A year ago, I left a 30-year corporate career. I didn't retire. I didn't have a million dollars saved. I didn't have another job lined up. I went against the grain of what society says you *should* do. My husband was supportive, but on the inside, I knew he was completely freaking out. I had a solid career with a steady household income, not to mention, the medical insurance for our entire family. It was a total leap of faith; one that I had known I needed to take for some time but had ignored for many, many years. I always knew that there was something more I was meant to do. And once I realized that the "safety net" of my corporate career, had been feeling more like a cage, it was time for me to make that change. Fighting that feeling for as long as I did resulted in crippling anxiety and medication to manage it. My mind, body and soul were basically telling me "if you aren't going to make this decision on your own, we're making it for you."
I was forced to listen, to act, to change....So, I quit. No solid plan, just a little savings, a dream, and faith in knowing it was time. Then the true journey of remembering who I am, my purpose in life, and what I'm meant to do began.
What I thought I knew, (but didn't REALLY know until I was in it), is when the process of reinventing yourself begins, it catapults you into the throes of a great reset. With that, you're choosing to let go of what was very much a part of you for so long. That, in turn, shakes a foundation you have spent years building. And, boy, does it shake and, most times even crumble. One day I was feeling on top of the world and the next I was second-guessing myself at every turn. Repeating constantly. But at the core of my being, I knew that was what was meant to happen. I was rebuilding a new foundation for what would be a happy, healthier future not just for me but my family. In the past year I have been the happiest I've ever been in conjunction with the most terrified I've ever been. But do you know what? Since making the decision a year ago, the happy outweighs the fear, by far. Don't get me wrong, many days the stress & fear of the unknowns are full force, but when I lay my head down at night, I am so very grateful. I'm grateful for the gift of time, the gift of making decisions, the gift of enlightenment, the gift of following what my heart and intuition have been telling me for years. The gift of finding ME.
When I started to listen to my intuition and follow my inner compass, regardless of the daily sh*tshows, wrong turns, bad decisions, stressful days, I knew I was on the path I was meant to be on. I was and am becoming who I am meant to be. And I've discovered through my writing, part of who I am meant to be is a tiny light to those who question where they are in life, whether it's career, relationships, or life in general. I am here to remind you that the absolute best person to listen to is you.
For me, listening to my inner voice started 3 years ago, in meditation, which was recommended by a friend to help with daily stress. Meditation was like picking up the phone and calling an old friend. At first the outside distractions had me half in and half out of the conversation until one day it's as if that voice screamed "ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?" I stopped in my tracks as my mind replayed all the scenarios of where I'd gone wrong, why I was stuck in this cycle, all the while, filling my heart with such peace, helping me to understand it was never too late to make different decisions for myself. That feeling of peace and understanding had me going back for more, choosing meditation as a reconnection with that old friend who was helping me remember who I was.
Meditation isn't a requirement to hear your own voice. It can simply be listening to your thoughts when you lay in bed at night. What keeps you up at night? What triggers "dread" in your gut? What decisions can you make differently for yourself? THEN: Imagine your ideal day in the life. What does that look like? What does your morning look like; a cup of coffee on the porch overlooking a beautiful body of water? What job do you have that fills your soul? Who do you surround yourself with? What is the favorite part of your day? Who sits at the dinner table with you? And imagine laying your head on your pillow each night with a smile on your face and gratitude in your heart. Use the answers to those questions are your inner compass. What is one small thing you can do to take a step in the direction of finding your true purpose? To living a life you know you're meant to live....
I realize this blog won't resonate with everyone and that's ok. I am writing it for those who need to hear it. I don't have the answers to what is best for anyone but myself. Everyone has their journey and purpose in life. It is up to each person to realize/understand/remember what that is. I'm here to say it can be done, but it's work, it's painful, it's terrifying, it's amazing.
And it can be life changing.
I've learned that it isn't necessarily about the path in life you are on. Paths are meant to change...sometimes daily. Life is more around the mindset of those who walk their paths. Your path can change at the most inconvenient & unexpected times. The key is understanding when you change directions and you have recognized the lesson, then you are becoming exactly who you are meant to be........instead of feeling like a robot living in an endless loop.
Prior to a year ago, life's challenges were happening TO me, not FOR me.
Imagine the freedom I feel now that I have that different perspective. Even as a struggling new business owner, that change in mindset has shifted me into a state of gratitude even after I've kicked and screamed (and sometimes cried) out of anger and frustration. For once in my life, I am fully present. I am where I am supposed to be. I am becoming who I am meant to be with all I have learned and continue to learn. It's not only enlightening, it's freeing.
Do I miss that steady stream of income? Yes, of course.
Do I wish just one day could go smoothly with these businesses? Yes, absolutely.
Do I still stress? Yes, it ebbs and flows. However, it's a stress that no longer takes me down. I can manage it by having full control over how I respond to it.
We aren't put on earth to live for others. We are here to live with others, but live a life for ourselves, to fulfill a purpose. That knowledge is with us at birth, but through the years we become conditioned to our environment and forget. We naturally begin to believe our purpose is tied to the external - college degree, job title, etc.
Life looks different to me now. I no longer stress myself out to achieve promotions or recognition. I reflect daily. I appreciate more. I still stress, get frustrated and, yes, even worry. But because my entire perspective on life, relationships, career, and what truly matters to me is crystal clear, I am at such peace. My inner voice reminded me to stop chasing the external, and to let the internal guide me on how my life is meant to be.
Everyone has the ability to hear their inner voice. It's just a matter of tuning in and truly *listening* to what it is saying. What makes your heart happy? What makes you feel alive inside? What is holding you back?
If you are questioning why you are in a daily internal battle, I hope you realize you are not alone. That "battle" could be your inner voice trying to get your attention...It might be time to listen.
I am sure glad I did. 💙