thrillakilla:Almost one year ago, my life took a turn. September 20, 2016, I was terminated from my
thrillakilla:Almost one year ago, my life took a turn. September 20, 2016, I was terminated from my job; one that I enjoyed, gained great experience from and created lasting friendships. I was called, on my day off, and terminated. I’d call my then boyfriend, crying hysterically, distraught and disappointed & he cut our conversation short, demanding that I hang up the phone, dry my tears and that he’d call back in five minutes to remind me of a few things.See, I was also running a business. One that demanded much of my time and energy because I’d built it entirely on my own. In the months leading up to the dreadful moment that I’d received the phone call from my then Employer, I’d also been faithfully focusing my time on designing, creating, planning, executing, networking, traveling for shows and pop-ups and hosting events to meet fellow Girl Bosses all while maintaining treacherous hours at my day job. Business had been picking up for the past 6 months or so before that call and many nights I’d feel overwhelmed, sitting at the sewing machine with a cup of tea on one side and wine on the other. I knew every minute would be worth it though and I knew somehow it would all come together. Exactly 5 minutes goes by, my phone rings, I’m forcing myself to shut my crying up, and I mean nasty, hiccup crying! I quickly dry my face full of tears. It was once I answered that I was instantly asked “How many unshipped orders do you have in your queue right now, Cierra?” he said. I reply, “98.”“And you’re crying about getting what you’ve needed all along!? 98 orders?! Get to work. You now have more time to focus on what it is you love and you will be just fine with doing just that!” I saw things from a different perspective, and for that, I was thankful! I prayed and I was almost ashamed of myself for allowing my faith to almost disappear at the instant of being told ‘No.’ Because although my job had told me no, I knew that my purpose was greater than that, that it was just a stepping stone to get me to where I truly wanted to be. I’d sat down, written out my plans & goals for the upcoming months (because seriously, writing them down is so damn helpful!) and slowly began to readjust. Only a few days have gone by and I feel lighter, like a weight had been lifted, I’m feeling more levelheaded and knocking out daily tasks left and right because, well, now I’ve got the time! Discouragement turned into encouragement and my faith adjusted in a way that I truly needed it to simply because I’d altered my mindset to see, what I thought was a negative, into a positive!Five days had gone by, it’s now September 25, 2016, and my relationship ended. In a way I never imagined. All-in-all, the reason ultimately meant being apart would be easier than being together, despite how we felt about one another, what was best and also more important was being able to fulfill the purpose we each wanted to pursue, which ended up being in two totally different physical places. This was a new mindset I was forced to learn, and although at that very moment and for months to come I was dreadfully heartbroken, it taught me that choosing yourself, especially in the pursuit of learning and fulfilling your purpose, is what’s most important. A new perspective was gained, and for me, it meant that I truly have to give whatever I aspire to be my entire self if I truly wanted it as bad as I said and claimed I did because I was watching it happen right before my eyes. It would be oftentimes that I’d realize I’d challenge myself to be perfect and to have it completely together, ALL OF THE TIME. That mindset wasn’t realistic and also is literally never, ever the case, ESPECIALLY as an Entrepreneur. I continued to move forward as if nothing had happened, as if I didn’t lose love or a job, because I knew that your goals don’t care about how you feel! That if you only did work on the days we feel like it, we’d never get anything accomplished. So, I moved as if I still had a business to run, as if I still had to host an upcoming event with 100+ women who were coming to learn, be inspired and take away something from what I was offering to them that would encourage them to move forward with their aspirations and new endeavors as well, but I didn’t tell this story because I was afraid, embarrassed a little maybe and I also felt as if it wasn’t the right time. However, no time will ever be the perfect time to fully face head-on the things that frighten us most. We just have to do it! In the past year, I have learned life changing lessons, I’ve accepted things for what they are, I have grown in ways I never knew I could, achieved things I didn’t think would happen when they did and have had setback after setback, but it’s gotten me here! I have so much further to go and I know the importance of being truthful to myself. When things are going great AND not so great. That it’s okay to be a masterpiece and a work in progress all at the same damn time. I say this all to say, embrace your experience and don’t let thoughts and ideas of being ‘perfect’ consume you. Don’t think that you’re ever in anything alone. I know that it’s easier said than done, but had I embraced the idea of actually expressing and talking about all the things I juggled while simultaneously running a company, I probably would have learned that I’m not alone and could have ultimately lightened my emotional load! Find comfort in embracing your journey. We all have different ones, different stories, and I just hope I will be able to help at least one person by sharing a piece of mine.- Cierra J -- source link