Just a little over a year ago, I felt like I failure. I made the choice to walk away from a career I had been building for nearly 10 years. One where I felt I was at the top of my game. I felt important, comfortable and secure – but it also came a lot of sacrifice. Over time, that sacrifice became too great for me.
I realized that the important purpose in my career role had become so great that it had caused me to sacrifice everything that was most important to me – including myself.
So, I walked away from it all.
I ended a season that defined me, and I felt many things like:
+ you are going to become irrelevant
+ you couldn’t hack it
+ you will be forgotten
+ you can’t be taken seriously in anything else
+ you will never be as successful again
These things weren’t true, but they were holding me back. I was left with was a decision to rise. It was time for me to finally choose myself. It was time to stop waiting on the world to validate me and believe that, alone, I am enough.
It has been shaky and uncertain with lots of twists and turns, but each day that new purpose grows and I see more of myself shining. Some days, I still feel like I no idea what I am doing, but I never stop showing up.
In my blank slate season, I decided to become a business owner to help people in wellness, abundance and freedom. My mission statement is “To elevate women to more purpose and confidence than they ever thought possible.”
For me to do this for others, I first had to learn how to do this for myself.
Here are my personal tried and true steps after a year and a couple months of starting over:
Step One: START FROM THE BEGINNING – ACCEPT YOUR STORY
Start to walk in the self-acceptance of who you are. It is only when you fully accept yourself that you can give acceptance freely. It never works the other way around. If you get the WHO right, the WHAT happens. Remember, most of the time the thing that gives us our story is our struggle. Our story is the most powerful thing we have.
Be authentically you, even if you don’t see anyone acting, talking or dreaming like you. You have a story and it’s relevant. People need more people who are speaking life and love into this world. Someone you may not even know yet needs to hear your story. Be ready.
“The truth is: Belonging starts with self-acceptance. Your level of belonging, in fact, can never be greater than your level of self-acceptance, because believing that you’re enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic, vulnerable and imperfect.” – Brene Brown
Step Two: SHARE YOUR STORY WITH CLARITY
This means you bring clarity to your story and share it freely. When we allow shame to silence us, we lose our effectiveness. Why do we hustle for worthiness when we don’t claim it with our words?
People don’t jump on board with something that has a confusing message. When you bring clarity, people can decide for themselves and you will find your tribe. Sure there will be naysayers, but there is NO story at all without struggle and even failure… PERIOD. We can’t live a brave life without disappointing some people. Most of the time, they come back around anyway.
When you share, talk to the girls/people in the messy middle – don’t just talk about when you won at something and rush past the hard parts. Think about what you would have wanted then, or what you wish you had right now and be that. Don’t forget about where you came from. Remember what you have already overcome, and draw strength from that, too. Clarity and honesty will allow you to bring others along with you. It is powerful.
Step Three: STEP INTO YOUR NEW ARENA WITH A GOAL
You have to know your reason to fully step into the arena of courage. To first have freedom, you have to identify what freedom would look like to you. Not what it looks like to everyone else. Write all those things down, in detail. Find your why by dreaming and then scratching that out and dreaming bigger. No matter how faraway it feels, it is YOUR vision and that was given to you for a reason. Once you find it, don’t ever let it go.
As I always quote from John Maxwell, “Everything worthwhile is uphill.” Change is not easy! It’s worth it, and it’s often even simple. But it’s not easy.
Then, translate distance goals and invest consistently. You won’t always get it right, but consistency over time will lead to trust and results. Watch and see!
Step Four: STICK IT OUT & DO NOT QUIT!
When the hardship comes, you have to decide. You ask yourself, “DO I really want to do this?” If the answer is still, “Yes” – keep going.
The bible says roadblocks and hard things WILL happen – so don’t be surprised when they come, sisters. Underneath each problem there is an underlying fear. Peel back the onion to see why that is actually hard. Admit the fear and then you get to change. We don’t have to hide behind it anymore! When you do this, you will never stop getting better.
To sum it all up – what do you do when you find yourself staring over?
You pick yourself up, dust yourself off, find a place where you can grow while investing in others and – most of all – never stop being you and showing up. The rest will take care of itself!
Rebekah grew up a quirky, curly headed girl from a one stop light town in Texas. She spent most days there searching for something she was good at – besides talking. Reading and writing were always two of her very first loves and she would dream up some of her best stories in her head while standing on the sidelines cheering for her hometown football games.
Now, Rebekah is passionate about embracing stories of struggle as a path to restoration and finding our truest selves. Her vision is to put a face and words to authenticity by sharing real stories of love and imperfections to encourage others. She believes in the healing power of the words, “Me too.”
Another way Rebekah uses her gifts daily is by leading a team of over 1,500 families to find more freedom, abundance and wellness through Young Living essential oils and products. She is passionate about proactive emotional and physical wellness and loves to help people find the solutions they need to live out their greatest purpose.
Rebekah has been married to her college sweetheart, Chris, for 12 years. Together, they have one beautiful daughter, Gracie Ann.
