My good friend Leah just broke up with her marrying-material still-in-love boyfriend of many years. She took unpaid leave from a safe and well paying job, and will soon be leaving for a year (at least that’s the plan for now) to volunteer somewhere in Africa, work for the UN, or do that thing they usually do in movies with “chick flick” titles.
No prejudice here against anyone, or the film genre for that matter. And no bias against finding yourself and following your true passion either. After all, I’m the believer here. I’m just stating the obvious. The mainstream film industry and its parent pop culture in most western societies today love to refer to anything emotional, thought-provoking, and off-the-beaten track as overly sentimental, unrealistic, and far removed from the things that really matter in life. Since I haven’t been reading newspapers and haven’t been watching the news for over a year now, I’m thankfully having a hard time remembering what those “real issues” they’d like me to be worried about are. And yes, the world needs help. For the last 6000 years it has been in need of our assistance. But the help starts with you and me. It starts with Leah.
Leah said she wanted to find herself in what she truly believes in: making a difference in her and other people’s lives through personal contribution. Helping others and truly enjoying the experience. Is she afraid? Yes. Has she been crying? Yes. Did they call her crazy for dismantling a prospective future for something undefined, even whimsical? You bet. But I know that by feeling the fear and doing it anyway, by crying and laughing at the same time, and doing “crazy” exciting things that lie ahead Leah will make a difference in the world. She will be herself, and she will have trusted her heart. What eventually becomes of her effort is less important than who she will become. Saying no to good to make space for great in her life will truly have been worth it. What other guarantee could one wish for but that what we desire is worthwhile the tears, worthwhile the fears, and worthwhile the effort.
Leah had doubts. She thought herself incapable of independence. She thought her past had showed her that she lacked courage to raise her anchor and sail off to face her true passion out there in the offing. There is no money to be made doing what we truly want to do, someone told her. Get a real job! Get a mortgage! Marrying your long-term boyfriend is the sensible thing to do, Leah believed. And yet, she is moving out. She is buying her one way ticket. And she is getting her vaccinations up-to-date. She listened to her inner voice. When I spoke to her she had a shine to her that felt catchy. It felt so right. She has paid her dues to feeling sorry about the break-up. And she has certainly had her fair share of giving in to regret and limiting thoughts. She did not repress them though. She embraced them. She shared her feelings with her world and friends. And that’s why her ex remains her best friend. That’s why they are not closing the door to being together in the future. He is happy to pursue his dreams too. In any case, doors never close on us if we choose to let them be.
Next time you say or hear, “I should have” please consider this. There is a difference between limiting beliefs and intuition. Limiting beliefs may trip you up, but intuition will prop you up. Both may wield its powers in the realm of subconscious until we become aware of them. Do away with your limiting beliefs, but honour your intuition. Sometimes what you might consider to be a limiting belief may in fact be your intuition giving you feedback.
How to tell the difference? Limiting beliefs associate with fear a lot. Intuition keeps company with courage. Limiting beliefs dwell on the past. Intuition is always present. Limiting beliefs are often cause of inaction. Intuition prods us into action. Action goes both ways: you may choose to continue doing something thinking you need to conquer your limiting beliefs. But taking action in the opposite, by taking another path altogether may be the right thing. And what’s right usually feels right.
Taking action gives rise to intuitive advice. Believe your intuition as you would believe advice from a wise person. Your courage to do so may just do away with your limiting beliefs too. What more could you heart for?
Belief Blog 
What an awesome story! I want the rest of my story to be much like this one! Thanks for sharing! Frank
I appreciate your comment Frank. Love and success to you! A:)ex
It would be great if we could all be as civilised as your friends, in allowing each other the freedom to find their own paths. Who knows what the future holds!
Alarna, how true. Your comments always make me think. Thank you for stopping by. I agree, when I heard this story from my friend it struck me more as an exception rather than what happens in majority of cases. Embracing the present is welcoming the future.
Go Leah! Thanks for sharing AP. I love stories like these. The world needs more people trusting their gut and going for it!
Cheers!
Thank you for following your gut and voting with your heart! Love to you, A:)ex
Hi
First, thanks for visiting my blog and sharing your likes.
Now for why I’m really leaving this comment….
What a touching, eloquent and inspiring post! I especially like the quote “Intuition keeps company with courage. ” Can you turn that into one of those wonderful quote images I’m always liking on Pinterest? 😉
“Can you turn that into one of those wonderful quote images I’m always liking on Pinterest?”
Done! 🙂 Love to you and thank you so much for your suggestion. A:)ex
Truly amazing and inspirational. I applaud your friend for her strength and courage, as well as you for sharing her story 🙂
I find your writing and thoughts truly amazing and inspirational. I will pass on your love to my friend. Keep loving yourself! A:)ex
Wonderful message – I too follow my heart (despite what others say I should or should not do) and if everyone was able to be as supportive as your friends ‘boyfriend’ is/was, the world would be such a different place! Thank you for sharing. And may you always follow your heart…
I wish you a world of love and challenges ahead. Low light or bright sunshine, keep snapping away the seeds and fruits of life. And may your should haves and shoulds be where they belong – in the past or potential – you be the real you right now. Love to you, A:)ex
Thank you – you have no idea how timely your words are right now…
I’m so happy to hear your heart is following you and you are following your beliefs. Please write about it. Love to you! A:)ex
So inspiring.. you make me wish I was young again, and instead of nursing an ailing 84 year old husband, could throw it all away and trek out to adventure and service…maybe next life….
Dear Valerie, thank you for your lovely heart. You have embraced your current service, and life has made you a seeker, inspiration comes your way, made you a reader, a writer, and a doer. If I may say, keep making the most of now. As you proudly pronounced, “Seize the day!” Who knows what tomorrow brings; it’s a sweet unknown where the adventure lies. Love to you and your husband! A:)ex
Wonderful blog and I think you are right on!! Thank you for sharing!!
Jenness
http://jennessjohnston78.wordpress.com/
Jenness, have been enjoying your posts very much. Thank you for sharing your life and thoughts. A:)ex
Sometimes Life forces us to take actions we normally would not, like me braving eye shots in the hope of slowing vision loss. Am I brave? Not really, but the thought of going blind forces me to get that needle in my right eye. Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking my posts. I look forward to reading more of yours. Sandra
I love your reply. How true. Sometimes feedback comes in the form of adversity and things we wouldn’t normally associate with what we need, but they prod us into action which on the surface may be all there is to it. Deeper we go, we discover what we may not have expected at all. Being brave or not, well in advance or in the 11th hour, we do follow our intuition and how wonderful it is reading your words Sandra where it can take you. Keep on hearting! Love, A:)ex
“Speak softly, and carry a big stick” Teddy Roosevelt’s advice seems to encapsulate all that I could say by way of comment …
I couldn’t think of a better comment myself. 🙂
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This is a great story.—–Thanks for checking my site out. I’ll keep checking yours out.
I love your site! Thank you Jean for your words of support. Love to you, A:)ex
Always trust your gut! It took me a long time to learn that!