Make Some Big Jumps

What is life really all about? This question used to plague me... keep me up at night... Every decision I made was followed by this, or a version of this, question.

I cannot be so bold as to declare that I have discovered the meaning of life or existence but I can declare that its days like today that make me feel like I am on the right track. In my experience, which cannot be slighted just because of my age... I have challenged myself in many ways that would make a grown man quiver... I have come to realize that life is really about making "big jumps." Taking those things that you "believe in" and deciding that your belief is an extension of your faith. Then assigning that faith to your life as the ultimate, most decisive presence in your life. I am not just talking about faith in yourself... the "I can do anything you can do better" attitude, but rather, the guidance that allows you to take risks that others wouldn't. Faith that exists regardless of your religious or spiritual beliefs. The simple idea that everything that you will ever need to support yourself exists in you already. For the first time in my life I feel as if I have tapped into that type of faith.

As I sit here in an Ann Arbor hotel restaurant on my first day of training I can't help but reflect on the choices I've made to get to this point in my life. Going against the grain. Putting financial responsibility on my wonderful husband while I try to rediscover myself. I have started so many new endeavors in the past 5 years just to turn around and quit them... Not because I don't have persistence but because I have always challenged myself to refuse meritocracy. I never wanted to be "good" at things... feel "good" about my career... As a young girl and young woman all I ever wanted was to be famous... not in a Hollywood way, but in a way that would make a difference in the lives of people around me. Little did I know that I was already doing so just by taking the risks that I did... job after job, class after class... until I found that one thing that had been calling to me all along. This type of example goes without words. This is exactly what I hope to inspire in my team as I become integrated into the Lululemon culture and the yoga community in Grand Rapids.

Don't settle.

I can remember the words of my father as I cried to him one day... telling him how unhappy I was in my job. Hearing his response saddened me further.  I was sad to hear my wonderful, talented, smart father admit that he had fallen victim to the idea that "everyone feels this way in their jobs" and that "sticking it out for seniority" is accepted as a way of life.
It lit a fire in my soul. I refuse to contribute to that way of thinking. There are way too many happy people out there doing what they love for me to accept that I was, or that anyone else is,  one of the unfortunate ones who had to comply with the system because "thats how life works." I set my intentions with absolutely no idea where it would take me.

I hope that this is something that I can encourage others to do.

Let go.

Let go of all the things that make you dread waking up in the morning. That shitty job. That friend that makes you feel bad about yourself in the most endearing way. The routine that you promised yourself that you would never fall into. Let go of all of those things that distract you from what truly makes you tick... even if you don't know what it is yet. Create a new you. Have faith that it IS the right decision. Yes, things will change. You might have to live differently than you ever did before... but thats the point, isn't it? You might have to let go of the things you thought you "knew" about yourself. You will feel uncomfortable. Exposed. Come out of hiding. Find the passion that you had before you decided that responsibility was more important than goals and happiness. Your happiness IS your most important responsibility. Accept yourself for the things that you feel are faulty and know that nothing exists for nothing. Accept that you may have come a long way doing things in the way that you are now... and that its ok to separate from those things if they are no longer serving you. We all have a purpose and we are all inclined to live it. To quote my companies manifesto, "do one thing a day that scares you."While your at it... do it with love. Appreciate yourself for having done nothing more than given it a shot. Begin to do that and you will begin to accept those things in others around you and discover real compassion. When you discover real compassion it will be returned to you in so many ways unimaginable ways.

I digress...

"What comes from the heart goes to the heart," so it might as well mean something to you.

This is what I have discovered. There is no risk that isn't worth taking.

Jump.

High 5's, Breath & Namaste,

Brandie