I remember being 15 years old, reading self-development books, trying to figure out what I was passionate about so I could select my high school courses & electives.

The only thing that kept coming up when I asked myself what my passion truly was, was helping other people reach their fullest potential and be truly happy and fulfilled. I had the inkling at the time that I really wanted to work for myself, and become an entrepreneur.

I remember countless people along the journey saying that having this type of career and actually making “good money” doing it was just a pipe dream, and close to impossible. I remember my classmates laughing at me or thinking I was weird or crazy when I proposed out-of-the-box ideas in high school in my more logic-based classes (AP economics was a perfect example), because my way of thinking just didn’t follow the track of “the way things are done.”

For me, it was never about the money, necessarily, because I whole-heartedly believe that when you follow your heart, the money follows you. (I can’t say the same was true for my cohort then, or even now.)

Fast-forward 8 years, and here I am! Owning and running my own business helping people reach their potential & find authentic fulfillment and true happiness, on their own terms, in a heart-centered way.

The one thing I absolutely cannot stand is people saying that they could never have a career that makes good money by following their passion.

WHAT?! I’m sorry, but that talk is so crazy, I want to wrap it in a straight jacket and send it away.

To me, this mentality is SO backwards. In fact, I believe the ONLY way to have a life that feels abundant financially is to follow your passion, and go do the work that it leads you to.

These naysayers will extinguish their own inner fire with a bucketload of statistics, that PROVE their idea would fail, that it’s not possible, never been done before, and the like. Of course they’ll find statistics to support their side of things — but here’s the catch: you get what you’re shopping for!

What do I mean by that?

I mean that if you hold a certain belief to be true (i.e. you could NEVER make your passion project or side-gig your full-time job that would give you a steady paycheck), then you’ll find evidence, whether from your own experiences, or from data & statistics, or from other non-believers, that your belief is true. Which makes it stronger, and stronger, which means you’ll just believe it MORE strongly (Read: Vicious cycle that justifies that you continue playing small and ignoring your call to greatness.)

Ever notice when you go into the grocery store with something in mind that you need to pick up (frozen pizza, raspberries, kale, gelato….) that you buzz right to those items, pop them into your cart or basket, and hardly see anything else in the store? You just don’t notice what you’re not looking for.

So in the case of these limiting beliefs, you’re so fixated on proving that your way is right, that you can’t even see the evidence surrounding you that suggests otherwise.

In my experience, the money I’ve made when my heart wasn’t fully into what I was doing flew out of my pocket faster than you can say “paycheck,” usually spent on things like clothes, which really add minimal value to the quality of my life. I can remember a time when I went into Marshall’s to buy a candle, and came out with 2 full bags of things I didn’t actually need or even want 10 minutes after walking out of the store!

Since stepping away from my full time job in advertising just a few months ago in December 2014, I’ve made significantly less money and felt significantly more abundant, happy, fulfilled, passionate, and lively. I feel like for the first time in my adult life, I’m REALLY experiencing what it means to fully LIVE my life.

I didn’t have a step-by-step foolproof financial plan to do it. I didn’t have a full roster of clients waiting in the wing. I didn’t have financial backing from an investor or a family member, or a partner who could financially support me if things went awry.

I DID have very cheap shared rent for an apartment downward of 300 sq ft, a lot of support from fellow coaches and entrepreneurs, a few hours of babysitting lined up, a belief and deep knowing that I could do it and that things would work out, a lovely man who loves me unconditionally and believes that I’m magical, and evidence that it’s all possible.

What’s more rewarding than that? For me, It’s definitely NOT a bigger paycheck working insane hours, exhausting myself, striving to meet someone else’s definition of “success” or even “good enough.”

I prefer to define those things for myself, thank you very much! 🙂

I’m not trying to say that it’s easy — anything that’s worth it never is — but I can’t tell you how much more deeply in love with my life I am now that I get to actively create it on my own terms on a daily basis.

I get to call the shots. I get to take that paintbrush and glide along my own blank canvas. It’s a privilege and an honor, but also my responsibility, to bring my very own gifts into the world. To ignore that call to greatness isn’t an option for me. I won’t allow it to be.

Let’s face it — the world doesn’t need more people to be unhappy or unfulfilled, yet wealthy.

What the world needs is people who are lit up. People whose inner spark is ignited by the fire of their passionate soul. People who are doing the work that allows that light to shine through and have a lasting positive impact on others.

So here’s your invitation to step-up to your own call to greatness, banish the beliefs that have held you back from claiming your personal power, and stoking your inner fire of passion & empowerment.

Are you with me?

I can’t wait for you to take the first step of your new journey, where truly anything is possible, and where you get to live in freedom and fulfillment!

Cheers to YOU!

Love & Light,

Emily