I had navigated the inevitable pain and loss that comes with dissolving a marriage. I had started over. Started a new business. Bought a house and made it a home for my two teen daughters. On the weekend of Oct. 8th, 2017 I flew to Texas for a much anticipated weekend with friends. The next night my new house and everything in it burned to the ground in what would be the largest wildfire in California history. Absolutely everything I had was gone. The attached photo is a picture of my lot today, 4 months after the fire. They are still finishing the process of scraping it clean.
So how do you start over, when you think you cannot possibly start over again? After taking time to grieve deeply, you find your internal compass. You walk slowly towards the things and people and activities that energize you. In your rear view mirror are the things and activities and people that deplete you. The road with which you take back your life is paved with your passions.
Oddly enough, teaching these concepts is what I do for a living. This is now my story that accompanies my 3 hour workshop on The Passion Test. The workshops or private sessions are a tool to help help clients get clear, unstuck, and build a road map towards their version of their ideal life.
After the fire, for quite some time I was lost in a swirl of emotions...until I could see that I know the way. Giant and unexpected course correction? YES! I've never done exactly this version of change and navigation, but I feel a sense of peace that I know the way. I was taught the way. I teach the way.
During times of transition, gift yourself permission to bravely go towards those things that just feel right. Because your passions and your purpose are one and the same.
So I ask you to picture this: if your house and absolutely everything you had burned down today. Something completely out of your control erased your life's footprint. You must move. You needed to replace things. You needed to rebuild from scratch.
What would you do?
What would you change?
Where do you want to go?
What would you let go of and what would you replace?
What would you learn?
How would you help others?
Every day is an opportunity to learn and grow and change.
If your life was suddenly a blank canvas, who would you choose to become?