Jump And The Net Will Appear
Like so many of you, I’ve been presented with some pretty life-changing decisions recently. It may be whether or not to start a family during the chaos 2020 has presented us with, switching career paths, or getting out of the relationship that has not been conducive to your happiness. For me, it has been leaving a corporate job that I’ve dedicated the past 11 years to. Reality is I feel I’ve outgrown my position and want more out of life but struggle with leaving the security of being employed and having a steady income. I had to have difficult conversations with myself and ask if temporary financial stability was worth giving up joy, inspiration, and empowerment? Am I living out my full potential or will staying hinder my growth? Do I stay complacent or do I want to hustle harder? This was the defining moment I decided to make a decision to exit out of my comfort zone and start really living by the motto “jump and the net will appear”. Although, I don’t know what lies ahead, I had no hesitations submitting my decision to leave.
In between knowing when to move on from something that is no longer serving you and then the courage to actually do it is this space filled with fear, uncertainty, and doubt. But, it also can be filled with excitement, revival, and opportunity.
Once you shift your mindset from quitting/failure to searching for something more fulfilling it seems doors to jobs, relationships, and passions that make you feel alive will begin to open up. Honor the importance that this stage in your life had and continue on.
As journalist Ellen Goodman stated, “There’s a trick to the 'graceful exit.' It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, or a relationship is over — and let it go. It means leaving what’s over without denying its validity or its past importance to our lives. It involves a sense of future, a belief that every exit line is an entry, that we are moving up, rather than out.”
I’ve seen it in many people around me and could have very well fallen victim myself staying in situations or tolerating certain circumstances because the thought of pushing through my fear felt too debilitating to actually make a leap. When presented with making big changes, I challenge you to not allow your mind to conjure up all the things that could go wrong and instead write out what your life is going to look like in a year from now after making the change! Our human nature is to want to be in control since it goes hand in hand with survival. When there is uncertainty the brain equates that to a lack of control. Let’s be real with ourselves, life can be uncontrollable but I’ve found serenity focusing on the one thing I actually have power over; my mind! Trust me, I love a plan but realizing living an unscripted life is when all the beautiful things unfold.
Transitioning into something new can be difficult at times because you are leaving what’s comfortable. I stumbled upon an amazing quote, “a comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there”. If we don’t leave our comfortable space, there are so many missed growth opportunities, valuable lessons, and the possibility of never reaching our full potential. Something about “jumping” lights a fire under our ass and determination can be a powerful thing and quite the catalyst for your own volition! Start letting go of the resistance and believe you deserve this and you will receive it.
WRITING PROMPTS
What is not working in your life? Where do you feel restricted? What fears are keeping you from making a change? Truly think about letting go of the fears that are holding you back and imagine there are no consequences associated with making this switch…Take a few moments to ponder what that new life would look like and most importantly feel like? After all of that, do you want to stay where you are or do you want to take a leap?