The Transformational Journey

Life occurs as a series of cycles. In a single human lifetime, the first cycle is conception and the last cycle is death. Death is not an end, but merely the start of a new cycle.

Rather than viewing these cycles as separate circles, they exist in almost a spiral pattern. There is a flow and everything is connected so we can blossom into our fullest potential.

Transforming happens to everyone. It is a natural part of life, but it is usually the spiritual transformation that provides the most impact.

Before you transform your life has to crumble in some way. Some part of you needs to be buried or broken off in order to be transformed. I have been broken mentally and physically and by the Grace of GOD I am here now sharing this journey with you.

This process can be painful, but it is also one of the most magical and enlightening experiences that we can have. Life is painful but you have to learn how to embrace it for what it is while at the same time understanding what it is not.

Think of the humble caterpillar. At a certain stage of its life, the caterpillar goes into the darkness of the cocoon in order to be transformed. Do you think the caterpillar knows what is happening to it in the cocoon? Do you think it can see past the darkness?

As far as we know, the caterpillar has no idea what is to become of it. This is true on so many levels as even now I found myself wondering what is to become of me even though I know the answer we are human and to be human you are imperfect so self doubt is inevitable.

Perhaps on some level it can intuit what it is going to become, but throughout the process the caterpillar is alone and faced with nothing except the memory of what it once knew to be true. I use this example to truly separate what was with what is. All I ever knew was how to be an Law Enforcement Officer that struggled with Depression, Stress, Anxiety, PTSD. This was also accomplished under the strong hold of alcoholism.

Often it can be difficult to know where transformation will lead us until after it is complete. Although signs will vary from person to person, here are 5 stages of transformation that I have experienced.

1. Things Start to Crumble

Depending on the size of your transformation, it is likely that some part of you and your life needs to be released in order to facilitate the transformation process. If you feel that your life is crumbling around you or you have experienced continued losses in some way, usually this is a clear sign that you are getting ready to undergo a form of transformation.

Crumbling sounds negative, but really whatever is being crumbled from you life is likely to no longer serve your highest good or needs to be updated in order to support your new journey. I hit that infamous ROCK BOTTOM and was at a pivotal moment in my life which brought with it two choices, 1- Life or 2-Death. I think you know which choice I took.

2. You Feel the Desire to Be Alone

Just like the caterpillar spends its days in the cocoon alone, when you are transforming the desire to be alone also emerges. This is because transformation brings a recalibration process. During this period you are trying to figure out who you are and what you are going to become. This was an interesting phase as my plan changed multiple times a day!

You may start questioning your life, your thought process and everything in between. This can cause an overwhelming feeling which can be amplified when surrounded by others. In this phase it is so important that you evaluate your circle. When you have people in your circle playing tug of war with what is best for you, it can truly make this difficult and you will find yourself at an impasse which is a bad place to be when you are being reborn.

Because you are in the dark, all of your thought processes are likely to bring you into an internal state, causing you to really go within. During this process there is a deeper questioning as to who you really are and an exploration into all the things that make you, You. There is truly no timeline as to how long this phase will last. The one thing you must understand is non of this happens at your pace. This is a process which you must embrace and allow to happen.

3. You Feel Lost or Confused About Everything

Transformation can be a very confusing process as there is no way to turn back and often there is no clear direction forward either. Until the cocoon starts to break away all there is darkness and this can be very confronting and confusing. If you are sensitive enough, you may also be able to feel this darkness coming from a person.

During transformation not only are you confused as to who you really are, but suddenly you are not sure about anything anymore. You are in the dark and there is no way of knowing which way you are going to go. Transformation can also bring about the changing and reconfiguring of thought processes and intuition, which can add further confusion while this change is underway. In this phase, your EYE will start to open and you will start seeing the world for the first time. Its just like the newborn baby that opens its eyes for the first time.

4. A Particular Life Lessons Seems to Confront You

Life lessons usually flow in and out of our lives in the form of cycles and transformation is usually a sign that you are at the end of a cycle. During your transformation process, especially in the beginning of it, you may receive the final confrontation of your life lesson.

You may hear different variations of this but I like to call this the Vision. We are given the END GAME of what we will become aka our Purpose and oftentimes this vision has you doing something that SCARES the hell out of you. Transformation is about overcoming fear. This will force you to have to have to face your fears head on and really deal with your inner demons one by one.

This final confrontation is usually what leads to the crumbling or collapsing of your life and helps to facilitate the rebirth process. This is such a beautiful moment and one that I will never forget as long as I live. In that very moment something more like someone entered into my soul and whispered in my ear that everything was going to be okay. I was immediately filled with compassion. It was almost as if my body was a car with an empty tank and I was instantly filled with LOVE.

5. The Awakening Brings You The End Game Which Starts The Journey of HOW

Transformation can help us to expand our consciousness, align with our higher path and help us to get in touch with the essence of our soul. Even though the process may be confronting, confusing and heavy, it is also an extremely powerful experience that can truly transform and shape your life in amazing ways. If you feel that you are going through a transformation, the best way to deal with it is to accept the process and enjoy the ride.

When you finally step out on the other side, when you finally see the crack of light peaking over the top of your own cocoon, that is when you will know exactly how to move forward. For me personally, I am still in the process of understanding the HOW and I am looking for someone to take me under their wing so I can in return spread my wings and fulfill my purpose.

I have come so far and nothing will stop me in the pursuit of happiness but I have learned that I cannot lean on my own understanding of how to accomplish my END GAME. I have come to love this platform of LinkedIn because I have found so many just like me. Throughout my journey I have accomplished so many wins and have also experienced losses. I feel like a baby deer at times trying to find my footing and every time I feel as if I am about to take off running well I am reminded that it is not my season.

My Purpose is to take my life experiences and share them with others. My mission is to shorten the learning curve of others so they don't have to bear the destruction that I experienced prior to my transformation. Saving lives is what it is all about but I have to be practical and take care of the now. I have made zero income in almost 6 months and my family has taken the hit and that is something that truly saddens me as a Man, Husband and Father. This financial set back is nothing more than a test which I will pass.

Thank you very much for taking time to read my article as this has been and still is my journey. I hope those of you that have walked out this Journey will reach out with some kind words of helpful advice. I hope there will be others that read this and see the value which I can bring to them and or their organization. Have a blessed day, I love each and everyone of you!