If you’re like me, I have overused the phrase Leap of Faith in my lifetime more than I can count. I’ve used this phrase during moments of deep soulful thoughts, courage, prayer, believing in myself, believing in someone else, contemplation, wanting change, having a new life vision, doing something different, or when I’ve simply listened to my “calling.” But then in many instances, fear got in my way and I’ve ended up shortchanging myself from my intentions. So, shamefully, the number of times I’ve actually taken a leap of faith have been less than the number of times I’ve declared to take a leap of faith. But, I also know that I’m on a quest on reversing this discrepancy. Every day is an opportunity for self-correcting.
One of my first recollections of taking a leap of faith was expressing to my mother 
around age 10 that I wanted to be an artist. I loved to draw, paint, and take pictures. I also told her that I wanted to sing like my favorite idol back in the day, Marie Osmond. Woo, hoo! Whether or not I could truly sing was not what mattered to me but I believed at the time that I could so I boldly told. I remembered approaching my mom one early evening near the kitchen. My heart was practically skipping a beat because I was so nervous and anticipating to be knocked down for thinking these crazy thoughts. Why? Because she wanted me to be a doctor. Or a dentist. And, nothing less. My dad, on the other hand, didn’t have the same high expectation but strangely suggested that I be an accountant. Okay peeps, I’m 10. I wasn’t into math even though I was an excellent student all around. But accounting was far from being close to my creative vision. Nevertheless, I took courage, a leap of faith, and told my mom my heart’s true desires: to be an artist and to sing like Marie. My mom started to chuckle. Then she said something like, “Artists don’t make any money.” This was then followed by a long lecture about practicality. She lectured me about making sure that my future was secure — financially secure — and that the only way to make sure of accomplishing this goal was to be a medical doctor. At least that. Of course, at the instant that she expressed to me that artists didn’t make any money, my dream dimmed inside of me and I actually didn’t hear anything else that she said thereafter. At 10, I wasn’t even thinking about money. I was just thinking about doing what I loved, what gave me joy and what made me happy. Color made me happy. Drawing made me happy. Dreaming made me happy. I remembered just loving to draw and create stuff as early as age four. I was content. Time would pass me by and I didn’t even know it.
All the beginning signs of WHO I was were all in front of me and everyone else. But I didn’t get noticed or acknowledged that way. The reality and familial influences guided 
me toward a different direction. The gap between my Being and my Doing began to widen as time went on. And by the way, I still didn’t become a doctor or a dentist. I rebelled. I ended up going to grad school later to become a licensed psychotherapist. Who would have thought! And why not design school? Well, in the back of my mind, that would still not have been good enough. Fear still ruled me. A master’s degree had a little more clout in my perception. Besides, what better place on earth to get access to professionals to talk to about my incongruent life and get self-actualized but grad school of psychotherapy. So, lots of therapy time ensued. My journey continued. Now, I do want to add a disclaimer. I’m not here to bash my parents. They did for me what they believed was the right thing to say and do at the time. It happens to many of us. Life takes us on a meandering path sometimes but eventually brings us back home.
Fast forward to today, my latest leap of faith was to leave a job that I had put my heart and integrity into. Yup, I just upped and quit to start the new year right. It was that 
simple. Okay, no gasping. It was my time. It was a moment that had been years in the making. It needed to happen. And no, there was not another job waiting for me. What was waiting for me however was me. My precious life! All the Universal signs and truth had been building up to that moment. The Universe truly conspired against me to leave for the sake of saving myself. At that very Divine moment of unwavering faith, clarity, and confidence, I drove away in my car with no fear! It was the same fearless feeling that I’ve experienced before when I’ve taken other leap of faiths in my life that led me to something very empowering, meaningful and more worthwhile. I felt free! I felt relieved! Everything in my being was in full alignment.
Faith is visionary. It is seeing something that we believe to be true even when it appears that nothing has taken shape yet. I AM a creative visionary. My beginning study of A Course in Miracles has opened my mind and soul to learning to be Still and Know. The answer always comes. So, the lessons from taking a leap of faith have repeatedly pointed me to the one truth and revelation that I didn’t fully conceived before. I’ve learned that: I am powerful beyond measure. My potential and possibilities, no matter what age, are infinite and abundant. This new profound belief of mine became more firmly rooted and grounded in the past year. I am immensely grateful to Marianne Williamson, Spiritual Teacher, Author and Lecturer, for this wisdom and affirmation of who I truly am.
Each time that I’ve stepped out in faith with no attachment or expectation for what awaits for me on the other side has always resulted in the experience of total freedom, peace, joy and fulfillment. Priceless! The best part is that everything has always come with unexpected greatness and limitless intentions for my own good. While it seems 
easier said than done, the truth is still this: letting fear rule and prevent you from taking a stand and fighting for your well being is just not an option. Letting your dreams die or take a back seat even later in life is definitely not negotiable. However, letting faith take over means believing that your best days are still in front of you even when you don’t know how it will all come together. Because it always comes together. We’ve seen it happen before more than once in our lives but we forget. Left to our own devices or our own willful need to control our destiny, we’ve seen ourselves blow it all the time. Let’s declare to stop blowing it! Let’s take a chance on something we can’t see yet but ironically believe in right now. Take a leap of faith. What awaits is exceedingly better than what we tend to expect. That’s a promise!
What leap(s) of faith are you ready for or have taken? Comment below.