Monumental leaps

When I was 7 months pregnant with my daughter, my family and I were given an opportunity to go on an expat assignment. Without hesitation we decided to do it, and made arrangements to relocate. When people asked me why we were planning to move before the baby was born, in my boldness I told them that babies are born everywhere and that it would all be just fine.

And it was…

But it was also stressful and at times overwhelming with the language barrier and cultural differences. Even though it was harder than I thought it would be, I have no regrets about the decision to have my baby somewhere else; it prepared me for bolder leaps later in life. These experiences force you to grow, overcome challenges and adapt.

Change changes you

Bold moves prepare us for a life full of monumental leaps. With each leap the chasm that we can jump gets wider and wider. One challenge or change helps prepare us for the next – like going from one grade in school to the next. However, sometimes after we make a big leap, the path ahead seems frightening and the familiar path that we came from looks better than the uncertain path that lies ahead.

It’s easy to doubt ourselves, however it’s not an option to go back. We can’t be the person that we were before; change changes us. Familiar things are no longer familiar when we have grown and everything else has stayed the same.

Greener grass

When we change and things are hard, it is easy to lament our decisions and regret our choices. However, just because things are hard, does not mean that we made a poor choice or that it wasn’t the right change to make.

When we find ourselves second guessing the path that we are on and regretting our choices it’s important to find time to stop and reflect.

·??????Be kind to yourself; bold leaps are never easy.

·??????Don’t let a bump in the road convince you that you should not have made a change. Accepting a life without change can lead to settling for mediocrity and stagnation.

·??????Don’t try to solve problems in that moment of self-doubt. A time of emotional exhaustion and regret is not the best time to make decisions.

Don’t get lost

Lean into all of the feelings that change brings – joy, anger, sadness, pride, uncertainty – but don’t get lost. The feelings – even the unpleasant ones – are part of the journey, so feel all of it. You have only one life and you don’t get any of your past moments back.

The monumental leaps that we make in our lives change us. The feelings that we have along the way are part of the experience. Even when it’s hard, don’t wish any of it away; it’s what we live for. Learn to leap and remember that you don’t always stick the landing.