Thriving? It ain't easy. But it can be done with ease.

When people learn that we traveled to 4 continents and lived in 9 countries to find out where in the world we wanted to live, they ask WHY?

When folks find out that we decided to leave the US, our home-state of California and the house our children were born in (literally homebirths) to audaciously create a new life, they ask HOW?

Reader, there is no one crystal-clear reason or magical method. There just isn't. Like most big decisions in our lives, there was usually something in the background stewing.

An idea that won't leave you alone, coincidences, opportunities, flashes of clarity, sometimes it feels as if the Divine is whispering to you.

So no, it wasn't one thing but there were definitely moments. Heart stopping, no turning back, lightbulb flash, Oprah aha moments.

Over the next few emails I'll share some of them with you. For now, I can tell you that there were three types of moments:

Clarifying moments - The point in time that takes you from unsure or frustrated to declaring: I am ready for this!
Courageous moments - These are those take-a-deep-breath situations where you move from being stuck and scared to take action, to claiming: I am worthy of this!
Confident moments - The times where you simply refuse to play small and stay unfulfilled any longer. The moments you KNOW: I am powerful!

I have recognized this cycle of clarity, courage and confidence as a framework for almost any elevation that we go through. I have gracefully moved through the stages and have sometimes been flung around the cycle like I'm in one of those huge laundromat washing machines. Either way,

It ain't easy. But it can be done with ease.

I'm currently climbing the hill of confidence. Yes, I am known for being confident! However I, just like YOU, am elevating into a new identity and chapter of life. It is hard to restart the cycle, learn new things and be vulnerable but trust me, thriving makes it worth it!

For my birthday, I took public transportation into Panama City by myself, to enjoy being a city-girl again! I had to push myself to speak up and use my limited Spanish whenever possible and I think I only used Google Translate once!

I asserted myself when playing small would've just been sooo easy. And for that I was recognized as a leader and made new connections.

I told myself I would say yes to opportunities and experienced being sung to in a restaurant, invited to a tea ceremony, referred to a store with inexpensive designer clothes and even offered a free cold water when I didn't have change.

I had a beautiful time because I accessed my confidence and power.