Chasing After Me

One year ago I was packing up boxes at my desk.

One year ago I was meeting with people to let them know how much their friendships had meant to me over the years.

One year ago I did one most courageous thing I things I’ve ever done…I exchanged a life of routine and predictability for one filled with unknowns.

I left my amazing job of nearly 12 years to help friends plant a church…to start my own communications business…to learn more about myself.

Sounds cushy, right? Nope.

Crazy. Lost. Weak. Dense. Alone.

That’s how I’ve felt throughout the past year.

Stretched. Grateful. Loved. Fulfilled. Found.

That’s also how I’ve felt.

You see, courage doesn’t exist without risk.

Walking a path of unpredictability is hard. You end up tripping over yourself more than anything else. You doubt yourself. Question your decisions. You wonder who you are. And then you remember that it’s part of the ride. The courageous ride. The ride that shows promise of something great on the other side, even if you can’t see clearly what it is in the moment.

And, when you stop to remember the purpose, the ride becomes euphoric. It has meaning. You just need to put yourself in a place where you can see goodness and promise even in those dim moments.

My point? Opportunity is not painless. Even when it is what you know that you’re supposed to be doing. Even when you’re pursuing your passion and standing in your truth.

A year later, I’d make the same choice 1000 times over…even knowing all I’d feel. Because I’d also know the purpose found on the other side. The purpose to Bloom.

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Consider this a thank you note of sorts. A thank you to Best Buy and all of my amazing colleagues…for all you plant in your people…for all I learned…for all of your encouragement…and, dare I say, all your love. A year later I still feel it. And, it helped me discover purpose. I am forever grateful.

A call is not a destination…it’s a compass.

Don’t ask where I got that. After doing a lot of reading, studying and reflecting over the holidays, the concept hit me like a train. And, I’ll preface this post by saying that it’s my own reminder to me…I only hope it helps someone else along the way…

You see, I’d like to think I’m not the only one who spends far too much time wondering what is next in life. It’s funny, because the future is something in life that is not guaranteed. Don’t get me wrong. Daydreaming is totally cool. For me, it’s sometimes welcome escapism.

But here’s the deal…what if life isn’t about what’s next? What if it’s not about where you’re going? What if it’s more about why you’re headed in a certain direction?

Would that change how you approach your life? Because the concept is definitely turning my life upside down.

After all, is there really ever a destination in life? Seriously, even if you find a destination, don’t you quickly find a new one to run toward anyway?

Maybe you’ve discovered that burning thing inside of you…maybe not…but it doesn’t matter.

Do you really think you’re done once you figure that out? Of course not. That burning thing simply gives you purpose, passion and direction…not THE answer.

So, why then do we spend so much time stressing about it? You know what’s inside of you. What’s stopping you from running with what you know so far? You’ll learn as you go…every step of the way. If you just start moving, the compass will continue to direct you. And, a compass never stops pointing in a given direction…you only know you’re going in the right direction.

Turning a call into a destination only adds stress, grows ego and leaves you feeling empty. (Can you hear me convincing myself here?!)

Realize. Reframe. Repeat. Remember.

A call is not a destination…it’s a compass.