I used to be in a rigorous academic program, aiming to achieve the most advanced research degree. But there was a part of me that felt restless, like it wasn’t fully right. I refused to listen to that feeling. I wanted success, and at that time, success to me meant having a doctorate, and license - lots of money and prestige.

 

But that feeling, it kept growing. It felt like restlessness, unnecessary irritability, burn out, claustrophobia, living for the weekend. Eventually, I ended up leaving that program in a painful way. Looking back, I believe it was painful for me because I refused my soul’s call for too long. So, the universe had to shove me.

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This life change forced me to strip everything down, including my ideas of what a successful life for me should look like - really look at myself and how all of my shoulds were stopping me from really living. From actually feeling happy or peaceful.

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At the time, it felt like my deepest, most devastating loss. From there, I can see it was the start of my most beautiful transformation. This painful process helped to purify me. I learned to embrace the life that was calling to me.