Reflecting upon "The Year of Everything Changing"

It's hard to believe that the end of 2016 is upon us. Reflecting over the last twelve months is bittersweet for me, as it's been a crazy year full of massive changes to say the least. I have coined 2016 "The Year of Everything Changing". Starting a new job, moving out of my first house that I lived in for sixteen years and into a new one, selling a rental property that had become a huge burden, the painful loss of a very loved and treasured family member, starting my own private practice, and - to continue this trend right to the very end of the year - leaving my old job to focus solely on growing my private practice. 

I started the year with taking a leave from my job that was safe and secure but where I had become restless and stagnant. I took a chance and applied for a brand new job that came with a huge learning curve, and the risk paid off more than I could have ever hoped for. I hadn't realized how feeling stagnant in one area of life was impacting every other area until I accepted this challenge which offered me a much needed change in perspective. I was able to find meaning and passion in my work, something I'd been craving for a long time but didn't know where to look until I got this much needed shove in a new direction.

Now that the final days of 2016 are winding down, and I am at this place of flux that I have been dreaming about for so long, I realize that I don't feel exactly the way I had imagined I would, which is so often the case. I thought that I would be feeling excited, confident and self assured about taking this step and making the investment into myself, my business, my true passion. I AM excited and so looking forward to putting all of the ideas rolling around in my head into action (like my online course Unlearning to Eat which kicks off on January 9th, and if you haven't checked it out yet you should definitely do so!) At the same time, I feel restless, uneasy, and like I'm standing at the edge of a cliff. Vulnerable and nervous with lots of 'what if's' that are popping up every day. What if I fail? What if I am criticized or challenged? What if I can't find and connect with the people who are looking for what I have to offer?

Of course I know that this is all completely normal. Transformation is never smooth and easy. It's not meant to be. The most terrifying parts are the ones that can be the most satisfying and rewarding. But knowing this doesn't make it any easier to sit with.

To cope with the uncertainly and instability, I go back (several times a day sometimes) to something that one of my amazing mentors Rachel Cole told me a few months ago that has stuck. As long as you are moving away from the thing that drains you and towards the thing that calls to you, you can never go wrong. Instead of crafting a typical New Year's Resolution this year, I plan to adopt this as my new mantra. These wise words can be applied to any and all aspects of life.

Wishing all of my friends, family, existing clients and potential new ones a very peaceful and restful remainder of 2016, and a New Year that is full of possibilities that allow you to move in the direction of whatever is calling to you.