For years, one of my goals has been to be a full-time entrepreneur. Because I created and held onto the belief that for my work to have meaning, it would have to be a full-time endeavor, I thought there was only one way to make this happen for me. Then, at the same time, that idea was reinforced by other entrepreneurs who echoed those same sentiments. Some would even say that if I were doing this particular passion work only part-time, then it was just a hobby. I became so entrenched in that pathway that I became very critical of myself for not moving into being a full-time entrepreneur. At the same time, I loved many aspects of my current job. I loved teaching. I loved working with children to support them in discovering their own gifts and talents and giving them the tools to pursue those. And so, I continued with both paths. And yet, while I was still engaged in both of my passions – teaching and many types of metaphysical work – I did not view myself as a success in either area.

In the past few years, I’ve experienced numerous health challenges, including three separate cancer diagnoses, which have led me to pause and reflect upon the path I was on and how my thoughts of what I wanted my life to look like had become so entrenched in what it “should” look like that I did not clearly see or understand the meaning that any of my “work” had within my own life and the impact that I had on others. I also did not see how the interweaving of both work paths had an impact on others I came in contact with. For example, when teaching at one school, there were numerous occasions where students who were not in my class, would come inside my doorway because “the energy in my classroom felt good.” In many ways, I created safe spaces for students which supported them in walking their own sacred path.

Despite these many years of study and experience and supporting others, I came to realize that I am already on the “right” path (my path) but my stubbornness and attachment to how my work “should” be done to truly make an impact was keeping me entrenched in a pathway that was keeping me stuck. This is the revelation that I needed to discover for myself to create a breakthrough in my own life and start to shift my thoughts and feelings about my life and to release the associated feelings of self-judgement and self-criticism.

Moving forward, I am seeing things in a new way and able to shift the conventions and restrictions that I had previously placed on my own life. I understand that I don’t have to do things the way others expect me to nor do I need to stay trapped in unsupportive expectations of self. I need to live my life in a new way – my way. I am choosing the pathway to freedom and joy while releasing the self-imposed limitations and blockages that I’ve unknowingly placed in my own path. Only in doing this, will I find greater joy and passion in whatever I choose to do. Where in your life can you do things in a new way in order to create your own trail.