HOW TO BREAK, MAKE & LIVE BY YOUR OWN RULES

Are you simply adhering to following rules or feel the limitations imposed by yourself or others? Are you longing for a life that reflects your passions, values, and wildest dreams authentically?

Well, if you answered yes to all then I can tell you… you’re not alone. I realized that many of us spend our lives following societal expectations, suppressing who we are truly meant to be, and making us feel like we’re never quite “good enough.”?I certainly felt that way when I was faced with a version of myself I didn’t recognize in my early 30s. I felt totally lost, confused, and just could not answer the question of “Who am I really?” What I should have been asking myself is "Who do I want to be?"

The good news? You have the power to destroy your own rulebook and rewrite your own story. Heck, you can start breaking, making and living by your own rules if you want today!

Here’s the truth: I wasn’t always the free-spirited, globetrotting, self-made international entrepreneur you see me as today. I was an “uptown gal” in Manhattan, living my dreams in the city until I started drowning in burnout, depression, and the aftermath of my broken marriage. The rules I thought I had to follow were suffocating me. I knew then that something had to change. Yes, this is called an identity crisis (more on this topic later). So, I took a leap of faith, ditched my old life and set out on a journey of self-discovery of losing and finding myself that led me to rewrite my story with love and confidence. In the beginning of my journey I realized I needed to decide the story that I wanted for my life.

I believe the greatest adventures in life begin with a feeling of being lost. It doesn’t mean you’re going nowhere. It means you’re ready for a new adventure. Every turn teaches you, every step strengthens you and the journey is where the magic happens. - Meagan Hundt

Remember: This is just the beginning!?

How do you start?? Here’s my guide to breaking, making, and living by your own rules.

I. Break Your Own Rules:

Following the rules that once defined me were suffocating me at a time in my life when I didn’t recognize myself I had completely lost who I was living the hustle in NYC after 12 years. The rat race caught up with me. Deciding to hit pause, I moved to the Caribbean island of St. Barth, traveled, and started my first international business on my own. You could say I began living my life more on the edge. To be real with you. I wouldn’t go back and change a thing. I have loved every moment of my journey even the ups and downs because it has shaped me into the person I am today and I am proud of myself. When I left my old life in NYC behind, my comfort zone, financial security and the life that I had known for 12 years this was the first and hardest step I took. I admit it was quite a radical change, but each step I took and challenge I faced helped me to begin breaking my own self-imposed limitations I had placed on myself.

I stopped asking “should I?” and start asking “why not?”

Your Turn:

• What self-imposed rules are holding you back? Identify them to yourself – Is it your perfectionism, people-pleasing, staying in your comfort zone? Don’t be afraid to face your self imposed limitations. It will be uncomfortable, but when you start to change, you will find growth, strength and become a better version of yourself – I can promise you that. Just take that first step and break your own rules first.

• What rule are you ready to break today?

Perfectionism is a self destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought:?If I look perfect, and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame. – Brene Brown

II. Make Your Own Rules:

How do you want to experience life?

Once I traded my business suits for bathing suits I started tapping into my adventurous side. I began getting into mindfulness practices such as yoga & meditation, learning French and exploring new passions I never knew I had.?

Your Turn:

• Designing a life you love: Define your core values (what truly matters to you?) and visualize your perfect day. How does your day flow? What are you doing? Who are you with? What are you learning? How can you start incorporating these elements of your dream into day to day living now?
• What’s one rule you’re going to make for yourself to prioritize your well-being (physical, emotional or spiritual)?

Remember, don’t be afraid to experiment and be vulnerable. Growth happens outside your comfort zone. Do something you have never done before, travel to new destinations, and begin to enjoy the learning process. There is no destination when you are enjoying the journey including the messy & beautiful moments in life.

The courage to be vulnerable is not about winning or losing, it’s about the courage to show up when you can’t predict or control the outcome. – Brene Brown

III. Live by Your Own Rules: Now it’s Time to Ride Your Own Wild Waves

My journey hasn’t been a smooth ride and yours won’t be either (nobody has an easy perfect journey). I have been faced with many questions about myself, what I want, challenges in starting all over in my mid 30s, and many moments of self-doubt. I think the thing that helped me the most was to stay open-minded, be curious, and push myself to step outside of my comfort zone daily. Living life a bit more on the edge has helped me overcome my struggles and become more aligned with my true and authentic self.

Your Turn:

• Conquer change with love and confidence: growth requires stepping outside your comfort zone. Stay curious: never stop learning and expanding your horizons.?

This is what I have learned. Walking away is easy. Learning to be honest with yourself is hard. Your challenge is not to be easy on yourself, your challenge is to find growth and strength in the unknown. Uncertainty is beautiful if you allow it to be. You just have to be wild enough to step into it. - Meagan Hundt

Ok, now it’s really your turn to start putting all of this into action and I am excited to share my tips with you. I don’t believe we should be on our journeys alone. I want to help you to challenge yourself to change your story. Forget the doubt-fueled story you keep telling yourself. Choose the story you want for your life. You’re the hero, and there is no other perfect time than now to start. A life you love and have created for yourself is waiting for you.

I think of it this way. Sometimes, getting lost isn’t about finding your way back, but discovering secrets your map never held. Every turn reveals another clue, piecing together a unique adventure. The journey itself is your story. - Meagan Hundt

The scariest question isn't 'who am I?' but 'who do I want to be?' Once I asked myself this question, I realized I wasn't just starting a new chapter I was writing a new book. - Meagan Hundt

-Meagan Hundt