Directional Living by Megan Hellerer (pictured) did not exist when I was in my twenties. But had it, I’m confident I could have saved myself a lot of grief throughout a particularly dire decade. Because I too could have done with some support in getting unstuck, finding career fulfillment and discovering a life that was right for me. Instead it felt like a bad, high stakes, dimly lit game of snakes and ladders.
But before I describe exactly how impactful I found Directional Living, I’ll first give some background on the author… Megan Hellerer is a self confessed perfectionist and over achiever. In her early twenties she has lived a text book successful and productive life –studying hard, achieving superlative qualifications, and getting the gold standard of jobs – a position at Google.
And this is where her almost guaranteed path to professional success and everlasting career contentment goes awry. Because, although Google is undoubtedly a good place to work – it wasn’t Hellerer’s good place. In fact, it was so misaligned with her authentic self that she finds herself wholly unhappy. A, experiencing panic attacks and feeling unable to get out of bed. In short she is deeply discontent, but just can’t figure out why. So she hands in her notice.
What follows, after her perceived breakdown, is unsurprisingly a breakthrough. Hellerer realises she’s lived her life this far, based on the external praise, and desire to impress others. And so she begins the pains taking, work of finding out what she really, truly likes and wants. There’s a particular moment that represents this unearthing of inner self when Hellerer is pondering a box of tissues at the supermarket. Which packaging does she really like best? She is paralysed with the weight of choice and the feeling of being adrift from her inner self.
Finding your north star
Ultimately Megan, over a period of many months, was able to locate and embrace her true self. And now she can help you too. And really she’s very good at being a career coach. This is a well researched book with excellent effective, strategies. And written in a strong, supportive, but never preachy voice. I felt I was in safe hands.
Unlike most career guidance, Hellerer is adamant that knowing what you want to do next is not a prerequisite for moving . And she’s not in favour of five year plans either. Directional Living, as the name suggests, is about using your intuition, taking the pressure off yourself, and following the general direction of whatever makes you feel curious or excited.
And Hellerer has devised some really effective tools to enable you to do this. There’s the truing technique. Used in the way a carpenter would check his work was level. But this time it’s checking in with yourself to make sure your feelings are balanced. Or have you let in external voices of fear shame and pressure? Then there’s also an awareness of ‘shoulds’ in your speech, a tool most counsellors will be familiar with. ‘Should’ typically suggest a feeling of obligation coming from outside sources, rather than a feeling of desire coming from your true self. For example I should apply for that job.
Will Directional Living be useful if I’m not a perfectionist or an over achiever?
It absolutely will. Directional Living by Megan Hellerer is good for anyone who wonders what they’re doing with their life and how they ended up in a place that feels so wrong.
Whatever your background, whether your qualifications are stellar or standard, if you’re waking each day with a feeling of dread then this is the book for you.
And even if the feelings less fear or dread, and more in the area of ennui, or low key discontentment – there’s still so much you can get from Directional Living by Megan Hellerer. I’ve recommended it to friends and clients alike, because I’m so sure of its value and brilliance.