Growing Through Change

“Your life does not get better by chance. It gets better by change.” (Jim Rohn) This quote struck me when I saw it in my feed.

For me, like many of you, change can be scary. The unknown tends to put us on edge, whether staying in a job or the wrong relationship. We justify it by saying it could be worse elsewhere, and then we quickly accept that belief. After all, our brains are wired for consistency and routine, but there’s no growth without change.

Leadership and growth go hand in hand. If we fail to grow, we’re staying still. It’s up to us to challenge ourselves to move forward and tackle new initiatives, even if it’s out of our comfort zone, which is why I share this post with you.

During the pandemic, I turned 50 years old. It seems like yesterday I was a kid playing little league baseball but turning 50 got me thinking. It’s usually a point when people take stock of where they are and what they’re doing—the so-called mid-life crisis.

A few days after our family celebration, I remember saying to my wife Adriana that I didn’t feel fulfilled. Something was missing. I was not as present as I should be, and frankly, I was not smiling as much. She sensed it too.

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” (Pablo Picasso)

I know what my gifts are. I have a keen ability to help businesses tell a story, avoid crises and provide effective media coaching. But was I living my purpose? No. Instead, I ended up doing sales out of necessity to help a startup grow. Happiness alluded me, but I was allowing it to.

This eventually led to a forced career shift, a business break-up that stung. I went through all of the emotions you’d expect. Sometimes, when the cell door is flung open, the prisoner chooses not to escape. ?I had become content out of fear.

Thankfully, I have wonderful family and friends who believe in me, and I am so grateful for all of them. I was also reminded of a very wise woman, my grandmother, who once told me: FEAR is an acronym for False. Event. Appearing. Real. My Nana was still coaching me from the heavens, encouraging me to believe in myself to get back on the path I was meant to be on.

For me, writing is cathartic, which is why I share this with you. You may be facing fears or wondering about trying something new. My advice, write down the pros and cons and then make your decision. This may sound simple, but I was able to embrace it by accepting my situation.

Acceptance requires courage, determination, and honesty with yourself. It allowed me to see failure as a positive and to celebrate every success, no matter how small. It’s taught me a great deal about attitude and gratitude.

Now, as I focus on this back nine of my life, I do so with happiness, joy, and faith. My cell door has been flung open, and I choose to escape to the life I desire. I hope you are too.

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