Turning the page can be hard. We are comfortable staying stuck where we are. When we’re comfortable, we don’t have to think or expend energy. We often justify why we are where we are and stay stuck while waiting for permission to change.
The challenge is … during these ruminations … we allow uncertainty, lack of control, and fear of the unknown to keep us stuck. Our internal voices label our dreams as unimportant and often disparage them as too risky, maybe later we will (retirement, children out of the home), or it’s too expensive (money, relationships).
Yet, pursuing your dreams requires you to turn the page and move forward into the uncomfortable and unknown … the next chapter.
Why is fulfilling your dream important? Because your dreams will die … simply vanish if you do nothing. Your heart and soul, which support your quality of life, may feel a void or an unfulfilled purpose. Also, there’s an inner power and confidence that naturally emerges — “I did it!”—when you’ve turned the page and have actually done it.
Now’s the Time to Name the Moment
Many of us know when we’ve outgrown our current chapter. Whether it be in the job, waiting for that promotion, being open to freelancing, writing a book, traveling to Europe, or rock climbing. Your resistance shows up in stagnation, misalignment, or a quiet inner nudge that you’ve gotten really good at ignoring.
How to Move Forward
First, acknowledge what’s ending before creating what’s on your ‘blank’ next page.
- Make a list of at least ten things that have been working for you. Use numbers and other metrics to give them the umph needed to make you smile. (See Chapter 20 in Get Your Brag On!)
- Next, make a list of at least ten things that did not work, but you had set as a goal or wish. Again, use numbers and other metrics to get the full impact. (See Chapter 20 in Get Your Brag On!)
- Now, write down three things you wish to celebrate about yourself. Get in front of a mirror and acknowledge yourself. Felt good, didn’t it?
Before your afterglow is gone, write down the dream you’ve been avoiding. Don’t water it down … if you wish to travel to Paris, don’t write down Baltimore. Then, let go of what no longer fits your goals, values, or legacy.
Example: Leaving Michigan was harder than I expected. I felt every mile of that drive until the moment I crossed the state line. Then something shifted. The rearview mirror stopped pulling at me, and the road ahead finally felt like mine. Moving to Colorado wasn’t just a relocation — it was stepping into my next chapter, a life I’d been dreaming about for years.
Turning the page and claiming your new direction requires taking those critical first steps. Make them small enough to prevent your fear mongers from kicking in … and they will … loudly! Define what you want more of. If it’s free time, schedule it. If it’s reading more, schedule it. And then, honor your schedule.
You only need to identify the next right step—not the whole roadmap.
Move forward with the new commitment. Each day, take a small step in the right direction. Remember, action creates momentum. Your actions signal to the old page you’ve been clinging to that you’ve turned to the new page.
While the new page may only offer silence at this time, remember, you’re taking small steps toward removing uncertainty, the need to control, and the fear of the unknown. During this time, those pesky—but often fine‑tuned—feelings turn into thoughts of fear, self-doubt, and disbelief. They will pop up and stay as long as you keep allowing them to be in charge.
It’s time to write your next chapter and create what’s next by taking action.
Examples include:
- Work with a professional résumé writer to get that new job.
- Write out your brags to prepare asking for a pay raise, getting the promotion, or showing you are ready for the next opportunity. (I remember one woman being upset because she wouldn’t ask for more money—she assumed others should offer!)
- Write a “shitty first draft” (something I learned to do—thank you, @Erica Holthausen). Don’t edit or correct grammar or look things up. Just write. Then, put it aside for 24 hours. Now, the first draft is done.
- Read, watch videos, take classes, and listen to others who have been there and done that. (Caution: beware of scammers or those who overpromise to do the work for you. They can sound very legitimate until you read the fine print or learn they really don’t have the necessary experience.)
(Bonus) Learn Meditation or Other Ways to Sit in Silence
Silence can help you clarify what’s next, keep you moving forward when you feel stuck, or simply help you relax (which we all need in this chaotic world). The blank space of this next chapter allows you to create and write down what’s next. Your dreams have been waiting in the silence you’ve been afraid to pursue. With meditation or sitting in silence, you can clarify them, continue moving forward, and build.
Something I learned that has helped me: While there are many meditation and mindfulness activities (Google or ask AI), here’s one I just learned. It’s called shamatha-vipashyana (tranquility–insight) and is outlined in Pema Chödrön’s new book, Another Kind of Freedom.
Sit up straight (on the floor or in a chair). Place your hands on your lap. Inhale slowly. Exhale slowly. Do this for at least 10 minutes. During this time, you will have many thoughts pop into your head. Simply say, “Thought.” Nothing more. Don’t make it mean anything.
I found this to be a steadying practice that brought clarity when I needed it most. It is a surprisingly effective way to interrupt fear, doubt, and overthinking.
To learn more, get her book at your favorite retailer or library. Don’t forget to get your copy of Get Your Brag On! to support your next chapter and legacy.
As always, call me for any legacy coaching support you need!
© Jeannette Seibly 2026 All Rights Reserved
Jeannette Seibly is a Leadership Results Coach, Talent Advisor, and Business Author with 33 years of experience activating greatness in leaders and companies. She delivers practical coaching and solutions that elevate performance today, build legacies that stand the test of time, and support people in empowering themselves to lead with clarity and impact.
Your next chapter won’t write itself. Let’s talk. Schedule your Legacy Coaching Session today and take the first step toward the dream you’ve been ignoring. Contact me for a confidential conversation.