Transformation is Messy

Transitioning is messy friggin’ work.

Transitioning to a new job.

Transitioning to a new business model.

Transitioning to charge your worth.

Whatever it is, change and transformation inevitably comes with sitting in chaos, confusion and overwhelm.

This photo, taken by the incredible John A. DeMato , captured one of my messy moments. Phil M Jones, founder of Exactly What to Say®, who led the transformative mastermind said a few times in the session ‘it gets messy before it gets beautiful’.

What I didn’t know, was that it was going to be messy for me in the first five minutes of the program before I even met the 11 fellow change makers in the program.

The moment in this photo was about the realization that I was there to once again go deep in the process of getting out of my own way. To once again confront the inner critics that have tried to keep me playing small in my own life. Keep my ambitions small, and my earnings small and my potential capped.

I tried like hell to hold the tears back.

I was in a professional environment after all!

I was here to feel big, and strong, and full of resolve and confidence.

But I couldn’t hide the truth of my emotions.

I was able to allow myself to fully express because of the beautiful container that Phil created, and the space that my colleagues lovingly held for my emotions to be ok.

So for those of you out there doing the damn thing,

for those of you out there getting up after getting knocked down,

for those of you breaking generational patterns,

for those of you aiming higher,

for those of you rebuilding….remember this:

THE BREAKDOWN ALWAYS LEADS TO THE BREAKTHROUGH.

Fall apart if you must. Let the world see the real you – tears included.

We were never meant to compartmentalize our life.

We were meant to embrace all of who we are and let that be perfectly, imperfect.

I do this work, because I know this work. It ain’t easy, but it’s worth it.

Thank you to these beautiful souls for holding that space for my breakthrough:

Jasmine Brett Stringer