Willing to risk everything to live life more fully

Are you willing to risk everything to live life more fully?

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Are you willing to risk everything for a chance to live life more fully?

It’s a question I recently came across and it struck me, in the moment and stopped me in my tracks. Are you willing to do something to potentially kill all past versions of yourself to be captivated by something bigger and better with your purpose and full of joy?

I had a friend last year tell me I was holding onto a part time job because I was scared of letting it go, it was my safety net and was holding me back and making me smaller. I sat with those thoughts and he was absolutely right. I have the luxury that I was able to quit that job.. though it took me longer to let go and trust that I could do the work and just work for myself. Yes I did have a small nest egg in case there were tricky months to still be okay, but it is SCARY to be alone and only have yourself to rely on in your own business. I made excuses to hold on, but the truth was, I knew it was the right decision to make me grow into what I knew I could do. It took a risk but I came alive differently when I HAD to rely on that income.

Through my divorce, and divorce just always sucks- I decided the right move for me was to move to Florida.. alone. I knew a couple people who lived a few hours away and I loved them dearly, but I knew the risk of moving to a place with no job, no place to live, and no plan other than to work my butt off when I got here… was still the right choice. I felt it in my bones. My parents offered to take me in (in Dallas) so I’d have a place to crash until I got back on my feet but it didn’t feel right, It didn’t feel like home,

and I moved to Panama City Beach and through the challenges and tears haven’t questioned the decision. Not to be taken lightly- it wasn’t easy. Days in and days out of hardship, living in a hotel, living with friends who would take me in for a few weeks, and building a business with no connections all while going through a divorce.. not something I’m suggesting for you.

I’m not telling you these things to say look at what I did, in fact, I didn’t even REALIZE how big these things were until I saw those kind of moves in other women and admired them, I had to take a step back and understand the capacity I had for hard things, doing things because I knew it was right, knew it was my purpose and taking a risk when I knew in my heart of hearts it was the right thing. And even without knowing HOW I was going to- as long as they were calculated risks I felt sure in, they were right for me.

I still often live in the safe zone, though I try not to. In business, I take risks and fall and get back up and now because of the man I’m dating- feel my need to stay safe in my personal life diminishes too. He pushes me in a loving way to do new and tough things- I often become small in those moments of unknown and sucking at the new things, but it has allowed me to be more vulnerable and risking even little parts of my safe world to live more fully, try new things and open up opportunities, challenges, and changes in myself. For example, I hadn’t snowboarded in 15 years, I never had sailed, nor rock climbed, or even skateboarded. Nothing necessarily risky- but I never put myself in those positions and I’m thankful even if I’m seriously scared in some moments. Like sweating I’m so scared. I believe that not living in a safe zone for my business has now trickled into my personal life and it’s pretty darn awesome.

Now I’m not saying to get a divorce move across the country quit your jobs and rely on your business. That’s hardly seems smart without the right circumstances. But there are risks if not everyday.. OFTEN that you can take to not settle for safe and distracted. And that’s the point.

Most settle for safe and distracted rather than finding your purpose and experiencing more joy- and I’m sure there will be times where I am there again, but as I write this it’s a reminder for myself first to risk and live life more fully- more passionately. Stepping up to something new and scary and just doing it anyway. As I do I lean into my purpose, find passion in life, feel alive, face challenges head on, and in doing so get met with opportunities, wonderful people.

Not you though- you’re not just here to settle for safe and distracted with whatever life throws you. You’re here because you want to be able to look back and knew you took those calculated risks that makes your heart beat in ways that made you stronger and soft and kind and courageous and loving. You’re here to create a life or risk and joy and courageous and fulfillment.

It might not be a risk to start over and completely reset all of it- but it might look like taking risks with trying reels, putting your business out there, starting an instagram page, trying a new sport or activity, challenging your mind with books and mindset shifts, small groups and mentors. Working on getting your heart right and showing up more for friends and family. But maybe.. just maybe it is trusting yourself enough to quit the other job and rely on your business, or maybe it’s traveling to a new place alone, or leaving the boyfriend or girlfriend who isn’t good for you. When you align your purpose and trust and heart- the decisions you really know are right for you- will be.

So what in your life are risks you know you should be taking that you aren’t? If there’s something you immediately think of- it’s time to work on the steps to do those things. Are you willing to risk killing past versions of yourself that didn’t show up, broke promises, became smaller version of you, to be captivated by something bigger and better with purpose and joy?