The Journey of “There’s always a way…”

Core Article: The journey of “There’s always a way…“

Quotes I’m Pondering: “To explore one’s past without bitterness…”

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “I am unstoppable…”

The Journey of “There’s always a way…”

If you’re in one of those places in your life where it feels like life is coming at you in way too many directions, and you’re trying to figure out how you’re supposed to keep going… I want to share something that guided me through one of the toughest times in my life.

It was late summer 2000…

I walk out of the building into the parking lot, and before I head to my car, I turn around and look up at the sign on the building, and think, ” This was the last time I will ever be in this building.

And this is one of the scariest things that’s ever happened to me. I’ve never been laid off from a job before in my 14 years in Corporate America. Much less, having only worked there for 3 months.

I’m also in the midst of a divorce.

The home I’m renting gives me two months’ notice to move.

And I’ve just come out of the proverbial closet.

Not one change.

Four.

All at once.

My thoughts go back to the conversation that just ended, the one with my executive coach, Debbie Phillips, whom I called right after the VP said I wasn’t working out, and HR said they could give me three months’ severance.

And I had to sneak into a dark, abandoned office to get some privacy to speak to Debbie, because I was crying and so lost.

I had no clue what to do. I realized how tied I am to my identity as a worker in this industry. I felt like I lost myself, my identity, in those 20 minutes in the VP’s office. I was so scared, I had no clue what to do tomorrow. I’ve not had a weekday when I wasn’t heading off to work, unless I was on vacation.

And in the middle of all of this, my Dad’s voice whispers in my head, “Shan, remember, there’s always a way.”

Even hearing that, I still can’t wrap my head around how I’m going to turn my whole life around in less than three months.

Debbie talked me off the ledge and showed me that I have a choice: either find another job within the company or take three months off without pay and explore other opportunities.

This concept freaked me out and also kind of elated me in the same breath.

This can be a gift of time. I decided to take the severance, and I work on trusting my intuition.

Then life does what it does, and more stuff piles on.

The house I’m renting is going to be sold, and now I’m looking at my calendar thinking, “How the heck am I supposed to find a place to live with no job/income?”

What gets me through this crazy and tumultuous time is my support team.

My executive coach and I have been working together for over a year. She guided and helped me and introduced me to a good therapist. And I also have my best friend.

Without all of them, I surely would have been lost. Yet, I still have to do the heavy lifting. I have to do the work on myself. And I learn how to meditate and how to grieve my losses and cry a lot.

I get myself back to hiking in nature with my dogs, because nature is the one place my body can breathe and heal.

It was then that my best friend recommended that I go to Peru. She shared this tour group called Magical Journey to Peru.

So I get my shots, altitude pills, hiking boots, bug spray, and cram it all into a small duffle.

Then I get on a plane by myself to Peru to go on a tour with 15 other strangers. I’ve never gone out of the country by myself, where I know no one.

My fear almost got the best of me, and I decided I had to go anyway.

Peru was everything my best friend said it would be.

Hiking in the Andes, the meditation opportunities, and meditating with others were like someone had opened a magical door to another universe for me.

At the top of Machu Picchu on the last night of our trip, I came to terms with the journey of my life. All the identities given to me to adopt.

Not many of them I chose for myself.

As the shaman sang and beat his drums, I realized that my life had greater meaning. I had many choices and opportunities when I got back home.

The best part is I’m not doing this alone. It’s time to stop limiting myself.

Those 14 days in Peru changed me.

Coming home was definitely a struggle after spending 2 weeks in that incredible place.

When I opened the door to my house, my dogs went crazy; they grounded me back into my space.

Then I do the only thing I know how to do.

I get focused, reach out to my support team of friends and family, and use my tools for self-care – hiking in the woods with the dogs, meditation, and create an affirmation to keep me focused and centered.

My mantra, which I said at least 100 times every day, even while walking the dogs, was simple: “I am successful, courageous, patient, loving, kind, and aware. I will find my perfect job and the best home for my dogs and me by November 1.”

Before all this, I honestly struggled to believe there was a way all the change I was dealing with would work out by November 1.

Still, I keep putting one foot in front of the other, leaning on my support team.

After a month, I started to believe there was a way this could all work out.

In mid October, I was offered an amazing job, running the corporate communications offices of the parent company that laid me off. And then I found a place to live right after that. It all happened by November 1. Then in January, I met someone.

This tumultuous time in my life taught me something I’ve carried into everything since, including how I coach, work, and guide mindful, purpose-driven entrepreneurs.

When you’re in the middle of your life blowing up, you don’t need the whole plan.

You need a support team and the next-best, smallest, and truest step.

So if you’re reading this and your business and/or life feels shaky because it’s a lot right now, or your marketing feels like a choice between integrity and survival, I want you to borrow my Dad’s words for a minute.

“There’s always a way.”

What’s the one step you can take this week to steady yourself and move forward, even if it’s incredibly small?

If this resonated or if you’re in the thick of something, hit reply and let me know.

I’m here if you need a coach or guide on your journey.

Hands at your back always.

🙂

Shannon

Quotes I’m Pondering

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to find the life that is waiting for us.”

~Joseph Campbell

“To explore one’s past without bitterness or shame is remarkable; to hold it with tenderness is a gift.”

~ Jeffrey Streeter The English Republic Letters

“Never forget that you are one of a kind. Never forget that if there weren’t any need for you in all your uniqueness to be on this earth, you wouldn’t be here in the first place. And never forget, no matter how overwhelming life’s challenges and problems seem to be, that one person can make a difference in the world. In fact, it is always because of one person that all the changes that matter in the world come about. So be that one person.” ~ Buckminster Fuller

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire

“I attract ideal clients who deeply value my work and joyfully invest in my services.”
I am financially free and generously supported by life.
I am unstoppable in pursuit of my highest calling.

Weekly Photos

This past week, I was in Houston, taking care of my Mom. Some interesting new sights and terrain, including birds, a flock of Amazon vehicles, and more…

This is a pic of San Francisco International Airport as we landed, with the sun rising. I love how you can see the full moon above the tower.
This is one of my favorites from my Goddaughter, who is an artist and art teacher. I LOVE all the colors and swirls.
I don’t see many Cardinals in northern CA. There are tons of them in Houston. I love how this one stands out in the leafless tree.
Houston is so flat. I miss the mountains and valley views. This is a small creek amid the green parts of northern Houston.
Got to hang out with Ruby again this week. We had fun on our hike and romp in the woods when I got back home yesterday.
Yep, wouldn’t be a newsletter without a pic of a heart rock I found. 🙂
This was interesting, no flocks of cardinals or pelicans, just a bunch of Amazon trucks waiting at the light to descend into the awaiting neighborhoods of Houston. Yeah, big city life. I miss my mountains, valleys, deer, wild turkeys, and bluebirds.

NEW: P.S. New Invitation – I’m going to launch my next Soulful Marketing Accelerator Co-hort in late March. 🙂 If you’re longing for like-minded community and ready to move through your fears to grow a purpose–driven business rooted in authenticity and aligned with your dream clients… Welllll. Go here to be first in line when I reopen the doors again. Would love to have you.

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I appreciate your sharing. Thank you!

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