Earlier this week, I had a fascinating conversation with a couple of ladies who interviewed me for their podcast. In the interview, I shared my story about how experiencing burnout about a year after starting my first business (and then again a couple of years ago) was one of the greatest gifts I’ve received on my journey to a more fulfilling, joyful, and soul-led life.
This is one of my favourite stories to share—because it was this very experience of hitting rock bottom that opened me up to my true calling, that allowed me to find a greater sense of purpose in my business and life, and that initiated my journey as a spiritual guide and teacher.
One of the questions my interviewers asked was this: How did you know what to do in this situation? And what would you recommend to someone who is currently having a similar experience?
As it happened, both of the ladies I talked to had gone through burnout themselves on their journeys, so it was interesting to see the patterns we all had in common, as well as the keys to breaking through to the other side of it all sooner rather than later.
There was definitely more than just one step or one key realization that changed everything for me—ultimately, it was a series of aligned action steps that gradually set me free to change my life for the better.
However, both times I hit that wall of soul-crushing, inner emptiness, there was one thing I did to initiate my journey of liberation: I asked the right questions!
I began with surface questions such as: How can I create more time freedom in my business? It didn’t take long until the answers came. But once they did, I realized there was more.
So I proceeded to go deeper: What does freedom really mean to me? What needs to change in my business and life so I can wake up with joy and excitement every single day? What does my ideal day look like? What would fill me with a true sense of purpose?
And so on.
Once I asked the right questions, there was no stopping me. The answers came quickly, I was willing to listen, and I took action on my inner guidance. Within a few short months, my life was so radically different I knew I would never, ever go back.
I started my first spiritually themed blog, gave my first intuitive readings to clients, let go of some of the freelance work that was no longer feeding my soul, ended an unhealthy relationship, made plans to travel to Hawaii and get certified as an Angel Therapist®.
Within a year, I officially started my spiritual business, I was freer to travel than I had ever been before in my life, and soon, I was traveling the world with all my belongings in a suitcase and carry-on. And eventually (to my surprise), I returned to my long-lost dream home in BC, Canada, which is where I met my soul mate.
It took a lot of letting go to receive a completely new life, but through this entire process, the support I needed was always there—even though I never knew where it would come from, to begin with.
Here’s the thing: The universe always listens. When you ask, you get answers! And you get the exact answers you ask for.
In contrast to my experience, one of my interviewers realized that she had remained stuck in her burnout situation for way too long because she had asked the wrong kinds of questions. Such as: What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I handle the stresses of the corporate/academic world like everyone else?
And yes, she got the answers she was asking for. Until life intervened, and she too set herself free to discover her purpose.
(This is the beautiful thing about hitting rock bottom. No matter how bad things get, we can only go so far. The moment of surrender comes inevitably, and then, the only way to move is up! So even if you’re not asking the right questions to begin with, you’ll eventually get there. However, with the right mindset, it doesn’t have to take as long, and you can be free as soon as you choose to be!)
What questions can you ask today to put yourself on track to create the most freedom-filled, joyful, and soul-fueled life you could ever imagine? What new experiences are you ready to welcome into your reality?
Just ask! Listen. And don’t be afraid to take action when the answers come!
