How To Take a Leap Of Faith

I spend a lot of time talking with people about the changes they want to see in their lives and about the person that they’re trying to become someday. So much time is wasted on the idea of ‘someday this or someday that” in our lives. For most, “someday” is no day at all in the future. 

I usually end up telling these individuals that if they truly want positive change in their life they have to change. 

It’s just like my favorite Jim Rohn quote: “In order for things to change, you have to change.”

Personal change involves taking a leap of faith. I often tell potential students who are wavering in their decision to enroll in my 7-month transformational ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills Program to take a leap of faith! Just to do it. They won’t be sorry.

And you know what? They’ve never been sorry for the positive changes that have empowered them into the next stages of their lives.

I don’t often believe in the “Just do it” slogan because we really can’t “Just do it” if we've never been taught the skills we need, especially in regards to Executive Functioning. However, since my exclusive program is built totally on training, coaching and developing these skills in a proven, systematic format, and because I’ve seen the results, there’s nothing to lose and everything to gain. My use of “Just do it” is merely an encouragement to overcome their fear of the unknown and trust that there is a net provided for them. It’s a safe, no-fail, growth zone! 

But I digress, let’s go back to the idea of the term “leap of faith.” 

First, what does the term “leap of faith” mean? 

When I say, “Take a leap of faith” to my prospective students and clients, what I am saying to them is that it’s time for change. If they don’t want to continue being stuck in their lives, change is required. It doesn’t have to be a drastic change, like quitting your job today, running a marathon next weekend, or moving to Timbuktu. It can be a seemingly small change, like not looking at your phone for the first hour of your day, taking a walk around the block during your lunch break, or choosing to eat a salad instead of a hamburger for dinner.

The big changes obviously fit in the category of “taking a leap of faith.” But maybe to you, the smaller, less obvious changes, don’t seem to fit in the same realm. They do! 

Here’s why…

Let’s say you’re the type of person who’s too connected to your phone…you basically can’t live without it. For you to choose to not look at your phone for the first hour of your day means that you believe you’re going to be okay with just being with yourself, and that whomever needs you will be okay to wait. You’re taking a leap of faith by trusting that time with yourself to be still is sacred time and that it will be good for you.

Let’s say you’re the type of person who’s a workaholic and you never step away from your desk during the day. For you to choose to take a walk, even for 15 minutes, during your lunch break means that you will not be working during that walk. What things will happen while you step away? Will you miss something important? You see, it takes an element of faith to step out for that walk, for that one small change in your life.

I hope you get my point. Taking a leap of faith involves facing your fears and believing that something better will happen on the other side. It never means that it will be easy at first, but it does mean that you’re growing and getting unstuck–no matter how big or small the leap of faith is.

And you know what? Each time you take a leap of faith it empowers you for the next time you need to enact change in your life…so small steps of faith count a lot for building bigger leaps in your life.

How to decide if you need to take a leap of faith?

One important thing to consider is looking at yourself and your life circumstances. Take some time to reflect (and take notes if possible). Ask yourself these important questions:

1. How am I feeling about myself? About my job? About my relationships? 
2. Does every day of my life feel stressful or out of my control?
3. Why am I in these particular circumstances? Are they what I have actively chosen or am I here by default?
4. Am I playing it small or playing it safe by staying in my current circumstances?
5. What do I often daydream about or wish were different in my life?

Next, consider what type of change is needed by asking yourself these questions:

1. What am I missing in my life exactly? Is it personal time, relationships with others, finances, health and fitness, or something else? Being specific is really important here. 
2. Is there something small that I could begin to change right now that might make a difference? If so, what could that be?
3. Are there skills that I’m missing for where I want to be in my life? If so, where can I get the skills I need?

Finally, it’s time to move into action towards that leap of faith by doing the following:

1. Research your options for change. What are the available resources for the types of change you want to see for yourself or any circumstance you desire change in? It’s important to set yourself a time limit for your research process. Otherwise, overwhelm will prevent you from moving forward. 
2. Pick a few of the options and reach out for more information. Determine which ones seem to fit with your values and circumstances.
3. Choose one of those options and step fully into it. Remember that our life is full of experiments. I never count them as failures. I count them as growth and feedback to learn from.

What are the benefits of taking a leap of faith?

• You will discover that you’re capable of so much more.
• You will find your self-confidence and self-worth.
• You will experience freedom.
• You will see positive changes as you make positive choices.
• You will discover fresh hope and possibilities.
• You will begin to see yourself as the meaning maker of your own life.

What leap of faith are you considering right now?

Sometimes we don’t step into change or ‘take that leap of faith’ because we’re frustrated with all of our previous attempts that have fallen short. It seems we’ve tried everything else and nothing’s worked. If that’s where you find yourself, I’d like to encourage you to keep on experimenting. 

May I invite you to find out if it’s your underdeveloped Executive Functions skills that are preventing you from reaching the goals that you’ve always desired?  These are the very skills you need to set yourself up for a lifetime of success. 

It’s worth it to discover all of who you are meant to be. There’s only one you! 

Take a leap of faith. To receive all the information you need about the Empowered Achiever Effect and my exclusive ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills Program, sign up here.