  

In conclusion, believe fully in your skills and pursue your goals with relentlessness and confidence. Once you have done that, you will feel closer to the objective. Be patient and aware of the opportunities that your actions might bring. Sometimes even the most unattractive door hides behind it a world of beauty. I once read a quote that said, “The idea is to remain in a state of constant departure, while always arriving”. I interpret this as a call to find balance – to continue growing, changing and adapting while at the same time being in the moment and appreciating the good in one’s current situation.