While I was on a recent trip to Savannah, Georgia a friend handed me a deck of “Goddess Cards” by Doreen Virtue. What was the card I picked? Aine (pronounced Awn-ya) was the goddess I chose (or she chose me??). The message she gave to me was all about taking leaps of faith.

Sounds innocent enough, right?

I am currently preparing to move house and office, and I am in the throws of re-imagining my business and life in many ways. From a larger perspective, it feels like I am about to step into a brand new chapter in my life. As a result, the themes that are playing out in my life seem to be all about “upgrading” and “purifying”, and nothing is off limits. Nothing!

I’m asking myself questions like, “Is this ______________ coming with me to my next chapter? Or not?” I’m shedding and giving away stuff left and right. I’m consigning clothes and compiling items for a garage sale. I’m even re-evaluating my schedule, my relationships, my daily rituals and my current ways of organizing my finances. Everything is up for re-calibration. Everything.

There are days when I feel like I’m being “frisked” by the Universe, and being asked to be very selective about what’s coming with me as I move onward and forward. I’d be lying if I said that any of what I’m experiencing right now feels comfortable. It doesn’t.

I have my moments when all I want to do is throw a giant temper tantrum so that I can just have my way and feel comfortable again. I have days when all I want to do is stay in bed and watch romantic comedies while staying under the covers. There have even been times when I wanted to cross my arms over my chest, sit down right where I was standing, and vow to not move an inch.

These instances have all been opportunities for me to love the part of me that is scared and wants to hide out. To be completely transparent, there are times when hiding out sounds like a pretty great idea! But there is another part of me that knows that at this particular point in time it’s actually more dangerous to stay hidden than to emerge and shine brightly.

What’s actually required at this stage of my life is a leap of faith.

To me, a leap of faith is that big first step that sets you firmly on a new path and a new trajectory. Sometimes it looks like a really big step because the distance from where you currently are and where your foot will land next is a big reach, and you’re not certain you can do it. The easy thing to do is to hold on tightly to where you’re at until you’re certain you can land firmly on your feet at that next destination. But when it comes to life, certainty is rarely (if ever) a guarantee.

Leaps of faith actually ask you to take a risk, trust that you’re capable of facing anything that comes your way, and know that you are loved, protected and safe no matter what happens. My experience tells me is that this is all easier said than done! No matter your level of confidence or know-how, it’s inevitable that you will encounter moments in your life that make you wonder if you can.

It’s also been my experience that there is something else that emerges when you’re staring at that giant first step and all of your fears at the same time. Another voice chimes in and says, “You can’t not do this!” and “You know you can’t stay where you’re at now knowing that this is here to be overcome, right?” Once that next step makes itself known to you, it will call your name and beckon you towards it. It is possible to ignore this call, but it can take a lot of energy to drown it out.

Here’s what I know to be true about leaps of faith. All of the thinking about the leap itself is much scarier than taking it. Once you’ve leaped and you’ve planted a foothold in that new place, forward movement is inevitable. And that forward movement feels exhilarating, energizing and powerful.

Leaps of faith are required for you to become something bigger than you are today. So, take a deep breath, call upon all of your courage, and take flight. You’ll never regret it!