How does it feel to achieve all your goals? You have worked so hard for so long—the last project consumed your time, effort, and concentration. You must be feeling happy, satisfied, and relieved. You smile to yourself, feeling proud. You can’t wait to share the news with the world tomorrow. You are delighted but exhausted. It’s been a long day, time to go to sleep. Then you wake up the next morning, and it hits you; don’t know what to do next?

Emptiness

You were so busy trying to achieve the last goal you set for yourself that you forgot what would happen afterward. One of the first things that come with the realization of success is emptiness. There is a void that exists because there is no pressing matter that demands your focus. You need to learn how to fill that space.

There is an aspect of your life that no longer exists and doesn’t require you to devote any more of your time. Let the space be there for a while. It has a purpose and a reason. Don’t rush things at this moment, and try to relax. That void feels exactly like that time you went through a breakup. Finishing a project can feel like the end of a long-term relationship.

At Toastmasters, many people join because they want to be more confident in front of an audience. When they reach that goal, they often quit because they need to take the time to find a new objective. I often advise members to take a break and attend meetings until they find something exciting. I am confident they will find something because there is always a worthy pursuit around the corner.

Impulse

It’s not your fault. You have an impulse to immediately find the next big project, the next goal, the next frontier to conquer. You hear stories from people who always have something brewing in the pipeline. They have never sat idle, never been unemployed for a single day in their power-packed life.

Let’s put that aside for a moment. Let’s take a moment to enjoy ourselves and celebrate your achievement. At this moment, calm down and take a breath. There is wisdom in taking a step back and letting your subsequent pursuit find you. Sometimes, the best thing is to let things be and not force the issue.

Competitive people and workaholics find it challenging to take a break even if they deserve one. You don’t want to stop; you want to say yes to every opportunity. When you take a break, you realize how badly you need it. You may not even realize that you are close to burnout. When you are tired, giving yourself time to heal and recover is vital.

Let Things Happen

You have been so busy, maybe you have neglected your health. It has been a while since you spent quality time with your friends and family. Use this time to return to old hobbies and take care of yourself. Do you remember that dream vacation to visit your dream destination? You always wanted to check out that salsa class but are yet to get around to it. Now is as good a time as any to make it happen.

Whenever I am in a transition phase, I spend my time revisiting old hobbies. I read books on unfamiliar topics. I spend time with family members who I haven’t seen in a long time. I joined language exchange groups to meet new people when I finished my MBA classes. I learned salsa and bachata on weekends. I discovered my fondness for cooking, so whenever I have time, I try a new recipe.

Follow Your Curiosity

It’s time to do things that you haven’t done before. You have limited time, so your subsequent pursuit should be worthy. You will find something that excites you and makes you curious. Follow your curiosity; it will never steer you wrong. You will do something that feels important to you. It will be a meaningful use of your time and tremendously satisfying.

Pursuing a goal for reasons such as fame or money will not bear fruit. You will be setting yourself up for disappointment and hardships. There will be pressures of time and money. It won’t be worth the pain in the long run. Success is the byproduct of following your curiosity. It gives you the much-needed motivation and the will to persevere when adversity inevitably strikes.