Is it time to start feeling alive again?

I’ve had a few, less than ‘happy’ things occur in my life over the past few years, and I’m sure that’s the case for many people. Maybe it’s the case for you?

Those events and situations can either bring us down or be the catalyst for change in our lives. Although it may not feel possible at the time, it really can be change for the better, and often profound change. 

I wonder, have you seen the film 'Eat Pray Love', by Elizabeth Gilbert, or read her book? Well this book is based on Elizabeth’s life, and one part of the story has Elizabeth tell of her upsetting divorce, after which she travels to Italy to find herself.

Having made new friends in Italy, one sunny day, they decide to visit the Augustium in Rome, and it’s what she describes next that I found to be a profound wake up call. You see, I agree with what Liz says as she sits quietly within the Augustium building in Rome. 

The Augustium was built in the 1st century BC by the Emperor Augustus and it started life as a mausoleum. However 600 years later, in the 5th century it was burnt down by the Barbarians and fell into ruin. 

700 years later in the 11th century it came back to life and was transformed into a fortress, and since then it has been destroyed and re-built, destroyed and re-built many times - transformed into a garden, a bullring, and a concert hall. Now it’s a quiet place used by the homeless people of Rome to take shelter - a noble duty for a building, I think. 

But here’s the lesson….

We all want things to stay the same so we settle for living a mundane or unhappy life because we’re afraid of change. But in life, as with the Augustium, we must be prepared for endless waves of transformation. As Liz, in the book says: "Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation and we can take the uncomfortableness and the pain from our lives and use it to become more."

Thankfully, we may not all have to experience ruin, but transformation into something more is the juice of life – if we stay the same our soul dies we must constantly grow to feel alive. 

I’m still on my journey, but now I have done things in my life that I would never have done if I hadn’t had an abrupt stop which forced me to find out who I really am. Recovering from a divorce and coping as a single parent; from skydiving to surfing; as well as travelling and creating amazing relationships with my children, I’ve experienced a lot. 

You know, I felt trapped by my kids and my life – I lost who I was and felt powerless to change it. But I turned my life around and you can do the same. You don’t have to struggle the way I did and you can take what you need to transform your life into one that you love!

Life can be extraordinary, so don’t settle for less…

To Your Success!