For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of living in France. I knew in my heart it was more than a passing desire. But somewhere along the way called life, I ended up blocked by self-doubt and limiting beliefs.
I’ve always been a Francophile. My first French words weren’t learned in school but from recipe books. (Priorities, right?) In my late 20s, I was living in England and popped over to France every chance I got – birthdays, weekends, holidays. Even then, I used to say, “One day, I’m going to live in France.”
It wasn’t just a casual fantasy. It felt like a soul-level calling, like France was my true home. Maybe it was a past life connection. Who knows?
But then, I got caught up in life.
Back in Australia I did the standard grown up things – I bought a house, renovated it, climbed the corporate ladder – you know, ticked all the boxes. But by the time I hit my 40s, life had taken a bit of a nosedive.
My husband left me for someone at his work (after our 20 year relationship) and I had been made redundant – a few times. Business wasn’t taking off and I was struggling to find my place in the world. My confidence? Well that had been shot to pieces.
The ongoing rejection was chipping away at me, confirming what I subconsciously feared: I wasn’t good enough and I wasn’t wanted.
That belief was planted in my childhood. My mother was super critical. Nothing was ever good enough to be proud of in her opinion. She always pointed out how it could be improved. So I became a perfectionist and a high achiever. And, ended up, exhausted.
That dream of living in France never left me. It was a pull in my gut and heart, a nagging from my soul.
But how could I make it work in a country where I knew no one, didn’t speak the language and had no work options lined up, when I couldn’t even get my life on the right track in my home country?
This is what I was thinking and believing …
I didn’t even look into how to make it happen. It just stayed on my five-year plan (well, dream actually) … for ten years.
Then, my state of mind shifted.
A spiritual reading changed everything. The channeller told me,
BOOM. That was the catalyst I needed to get my bum into gear. I thought “Well if that’s the case, then I may as well just sell up and move to France”.
I realized I’d been waiting to feel confident enough, prepared enough, safe enough. But that day, I decided to trust my soul calling.
I sold my house, decluttered my life, had the knee replacement I needed, started learning French, and began the process of applying for a working visa.
Six months later, I was in Nice for French school for three months. Less than a year after that, I moved to France permanently.
No job lined up. No permanent home. Just full of commitment, determination, resilience, and a knowing that this was my next chapter.
Six years on, I live on the French Riviera in a beautiful apartment with ‘une vue magnifique’. I now run a soul-aligned coaching business helping women like me break through their inner barriers and make their own life transitions – like moving countries, especially if it’s to France 😉. I can highly recommend it.
It hasn’t all been roses and chocolate though. There’s been struggle and loneliness … but there’s also been wonderful adventures and exploring giving me fulfilment and joy – and some great meals and wine. The best part is that reassuring sense of being where I’m meant to be.
So, if you’ve had a dream for years that just won’t go away, that’s your soul talking to you.
Listen to it. Trust it.
And if you want someone who’s walked the path to walk beside you, to guide you through your breakthrough and reinvention, and be there to support you, let’s talk.
You don’t need to have it all perfect. You just need to say yes and start. Your next chapter is waiting for you.
Book in for a Get Real Chat with me now.
Author: Janeen Sonsie
Janeen is the creator of The Reinvention Journey, guiding midlife, professional women to glide through major life transitions. Curious what’s possible for you? Book a free Clarity Coaching Session
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