All the answers we need are right before us and when we really take a moment to tune in, signs are all around us. That’s why it was no surprise to receive this message in Cheryl Richardson’s weekly newsletter just two weeks before closing my Jazzercise Center to pursue other interests. I’ve always enjoyed Cheryl’s gentle style and focus on self-care and believe her books and podcasts bring a a strong and important message. When I contacted her to see if I may have her permission to share her words here I was excited that she agreed. Perhaps she will inspire you to take a leap too. (Thanks Cheryl!)
Why taking a leap of faith might be the safest thing you can do.
There’s a little voice in my head that’s been trying to get my attention for a long time. The voice tells me things like: stop following everyone else’s rules and start expressing your creativity in unconventional ways; find that beautiful place by the sea you’ve wanted for intimate workshops and retreats and book one; allow movement and nature and animals to hold a more prominent place in your life.
We all have a wise voice inside. Yours might be telling you that it’s time to let your grown children go so you can focus on living your life, or that you need to face the truth about how unhappy you are in your marriage, or that it’s finally time to confront your addiction to work.
It takes great courage to listen to the wise voice within. While it ultimately points to a better life, it also begs for action. That’s the scary part. If you listen and finally decide to act, it means confronting the reality that you often can’t walk to where it leads. You have to close your eyes, hold your breath, and jump.
The moment you consider doing this you realize…
There is no net.
You will feel alone.
You may not get where you want to go.
But, somewhere deep inside, you know you need to step off that cliff anyway.
I’ve been doing a little leaping myself this summer and here’s what I’ve discovered. When you jump – when you really let go and trust – you find out pretty quickly that Life does love you, that the Universe does, in fact, have your best interest at heart, and that all along you had what it takes to do what you really, really want to do.
For too long I bought into a lie. You might be doing it, too. We’ve been taught to believe that ignoring that wise voice will insure our safety, bring certainty, and allow us to maintain a comfortable, easy place in life.
But ignoring your inner voice doesn’t bring these things. It brings inertia, despair, and apathy – the kind of slow, soul murder that eats away at desire.
Nope. At some point we just need to jump.
So, in case you’ve been thinking about it, consider this a gentle push…
Take Action Challenge
Whether you’re ready to take a leap or not, do yourself a favor and start listening to that wise, inner voice of yours. Write down what it says. Let the truth reveal itself to you. Imagine how your life might change for the better if you were to act on its wisdom.
If you do this, there’s a good chance that at some point your desire will grow stronger than your fear.
Life Makeover for the Year 2013(sm) is written and produced by
Cheryl Richardson.© Copyright 1999-2013 Cheryl Richardson, P.O.
Box 13, Newburyport, MA 01950, www.cherylrichardson.com. All
rights reserved. Used with permission.