Daring Moments: The Turning Points That Change Your Life Forever

We have all experienced those turning points in our lives. The moments when we make a decision which changes everything. Where we know that right then and there, we are re-defining ourselves and shifting the course of our life.

These opportunities often fill us with pangs of inner conflict. One voice beckons us back in to the security of our comfort zone, yet another pulls us forward so powerfully that we simply can’t say no.

We can either keep on cruising on the same old track, or we can veer off path and forge our own trail. We can literally re-define our future and write a brand new script for our life.

These are the moments where one decision changes everything. These are our daring moments. Where we teeter on the edge of fear. Where life dares us to take the leap.

Say yes or say no.

Act on your heart or listen to fear.

Stay or walk away. 

Step up or keep hiding.

An opportunity presents itself. We feel the pull. But we falter. We hesitate. We step back. We take time to think. We over-analyse. We worry.

When really all we need to do is just say yes.

It is in these moments that life calls at you;”So sweetheart, what’s it going to be?”Are you gonna keep playing that same game you always play, or are you going to do something differently? Are going to step up? Are you going to say yes? Well, here’s your chance. Show me what you got.”

 

The Daring Moments That Changed My Life

I have experienced many of these dramatic shifts over the past few years. My daring moments have been turning points, where I have made a decision that have changed the course of my entire life.

13th November 2009

I will never forget the day I hit publish on my first ever blog post at a life of perfect days. I was literally terrified. The idea of having my innermost thoughts and feelings, live on the internet for all to see, seemed crazy. Back then it was still new to have a blog and people asked me why on earth I would want to share myself so publicly.

But I had a message. It was a message that had been sitting inside of me for way too long. It was time to share it. It was time to be seen. The desire to give my words a platform to be heard, became stronger and more powerful than the fear I felt. And so I did it. My journey of blogging began on that day, and has now continued for the past 4 and a half years.

 

23rd October 2012

This was the day I signed for up my life coach training. It was the day I finally said yes to the desire that had been bubbling within me for 9 years. It was the day I finally found the courage to follow my heart.

I was on the phone to the course consultant, palms sweaty, with adrenalin pumping through my body. I had been deliberating on doing this course for 12 months and I simply couldn’t delay it any longer. The conversation was a blur. I gave her my credit card details and locked myself in. I got off the phone, shaking. I knew I had made a decision that would change my life forever. 

 

1st November 2013

I had been waiting for this day for months. The final day at my full time job. I had been in a hectic transition period for most of the year, trying to juggle full time work, a part time coaching business while still completing my life coach training. And now my moment had arrived. I could finally spend every single day doing the work that I was born to do.

As I packed up my belongings people asked me what I was planning on doing. All I could say was “I don’t know”. I had a few part time clients, $1000 in my savings account and no plan. But I knew I was doing the right thing. I showed up so fully for that journey, and within 6 weeks had a full time load of coaching clients and had launched conniechapman.com. I have never felt so scared in my whole life, yet at the same time I have never felt so supported and guided either.

 

Nothing Happens Until You Decide

All of these moments have been transformative for me. One decision has quite simply changed the course of my life.

When you stand on the edge of these turning points, you do not need to know what is going to happen. You don’t need to know how it is going to unfold. All you need to do is say yes.

Nothing happens until you decide. The money you need will not show. The opportunities will not present themselves. Not a single shift will occur. You have to decide first.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”  Goethe.

 

Change Happens The Minute You Say Yes To Your Heart

There is a common theme that has run through each of these turning points.

In each of these moments I made the decision to follow my heart. I chose to act on what I loved, rather than being ruled by the voice of fear. I chose to believe in a new possibility, rather than my own programming

In each of these situations I have been so wracked with fear that I could barely breathe. But below the fear was another energy. It was a calm, encouraging, powerful energy. It was the energy of my heart telling me that the step I was about to take was the most perfect, aligned and right thing I could possibly do.

In each of these moments, I felt that the love I had for what I wanted, and the desire I had to express my truth, was more powerful than my fear. It literally pulled me beyond it.

The voice of love was calling at me. Calling me to expand, to grow and to become more. It tugged at me. And when I listened to it, and trusted it whole-heartedly, it propelled me beyond my fear.

 

Choose Love Or Succumb To Fear. What’s It Going To Be?

In every moment you are choosing which energy will rule your life. Fear will cause you to withdraw, shrink, hesitate, hide and say no. Love will call you to step out, expand, decide, be seen and say yes.

You can choose. Be dominated by fear, or be lifted by love. It’s up to you.

The only way I was able to make the decisions I did, was by going deeper in to myself, to listen, to feel, to tune in to the guidance that lay below my frantic mind. I made that deep, inner, loving voice, more real than the fear-driven voice of my mind.

In each of those moments I could have chosen to believe in fear. To buy in to the limitation. To let it stop me. But I made a different choice. I chose love. I chose to do what I loved. I chose to listen to the loving choice. I chose to say yes to my heart.

Was it easy? No. Was I petrified? Yes. But did I feel the most alive that I have ever felt in my entire life? Abso-freaking-lutely. It was magic.

 

And this will be your daring moment. The moment where you decide to say yes to your heart, to follow what you love and do something differently. The moment where you choose to stop hesitating, avoiding and procrastinating and you show up fully for what you want. The moment you act in the face of fear. The moment you say yes, to you.

 

What has been the most powerful and life-altering daring moment you have experienced? Share with me in the comments below.

With love,

Connie x

 

26 thoughts on “Daring Moments: The Turning Points That Change Your Life Forever”

  1. 3 weeks ago I resigned from my full time teaching job. I have no plans apart form moving down to the beach and getting my health back on track. I chose to ignore the fearful thoughts running through my head and finally listened to what my heart really wanted. I know that i have made the best decision.

    1. Ali that is awesome! It is incredible to put yourself and what feels right for you first, rather than always putting that to the side. Beautiful work hun. I am so excited for you! x

  2. Wow, love this post Connie! 1st Nov 2013 after 11pm, my husband sent me a text (yeah, a text message), to say he wanted out of our marriage. That day my life changed course so swiftly and it has been pretty rough. Now Im finally seeing the positives again and know that all WILL be ok again x

    1. Oh Loren, that is huge. It sounds like you are going through a big period of inner healing and change, but I love that you are beginning to open up to the new positive possibilities x

  3. Hi from Belgium. Love your story so much! After reading wellness blogs and books for years now, I finally started a health coach course (after doubting for a year). I think this was a huge turning point for me. Though I finally started my career switch, I notice some fear as well. To this day, I am still a lawyer and I ask myself how I will be able to set up a business after I finished my study (within about 9 months to a year) without losing my income for a couple of months because of the start up. In Belgium it is not allowed to be a lawyer and a merchant at the same time. And my boyfriend and I have a 7 month old baby to feed and a mortgage to pay… At the same time, I ask myself how I will be able to keep on doing this job (that is not my true self) for another more year? I read you struggled a bit with the same problem. Do you have any advice in that area? Thank you so very much. You’re such an inspiration to me!
    Isabel

    1. Hi Isabel, there is always a transition phase you must go through. But you must first decide that you are going to say yes to your heart and you will no longer compromise. Start with your mind. Start telling yourself that this will be possible and you are going to make it work. The more you believe that, the more you will be able to see the opportunities that come your way to help you x

      1. Thanks for your comment! A big YES to my heart it is! I WILL make it work and I trust that I am guided. Though transition sometimes freaks me out, it actually feels so good to know that something awesome is on the way. I just need to be confident and patient. Love, Isabel x

        1. YES! Beautiful Isabel. Keep trusting that deep inner knowing that tells you that you are so supported and guided. Sending you so much love for this new journey x

  4. Connie, this is a wonderful post. Two months ago I decided to make huge change in my relationship and the course of my life dramatically. I’m in the flux of transition right now and it’s so uncertain but I know it’s where I am suppose to be. Thanks for writing this post xxoo

    1. Oh Amanda, it can be a scary time when we are right in the middle of the change and transition. I hope that what I have shared here will be supportive for you x

  5. Connie – you have created such a beautiful blog post. I love this – I love following your story and how you inspire others to commit to their story within themselves, to follow there heart, to dive in to their dreams!

    Beautiful!! X

    1. Thank you Joanne. I truly feel we can only teach what we have experienced, and my passion for guiding people to follow their heart comes so deeply from my own journey of doing the same x

  6. Priyanka Yadvendu

    Beautiful post. I can identify with every single point. I am myself in the midst of transition. And though it’s easy to get fazed by the uncertainty, there is this underlying current that runs through one’s body and soul like electricity. Whispering to you that you make the leap and to trust yourself. You’re right, once you make the decision, things and situations just flow and fall beautifully in place.

    1. Thank you Priyanka, the transitions are the most challenging time but it sounds like you have an incredible connection to your inner guidance which is really supporting you. That is beautiful to hear hun x

  7. Yes. Yes! YES!!

    Connie, I love this post and have been going through this myself a lot this year. ‘Change happens the minute you decide’ is awesome! And then you have to GO FOR IT!

    Change is so hard but so rewarding and it’s been amazing hearing your story and seeing your journey unfold. So inspiring! Thanks for sharing x

  8. What a great post… I have been thinking about taking life couching course as well. I just love some points in your post. You do have to say yes first and move on in order to change your life. There would not be a comfortable moment, a point where it will just happens for you.

  9. Great messaging delivered in a way that inspires courage. Would love to find a way for you to deliver positive, inspiring messaging into our children hospitals via the Children’s Television Network.

  10. Hi Connie – I’m a young musician in my last semester of college. I have recently taken a job playing music on a cruise ship for a little over 6 months. It’s very strange for me since all of my colleagues are kind of sticking together, and I am going on my own to join a new band. Would you have any advice for me as I start this new chapter of my life? I’m really excited to start, but I’m not sure how it is I will be growing in my new environment. To make my question clear, do you have any tips on how to make the most out a new situation?

  11. Hi Connie. .. your blogs inspires me. I am going through a very big dilemma, was wondering if I could exchange emails with you and get some help. Thank you. Please write back

  12. Life is all about trials and tribulations. God is that inner voice which inspires us to take risks and make difficult choices. Similar to the way a lemon is squeezed for its juice, and a diamond is compressed for its shine, we too are placed under great pressure by God. He places us under pressure to see how we will react and respond. My daring moment was the moment, I told myself I would no longer live in fear and would free myself from an unhealthy relationship. Turn to God, he will be your healing.

  13. I listened to the voice of fear and shrank back. I am now listening to the voice of courage, but I have so much territory to recover, so much time lost. My 12 yar old son has never known the joyful, trusting person I was. Decision is what gives you the strength to slam the doors of fear. Do you really want to sit in your retirement chair with nothing but regrets for what could’ve been? Though I’ve lost so much for shrinking back, and I can’t go back to the beginning. I can and am starting from today forward, choosing the voice of courage and creating a different ending.

  14. Hi Connie,
    your blog actually inspired me, but i don’t know, i am really confused about my life plan. I want to apply for phd, but i am scared and excited and it doesn’t let me to do my stuff and i am just losing my days.

  15. I have been working for 3 yrs in the middle east with a fantastic job. I always wanted to work for myself. Somehow when my debts were clear, I resigned from my Job and came back to my country and within 3 months, with the help of my cousins, I opened a Juice bar. Now I’m working for myself but my heart is not happy. For some reason… 🙁 what could that possibly be?

  16. My turning point was last year, April of 2918, when my husband was in ICU (something bit him…high fever, very low blood pressure and was dying). Nothing was right. no money, I lost my religious belief, lonely, overly stressed, without sleep for 10 days, no money, spiritually attacked, angry and etc. I have not been the same since then, but better. Something huge happened in does 10 days that changed my life completely for the better. I speak about this experience all the time. I don’t speak, walk, think, feel, sleep, hear, and believe the same way I used to anymore, but different/better. I am more happy now than ever in my past life. Why? My turning point.

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