Ignoring Wisdom

“It’s time to change careers.” The message was clear and concise. There was no room for confusion, doubt, or denial. I’d been getting messages for years, and knew the validity of the one I had just received.

“Not right now; I’m finally making good money,” I responded, and that was the end of the conversation.

There was no, “Hey, wait a minute; you really need to pay attention to this,” or any other form of argument. The channel of communication simply closed.

Logically, there was no reason for me to change careers. I owned my office (a therapeutic spa), my home, and had recently purchased the property where I planned to retire. I was making a better income than I had ever made in my life, absolutely loved my work, was happily self-employed and looked forward to going to the office every day. I could not even imagine a career that I could possibly love more. Work was my haven, my bliss, my calling. I often told people that I was the luckiest person on earth because I got to play for a living. My main source of income was Massage Therapy, and my way of describing it was that my Play-Doh had bones & talked back! I loved my work!

But there was that message. The one I said “no” to.

Eighteen months later, I woke up with pain in my hand that got so severe I couldn’t cut my own food. From Acupuncture to Orthopedist, there was no definable cause or a way to relieve the pain. Though I had followed the rules; my only debt was real property, 6 months emergency fund in the bank, etc, I lost my home, my investments, my business, and was forced into bankruptcy.

“Trust Yourself. You Know More Than You Think You Do.” – Benjamin Spock

I still ask what would have happened if I had listened that day, and the answer is always the same. I would have gracefully transitioned to my current career, the one I love even more than the last one. If there is a place beyond bliss, that’s where my work takes me. As a Certified Life Coach, I have the supreme pleasure of introducing people to their own greatness. It is supremely humbling, gratifying, and rewarding. Other coaches in the business know the feeling; we call it The Coaching High. It’s indescribably delicious! Amazingly, my clients appreciate it even more than I do! I’m also blessed to be able to inspire better practices within corporations as a corporate coach and speaker. I write, guide meditations and hypnosis, and express healing gifts in many other ways as well.

If I could have welcomed my own wisdom, received the possibility that something greater existed than my former reality, the pain, turmoil, and chaos would have never appeared. Had I been willing to go past what my mind knew, into that enormous space of divine wisdom, the transition would have happened with all the ease and grace that comes with living in the flow.

So I’m human.

I don’t get it right every time. It’s part of the plan. That’s why Plan B (and sometimes C, D, E, F, and G) exist! I have come to realize that sometimes it is missing the message that makes me more aware of it the next time it shows up. I can’t say I like being hit over the head, but sometimes it’s necessary.

Catastrophic events can be catalysts for changes that need to take place. It’s like an earthquake for the soul. Pressure builds, then it all shakes loose in one gigantic (and rather scary) moment. When the dust has settled, the changes are in place. Yes, I like it better when the listening happens during a whisper, but a typhoon is sometimes necessary to wake one who is sleeping soundly.

How have catastrophic events (or ignoring your own wisdom) helped to reshape your life in a positive way?