One Magic Word That Will Change Your Life

My life turned upside down about three years ago. 

I found myself in the midst of an unexpected transition, an uncomfortable in-between time, when I knew what had been but had no idea what was to be.

Do you know what I mean?

I’d just finished a term in public office where I gave everything I had to serving my community. I lived and breathed that work for four unbelievably intense years. And I loved it.

But when that ended, I was lost. It was as if I’d been pushing up a long, steep hill, eyes to the ground, carrying a weight that was worthy but so heavy… And suddenly the hill leveled out, the weight disappeared, and I looked up for the first time in days, not quite sure where I was.

I was disoriented, at loose ends, with no idea what I was supposed to do next.

And with a successful business that I’d run for over 15 years on life support, dying from neglect.

So I threw myself into rebuilding, and focused on doing the things I knew how to do to breathe life back into it. I set up a super-simple business plan with a year’s worth of goals – then met them all within two months.

I was still restless.

So I started following life and business coaches across the country. I began thinking about the power of mindset, about setting intentions, about creating the life – and business – I wanted to create. I knew there was a larger way I could serve the world, if I could only figure out what that service would look like.

Then, not knowing what else to do…

…I just began to say Yes.

Yes to any opportunity, guidance or whim the Universe tossed my way.

YES to a style of eyeglasses I would NEVER have chosen, just because the sweet guy behind the counter suggested it.

YES to the EXACT car that I’d been looking for in three states. It popped up on a rainy Saturday afternoon; I brought it home on Monday.

YES to last minute travel, when my sweet friend and colleague Melanie McGhee invited me to Spark & Hustle. With TWO day’s warning, I rearranged everything in my life to make it to this intense 3 day conference in Atlanta, a decision that changed my life.

YES to the inspiration that struck like a lightening bolt while there, an almost physical shock of energy that told me I was to guide, encourage and teach women through the medium of travel.

It hasn’t stopped since.

I continue to say YES to opportunities that scare me to death and challenge me to grow in ways I could not have predicted. I am clearer about who I am to serve, and the ‘how’ is emerging from the fog as well. Suddenly, friends, coworkers and solopreneurs are asking (pushing!) me to coach them through roadblocks in the growth of their businesses.

Breakthroughs are happening. Incomes are rising. Health is improving.

Confidence is pouring into them…and I suddenly realize that I am living my life’s purpose.

And the Gifts continue to come.

Last weekend, a friend in Florida invited me to come see her. “You’ve got a place to stay any time you want to come!”, she said.

I wrote back that when I am doing what I am called to do, “travel will come to me easily and effortlessly, and I’ll come to see you just because I want to…and because I can.”

And literally, AS I typed those words, I received a text from another friend, offering me a trip to California, to play in the woods and the water, for the cost of a plane ticket.

Like, in the same physical space and time.

There is much more to this story, of course. My own Courage to Confidence work is unfolding, as I move back and forth between power and fear, confidence and doubt.

Yet I am learning to trust what I want IS possible, that the Universe is there, ready, waiting, offering Abundance if I am clear about what I want, and if I can just…

…say Yes.

So here’s my point.

It’s true that many of us need to set better boundaries in our lives, saying no to people and energies that are not healthy for us.

But sometimes, sometimes, the challenge is not about pushing something away, but about welcoming it into your life. Sometimes, when opportunities and nudges — from something greater than you — are at work, amazing, AMAZING things will happen…

…if you just say…

Yes. :)


Photo Credit: Nick Photography on Flickr

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