Sometimes the hardest thing about making a change is to get going in the direction of whatever you desire–whether it’s taking steps to make a bold career move, making healthier food choices, or striking up a conversation with someone. In coaching people to facilitate the process of desired experiences,  it’s often in overcoming the reluctance to taking risks that holds people back. While it may be safe in your comfort zone of “what is”, it’s not stirring up the passions that you hold in your heart. Those nudgings from the heart speak your unmistakable truth of all the wishes you may not give voice to but that doesn’t diminish their desire.  Pay attention to them and the clues which accompany them, helping you to choose to get going.

Those clues might be as veiled as overhearing a conversation, a book that a stranger left on a bus, or noting your feelings upon reading or hearing about others achieving your often secret desires. They strike chords within of what you needed to hear or see to finally say “Yes! That’s it! I’m ready! When the “Yes!” choice is made, the guts to take action rise up to support you to get on with life as you’d rather experience it. You probably don’t have the plans in place yet, but you do have the vision of what’s vital for life support of your heart. When you share them, people may think you’re crazy for leaving a great paying job, a relationship that seemed to be “perfect”, or move away because something’s “calling” you (besides others calling you crazy!). The guts to get going rallies all sorts of resources.

As a very intentional parent in my desire to create happy daughters, I invested lots of “airtime” on the importance of both girls to gain clarity on their desires, of what nurtures them, fires up their creative spirit, and closes the gaps between reality and desires.

My daughter, Stephanie, who has several jobs in communications, admits she tuned me out at times, but fortunately she tuned in long enough for that truth to resonate within her. Growing up , she loved recitals, and a theater buff who loved drama and awarded a “Rising Star” in a high school performing arts program in metro DC .  That love never left her and she’d wistfully comment upon hearing others, from her college or high school who had landed jobs in Hollywood or New York.  The last few years Steph’s place was strewn with books about screenwriting, Hollywood production, how to make it in the entertainment industry, one after the other.  The clues were all there but the risk of leaving a great job with supportive bosses without another job in hand, especially in these economic times in cash-strapped California, was a huge risk. But the stakes are high when you ignore those heart rumblings and she knew the regrets that would be piled high if she didn’t pursue her dreams.

In 2007, I gave her a card emblazoned with a quote from Thoreau, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” It’s hung on her mirror ever since, an obvious reflection of the guts needed to pursue a dream. In a few weeks she’s packing up her car and heading to Hollywood. While some moms might not support leaving a terrific job where her skills are highly valued and a promotion offered, I applaud her for her bold move. She is truly working the magic of networking and am confident she’ll land something beyond her wildest dreams.

It takes guts to leave behind the familiar, even if there are things that aren’t sustaining our hearts. Yet, when you know in your heart what you desire, taking the risk to venture toward your dream is the happiest of options.