“A leap of faith, in its most commonly used meaning, is the act of believing in or accepting something intangible or unprovable,or without empirical evidence. “Wikipedia
Many people must take leaps of faith or there wouldn’t be a definition found with aught but a click of the mouse on google. For me, leaps of faith are much in part how I’ve lived my life, grown myself and how I’m growing my business. Some of them I’ve chosen. Some have chosen me. Most have brought me initially seemingly backwards. Over time even if through the fire, always forwards. Some have reached their new ground quickly. Others, not necessarily through any fault of their own have taken a REALLY long time.
Over the years of my life, I’ve taken blind ones, naïve ones, calculated ones, strategically planned ones, some “I didn’t even know I was taking” ones and some “completely surrender into the fire” ones. Knowing we are all “wired differently” have different personalities, beliefs, values, cultures and ways of being in our lives (& businesses), they may not be for everyone.
And, I offer the option that they are. Regardless of which version you choose (or which chooses you), from my experience, leaps of faith inherently hold the seeds for healing, transformation and growth upward.
Whether leaving something without something else in place – the job, the place, the spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, following your heart (for the first time or…even more), launching something new, investing your retirement dollars (before retirement) to pursue your dreams or go back to school, taking the next step of business growth or to learn a new skill (upon which your livelihood depends even if you haven’t yet mastered the skill), …No doubt a “leap of faith” is a potent, paradoxical blend of reward and terror.
Being in the midst of an unexpected one as we speak, a cascade of mental, emotional and body memories are flooding my awareness. My mind is remembering the many versions I’ve taken over time and contributing it’s part to figuring it out. My heart remembers the cycle of joyful liberation and curiosity of whats’ next, absolute fear, tears, laughter and a host of responses in between. My body reminds me of pain I’ve been setting aside, and begins to release now that I’m paying attention. In terms of my spirit, in juxtaposition to previous leaps, I’m witness to the “leap of faith” spiritual muscle I must have developed, because even moving through the above mentioned spectrum of responses, I am hopeful, free and completely surrendered to the mystery that feels oddly embracing.
For those who gauge decisions and progress primarily by dotted I’s and crossed T’s, on paper my current leap (or yours for that matter) may not look upward at all. However, I am happy to report that for me on this day “I believe and accept something intangible or unprovable, or without empirical evidence is guiding me forward, despite what it looks like without properly punctuated letters or “eyes”.
So, what happened and how might this make a difference for you? Well first of all, yes, this one chose me by surprise. Still tender to share any specifics, suffice it to say in only one week’s time since finding myself on a swinging vine between cliffs, the possibilities, signposts, emotional and energetic space that has already opened has also already opened doors to options much greater and expansive than I thought practically possible so soon. Before me are soul rewarding choices that I did not have time and space for before this happened.
In a phrase I heard last week, I am one step closer to “life by design”. My life, my choice and my design of what I want my life to be, or what the Mystery of Life is calling me to live and to be. And, although it is still unfolding, I know that this leap of faith is launching me upward. I also know unequivocally without a doubt that whatever leap of faith you are facing is there to hold you and lift you up to new heights that you too may not yet imagine.
