You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself. ~Alan Alda

On December 16, 2014, I shared this quote on my Facebook page; a mere eight hours later, I resigned from my job. It was empowering.

I remember telling my friends I would be staying home while I built my foundation and created a new path. I knew I needed a change and that I wanted to spend more time with my family

Before I resigned, I felt as if I was on one side of a simple suspension bridge, curious yet excited about opportunities on the other side. I longed for change, something new and exciting. I had always felt safe and secure with a steady job, a decent income, and order in my little world. After I resigned, I was without these familiar resources as I ventured into new territory.

I took my first steps on the bridge the day I resigned. I was wobbly. I was shaky. I thought I would fall off the bridge. It was nothing more than fear. The fear of losing my professional identity. The fear of not having a paycheck. The fear of failure.

I was so uncomfortable with the idea of not working and not having a paycheck, that I took a job in insurance sales. It was exciting at first, but it just didn’t feel right; something niggled at me. After four months of the niggling and a week of sleepless nights, my gut told me that I was not on the right path, so I quit.

I spent time with my Mom, I spent time with my children. I cleaned out the house and learned to live with less. I reestablished relationships with old friends and met up with old colleagues. I began saying “No” to others and “Yes” to myself. I was taking baby steps across the bridge, looking ahead, while ignoring the murky waters below.

A rope suspension bridge wobbles and sways; each step forward is a testament to trust and faith that the rope will hold. Those first few years required a lot of trust and faith in myself as I discovered my passion, took care of my health, advocated for my children, and worked on my relationship with my Dad.

Four years later, I am on the other side of the bridge. No longer held hostage by fear, I am open to trying new things, have more patience and empathy, and live in the moment. I aspire to inspire others to trust their intuition, to find their passion and to rise above their fears. I continue to create and discover.

I have discovered myself and when I come across the next bridge, I will be ready.