Two weeks ago, I had no idea that the 3 hour drive that I was about to make to Chapel Hill, North Carolina would change my life so drastically.
Two weeks ago, I was a tired, stretched-far-too thin mom, wife, and business woman, doing my best to take care of everyone and everything around me, while not taking care of myself…at all.
To those around me, I was an outgoing, friendly, successful gal who had it all going for her.
Little did they know how deceiving that perception was.
That once confident, determined, go-getter girl was broken. Defeated. Full of self-doubt.
Somewhere along the road of raising four kiddos, giving my all to my family, and building a business from the ground up, I lost myself.
I was lost. I was unhealthy. My state of mind was in an ugly place.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am a VERY fortunate girl, in more ways than I could ever possibly count.
But that fire inside me was gone.
That drive and fierce determination that I once had wasn’t burning in my gut anymore.
It was time for a change.
I came across some info for the Making Things Happen Intensive earlier this year.
I read about it. I researched the women that spearhead it. I found myself getting drawn to so many of the stories of past attendees.
I felt a spark, and I knew this was it.
It was time to make something happen.
So, off I set on that 3 hour car ride, scared to death that I wouldn’t measure up to these other women (and men), thinking for sure that I had made a mistake, and wondering if I should just turn the car around and head back home.
I can’t tell you how grateful I am that I kept that car rolling southbound.
What happened in the days that followed have honestly changed my life.
The exercises that we did forced me to take a very long, hard look at myself, how I live my life, and how I run my business.
I’ll tell ya, being brutally honest with yourself is HARD.
And incredibly emotional. And man, I was rocked to my core.
The entire experience was terribly personal, so I’ll keep those details private for myself and the incredible individuals that I was fortunate enough to share this experience with.
There are some things, however, that I brought away from this experience that I feel I have to share with you.
I’d shout them from the rooftops if I could!
I’m sharing because I feel the need to be honest you, because I feel by writing it down I will hold myself accountable, and because, if you are feeling lost like I was, maybe my words can off you a glimmer of hope.
So here they are, the life-altering realizations that I am embracing after the Making Things Happen Intensive:
- You can’t be everything to everyone.
- Follow your own path, not the path someone else thinks you should be on.
- You don’t have to be perfect.
- Learn to say no, even when it’s hard.
- Stop investing all your time and energy into everyone else, and begin investing in yourself.
- Don’t define yourself by someone else’s standards. Comparison is devastating!
- Believe in your passion.
- Negativity manifests itself.
- No one has it all together.
- You are enough.
Re-read each of those items, one at a time, and let them sink in.
They are SO powerful!
Since coming home, I have made some major changes in my life and set some big goals for myself.
Some changes you will notice in my business, others are more personal.
The biggest changes that you will see are these:
- Less time on social media, and more time focusing on what really matters.
- Designated work hours, to allow myself quality time with my family, time for me, and time for a more balanced life.
My new office hours are as follows: Monday – Thursday, 9:00am EST – 3:00pm EST
Closed weekends and holidays.
3. A big shift in my business approach. Changes are already underway, and you can expect to start seeing changes in early 2014!
And while I’m spilling my heart, I have one more thing to say.
Thank you.
Thank you to each of you who visit my website, visit my blog, browse and purchase from my shop, and connect with me through e-mails and social media.
Thank you for supporting what I do, for allowing me to inspire you, and for making me feel as though I’m making a difference.
You all mean more to me than I could ever express.
Huge thanks to Lara Casey, Emily Ley, Gina Zeidler, Rhiannon Bosse, Nancy Ray, and Amber Housley for being real, and for encouraging me to dig deep.
Countless thanks to the attendees of the Making Things Happen Intensive for sharing your souls, for your honesty, for your support, and for teaching me that I am not alone.
I energized, I am ready, and my heart overflows.
THANK YOU!
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