Loving the Leaps

What does it take to NOT give up on our dreams? How do we keep moving forward, fully honoring our truth and expanding in ways that may be unimaginable from where we stand today? If we want to play big and bold in service of creating our most authentic, passion-filled lives, what is required of us?

While I believe there are many answers to these questions, today I want to explore ONE BIG REQUIREMENT. I am talking about having a genuine willingness to step into the unknown. And not just once, but many times over.

Whether you are looking to build your own business, completely reinvent yourself, have a child, or travel the world, your dreams will ask you to linger in the unknown. If you are not feeling prepared for this, you might find yourself dismissing your passion, denying your truth and delaying your dreams. You might begin rationalizing why it makes sense to hold off, minimizing the pain and loss of giving up your vision.

And I must say that whenever this happens, it breaks my heart.

We are here to experience a life of joy, trust, freedom and truth. And living into our dreams from a place of possibilities and abundance is at the core of our purpose. This is why I am so committed to supporting you in strengthening your foundation for taking heart-centered leaps of faith.

And here is the really good news. It doesn’t have to be hard. And like anything else, you get better and better with practice.

Here are a few tips to help you feel more clear and confident as you leap into the unknown. ..

~ Remember that fear is a natural part of the change process…AND it is temporary. Looking into the land of the unknown can often trigger overwhelm and doubts. In fact, you might even find yourself on an emotional roller coaster ride. While this is certainly not a guarantee, staying mindful of this possibility can help you to RESPOND to your feelings instead of REACT. No need to panic. Simply recognize the voice of fear when it shows up. Be aware that it might have you feeling like you need to retreat and go back to the familiar. You might feel like you are making a mistake. Again, there is no need to panic. Come from a place of deep understanding that it is all part of the journey. Know that you are infinitely more powerful than your fears. Create the space to honor them AND then let go. This is about granting yourself the sacred opportunities to practice growing through your fears.

~ Keep your focus on your “Why.” Instead of getting lost in the doubts or second guessing, turn your attention to what truly matters. What is driving you to stretch beyond your comfort zone? Who do you want to BE? What values are you committed to expressing and living more fully? This is about getting in touch with how important and life changing your leap of faith is to you. What does it REALLY mean? What will be the impact and gifts of living into your vision, both for yourself and others? Imagine in vivid detail all that will bloom as you stay the course. Allow yourself to remain “lit up” and devoted to aliveness. Let your passion guide you to the point where there is no turning back. Because once giving up is no longer an option for you, you will have a whole new energy supporting you in your leap.

~ Draw upon your wisdom gained from past experience. This is an invitation to tap into your history for evidence of your natural ability to shine. You have what it takes to not just survive the unknown, but thrive. I promise you. Do not underestimate your potential. If you are not convinced, I want to assure you that you have stepped into the unknown before. So explore your history a bit. Where have you surprised yourself and/or others by how you showed up? When have you experienced the delight of embodying brand new dimensions of yourself? And what helped you to stay grounded in the unknown? As you identify the tools and strategies that worked for you, be prepared to enthusiastically repeat! If you recall significant struggling in the past, hold this discovery as priceless information too. I say this because as you further evaluate your struggles along with your successes, you will cultivate much deeper clarity about what will serve you this time around. And be mindful that while the details of your current leap may look dramatically different from ones of the past, the essence is the same. It is about trusting that you can be courageous, creative and committed just like you were before. Remember that when we are on the verge of jumping into the unknown, we can forget how resourceful and resilient we are. The fear can cloud our vision. So taking the time to consciously reconnect to your magnificence can provide a brilliant boost in your confidence and motivation just when you need it. Stay connected to your truth, and you will no longer be derailed by doubts.

~ Be extremely generous with your self-care practices. Do everything you can to create an outrageously strong foundation for yourself. As you are navigating the unknown, it is NOT the time to skimp in the area of self-care. And while I recognize that times of change and transition can be particularly busy, I urge you to not fall into the trap of saying that you just don’t have the time or energy. If I may, I would like to be extra loud and clear on this point! If you want to be absolutely centered in your vision, your self-care must be a top priority. So my loving challenge to you is to implement a no excuses approach. Be willing to fully acknowledge and honor the invaluable role that self-care plays in your ability to keep moving forward into the unknown with more joy, ease and trust.

~ Consciously choose to be rooted in an inspiring perspective. How are you currently seeing the space of the unknown? What are you telling yourself about it? And how is your language affecting you? For example, are you painting it to be a scary, dangerous, overwhelming place filled with daunting risks? Are you often reciting how change is hard and you don’t even know where to begin? If so, I encourage you to experiment with some new perspectives that will call you forth instead of shut you down. How about seeing the unknown as a place of extravagant expansion and supreme self-discovery? Or a magical opportunity to grow into more of who you really are? Or the ultimate pathway leading to the juiciest adventures? I think you get the idea. Have fun playing with the possibilities and see how empowered and exhilarated you can feel in the face of the unknown.

In closing, I would like to offer the following words of encouragement from Rosalia de Castro. “I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.”