Where a leap of faith can take you...
9 months ago, I sent an email to my landlord serving 4 weeks’ notice on my apartment in Melbourne.
I had no plan, except the purchase of a one-way ticket to New Zealand.
What was awaiting me there? I wasn’t sure. I can only describe it as a calling, a deep intuition that this was what I needed to do.
If I knew the challenges I’d face along the way, perhaps I never would have left.
But the irony of transformation is that it takes a great deal of naivety to get started. Optimism is your north star.
Otherwise, fear would be paralysing.
I’m grateful I took that leap into the unknown. But it sure has been a hell of an experience.
Leap of faith
Within a few weeks, I sold the majority of my possessions, spent late nights packing up, said my goodbyes and landed in Auckland.
I arrived with 2 suitcases and the heavy realisation of what I had got myself into.
It was winter. I was suddenly alone. And I now had to find a place to live.
Fortunately, the universe had my back.
Within a day I received a message from my only friend in New Zealand telling me that a room had become free in his (beautiful) home.
It was a soft landing. And yet another personal reminder that when we do the hard thing and take a risk, we are met with support.
“Nature loves courage. You make the commitment and nature will respond to that commitment by removing impossible obstacles. Dream the impossible dream and the world will not grind you under, it will lift you up. This is the trick. This is what all these teachers and philosophers who really counted, who really touched the alchemical gold, this is what they understood. This is the shamanic dance in the waterfall. This is how magic is done. By hurling yourself into the abyss and discovering it’s a feather bed.” - Terence McKenna
Despite this, my first few months were a real test of resilience.
I was low energy and I felt confused, questioning why I was in New Zealand at all. I realised that not having a community around me left me feeling drained and alone.
Small steps
Little by little I established myself in Wellington, building roots and finding my people.
At the same time, I was working remotely for the hypnotherapy start-up I’d joined in Melbourne. But I realised that my heart lay elsewhere.
I had a deep desire to create a business to help people on their own journeys of awakening.
I had made a huge life upheaval and yet felt like I had one foot in and one foot out by not pursuing this dream.
So, I quit.
Again, without a real plan.
But with a strong conviction that this was the right thing for me to do.
I set out in the dark, taking one step at a time.
In the unknown
And here I am, 5 months later.
I finally feel like I am living my dream life: creating, sharing, and helping on the journey of self-discovery.
I’ve run workshops, brought on clients, made a 7-day digital program, started a men’s group, poetry group, created weekly YouTube videos and emails, ran dozens of meditations, and overhauled my Instagram.
Behind these milestones are the true achievements:
- feeling empowered and aligned with my life’s purpose
- stepping into my fear while regulating my nervous system
- having honest and difficult conversations
- letting go of caring what people think
- becoming more comfortable taking up space
- recognising the power of consistent practice
- feeling deeply embodied through movement practices.
I haven’t done this alone.
From past experience, I know that transformation without support is so much slower and difficult.
I’m fortunate to have had the support of an amazing community of friends, a coach, a mentor, and 2 group programs.
There’s now a lot of momentum behind me and I feel incredibly excited for what’s to come: spaces opening up for new coaching clients, a meditation program, and new workshop to name just a few.
My mind says that I should double down. Work harder.
But my body is telling me to rest. To recuperate. To receive. And to prepare for the next wave that I feel coming.
Throughout this journey, I’ve trusted my intuition even when it doesn’t seem logical.
That’s why I’m honouring this call for rest.
I’m switching off for a week or two. I’m going to retreat into nature, step away from technology, and connect with why I’m doing this work again.
It can be hard to take rest. We feel guilty for it. And it’s especially hard to step away when you’re a solopreneur. But it’s so essential to replenish ourselves.
So by the time you’re reading this, I’ll be in the bush somewhere with a tent.
Reconnecting with life.
I hope you take the chance to rest too.