Martha Beck explains it like this:
One is shock, which would be your car accident or losing your job or whatever it is. The next one is opportunity. Say, you fall in love and you get a chance to marry your soul mate, but it means changing everything. And the third is growth; you simply wake up one morning and what satisfied you yesterday is starting to feel empty.
Each of these paths toward a place where you must take a leap into the unknown, comes with its own story, healing & potential. Now let’s be real, there is always the option to slowly back away from the edge of the cliff, or just turn tail and run away! I think we’ve all experienced the avoidance that fear causes. AND we’ve also experienced the misery that stagnation (in the face of growth) can cause.
The cliff, as sweat-inducing and nerve-racking as it is, can be an opportunity to rewrite the next chapter of your life.
I feel like I’ve experienced each of the paths that Martha Beck describes. In my early twenties I was given the opportunity to choose love. Standing in the middle of the dance studio at my company rehearsal, sweaty and wondering why my boyfriend chose here to give me a birthday surprise, I stood in shock as he knelt with a ring box in his hand. The drums were playing, my director was beaming (unbeknownst to me, Eric had talked to him and my father already), members of the dance company were screaming, 6 of his best friends came into the room and for what seemed to be forever (to Eric especially lol), I didn’t hear any of it. I was slowly backing away from the edge of the cliff because:
- I was 24
- I was in school
- I was a professional dancer
- My parents were divorced
- Most of my friends were raised by single moms
- There was only 1 married couple in my neighborhood and they were NOT happy
- Marriage didn’t work
- I SAID I WOULD NEVER GET MARRIED
One of the reasons I know my success system works is because I’ve been using pieces of it my entire life. Even though my mind was a frightened, confused mess, my heart was willing. The Divine in me was clear. When I looked at my life 5, 10 years down the road, HE WAS THERE.
I had a choice and I took a running jump; I chose love. We’re still together and happy by the way lol. 22 married, 26 together.
There is an energy in the world right now that seems to be taking an alarming number of people down these different paths. Many are on this precipice teetering toward what could be bliss and NO ONE should be doing it alone. I encourage you to step off the cliff in community. Choose a supportive circle that you are already in or find a new one. My private Facebook group is always an option.
Are you currently at the edge? Which path did you travel to get there? Comment and let me know.
Guest Speaker announcement!
I am honored and excited to announce: The phenomenal Reverend Andriette Earl will be our Activate Your Calling guest speaker. She is well known and loved for her intuitive ability to lovingly lead toward breakthrough and transformation. Do. Not. Miss. This.
Rev. Andriette is the loving and dynamic Spiritual Leader of Heart and Soul Center of Light. A spiritually committed teacher, facilitator and “freedom coach”, Rev. Andriette is an “edu-taining” and empowering teacher of the principles of Divine Love and Law. She is a national magazine columnist, author of Embracing Wholeness: Living in Spiritual Congruence, and creator of the transformative board game, “Speak Your Word: The Freedom Game”. She sees the best in us and inspires us to be much more than we ever thought we could be.
In Spirit,
