Lila Hesketh

“Having dedicated the past 15 years to raising my children, I had lost touch with what I truly wanted for myself. I loved being there to care for them daily – deeply involved in their learning and their interests, so I have no regrets, but I was so focused on my children that when the time came for me to pursue something outside of the home, I felt confused about exactly what that would look like. I tried a couple of jobs that met some of our practical needs, but I didn’t feel satisfied. I didn’t want to struggle along, working hard for a little money – just trying to get by and not actually feeling any sense of fulfillment. Also, being out of the workforce for such a long time, I lacked the confidence and up-to-date skills to do the type of work I might find enlivening.

I attended a talk about the book “Career Dharma” by Urmila Edith Best and Ruchira S. Datta, and knew that I wanted to choose a path that was right for me, so I bought the book and reached out to Urmila/Edith Best for a consultation to help me clarify exactly what that might be.

In our first session, we explored what I was looking for and why, we identified what lights me up – and what doesn’t. I was given some homework to help me shape a clearer picture of what I really want and what kind of work would genuinely suit me.

Interestingly, I discovered that some things I thought were career options were actually passions I want to keep separate from work – activities I do purely for joy, without turning them into obligations. I’ve now built regular time into my week to enjoy those things on their own terms.

I also began to reflect on other areas I hadn’t previously considered and realized that a lack of confidence – due to not yet having the necessary skills – was what had been holding me back from exploring them.

By the end of our second session, the confusion had been replaced with excitement. I now feel enthusiastic and ready to pursue a new career path – one that feels meaningful and allows me to make a valuable contribution. I feel confident about gaining the education and training I need and, remarkably, many practical details have begun to fall into place. It’s as if, now that I’m consciously working toward being in the right place, everything else is aligning naturally.”