I thought I’d share a little something I found particularly interesting as of late, regarding the power of the energies we put out in the world.

I’ve made an effort in the past 10 years to write down my goals. Some goals are much easier to write than others, because I find that when they’re written in pen, it’s so much more permanent. Then if I fail or get derailed, it’s so much harder to go back to that goal and cross it out or amend it.

But I do it because I’m fully committed to this idea that the energies you put out into the world are the energies you get back. If I make the commitment to writing down that goal, you can bet your bottom dollar I’m working my tail off to make it happen.

As an interview and communications coach, I work with young women on verbalising their goals, summarising their personal and professional strengths, and putting pen to paper in devising their action plans. But so rarely do I do this for myself.

During my most recent job search in mid-2016, I updated my LinkedIn profile’s summary section (arguably the most difficult section of any CV – how do you summarise yourself in just a few sentences?). With the help of my best friend and a lot of introspection, we came up with my summary, which includes this excerpt:

“My focus is on relationship building – for both people and businesses. I thrive when I provide creative solutions to complex issues and develop relationships that positively influence both parties. I work best as part of a team that helps people and companies become the best they can be.

“I’m a calculated risk taker, a self-starter, and an experience collector. I value people above all.”

At the time of the above writing, I was working full-time for myself as an interview and communications coach, was a free lance social media manager, a spokesperson for Snowball Express, and had just come off several years doing public relations and marketing. I had boiled my passions, experiences, and goals down into four simple sentences, hoping that someone would hire me to do those exact things.

In some miraculous twist of fate (or was it karma?), I stand here today 18 months later doing those exact. same. things. Technically, my title is Marketing Director of a mid-sized print company, but I’m actively providing creative solutions to some hella complex issues (technical term, there) and working within teams that are passionate about helping our people and our company become the best possible.

When I went back to update my LinkedIn profile after being at this job for several months, I was floored with how accurately it described what I do every day. I wrote my summary as a goal for my then-future employer, whoever they were, and then worked my tail off to accomplish that goal.

For those who, like me, fully believe in karma and positive energies, I think of this as just another example of being “the good you wish to see in the world.” When you focus your energy outward for positive change, that energy comes back in the most amazing ways.

Have you had an instance when the energy you’ve put into the world has come full circle?