”To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.” ~Sren Aaby Kierkegaard
It was the summer I turned 25 years old and although I looked like a million bucks from my intense workout schedule, I felt like I was emotionally dying inside.
One day, I ran into my cousin, Cheryl, at the gym, and we stopped to talk. She asked me how I was doing and I told her that I was going through my second divorce. “Can you see a pattern in your relationships…that you keep attracting in abusive men?” I had been thinking about that very thing a lot and answered, “Yes.”
Cheryl told me about LifeSpring, a personal development program she was involved in and encouraged me to go. She lent me the $50 for the down-payment for the Basic that would start in three days. I had no idea how I was going to come up with the rest of the money, but said I’d see what I could do.
When I asked for the time off work, my boss said, “Where are you going to come up with the money?” I told him I didn’t know, but I knew I had to be there. When he saw my commitment, he lent me the remaining $350 on the spot. It was worth it. During the course of the Basic, I felt my heart began to crack open.
A few days later, everyone who went through the Basic was supposed to go in for an interview to talk to someone about doing the Advanced Program. I knew there was no way I could come up with $800 and convinced the fellow who interviewed me that I couldn’t do it.
As I was walking out, a woman who worked for LifeSpring asked me, “Are you going to do the Advanced?” I told her ‘no’ and briefly explained why not. She understood. Then, as I turned to leave, she stopped me and asked, “How long are you going to let money run your life?”
I stood there stammering. I didn’t know what to say. She had hit the nail on the head. I went back and wrote a check for the $50 deposit not knowing how I would come up with the rest.
As I was walking out the door, a fellow I had done a process with during the Basic asked me, “Are you going to do it?” I told him I was. Surprised, he said, “You don’t have the money.” “I know, but I have to be there.” He saw the commitment and determination in my eyes and turned around and wrote out a check for $750 which I eventually paid back.
This experience taught me a valuable lesson: that when we truly commit to something (especially when it’s for the higher good), we create a space for miracles to occur. I have seen this to be true over and over again in my life and in the lives of others especially when it comes to personal growth.
As always, I encourage you to remember your passion.
Blessings, Maren Nelson
