The last two years have been hard on everyone. 

On New Year’s Day 2020, I was excited about all the opportunities that lay ahead. It was supposed to be the year of “2020 vision,” the perfect year. Cut to 2-months later, and COVID-19 hit, changing our world forever and derailing all the plans I had made for myself, my family, and my business. 

Traveling stopped, schooling from home started, and business meetings quickly transitioned to Zoom. Financial and business growth forecasts plummeted, and things were taking a turn for the worst. 

Two Years of Disappointment

I have always been a glass half-full kind of gal. I made the most of 2020 and was feeling great about where I was in my life, and where God was taking me. A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021, I decided it was time to step out of my comfort zone. After nearly 20 years serving as a City Councilwoman for the City of Columbia in South Carolina, I took a leap of faith and ran for mayor of my hometown. Our city has never had a female mayor, and with my years of service and depth of experience, I was very optimistic about my chances. 

After a nine-month campaign, I lost my election by an 800-vote margin. I was devastated, and to cap off the already difficult last two years, I was now faced with the realization that I would no longer be serving as an elected official for the first time in 20 years. 

Entering 2022

Now, as we get deeper into 2022, I find myself at a real crossroads in my life. How do I adjust to my new normal, and life after COVID-19? 

This is what I imagine it feels like to get a divorce or become an empty nester. You are suddenly faced with a huge decision about what the next phase of your life will look like, and by necessity, it has to look different from life as you know it. Something (or someone) you loved is gone, and you’ve got to find a new way to spend your time and focus your energy. 

Facing an unknown path is kind of scary, but it’s also exciting! 

After a lot of prayer and reflection, I have come to a realization: God’s plan may not be our plan, but it is the perfect plan. 

This time of transition is God’s way of clearing away the things in my life that took too much of my time and energy to make room for new opportunities and new adventures. This is God’s way of pushing me towards a transition, so I have decided to embrace the transition, and begin living my life intentionally. 

As I transition into a new phase of my life, I will be putting my intention into me. I will be prioritizing myself. Self-care, family vacations, and enjoying nature are a must. I want to experience things I have never done before and step out of my comfort zone as much as possible to push myself and my mindset. I will practice gratitude, and acknowledge the abundance that is ready and waiting for me to reach out and take it. All I need to do is change my everyday mindset. 

Learning To Embrace Transition

I am so excited to keep adventuring through this year of transition and intention, and want to challenge you to join the journey with me. As stressful and difficult as the last two years have been, there is so much potential for us to grow and learn from this. Transitions are always scary, but if you can put yourself into a mindset of gratitude and joy, you can begin to see the transition as just another adventure. 

Accept Your Worth

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome in your mindset is self-doubt. You deserve all of the wonderful things life has to offer, and if you can begin to accept that you are worthy of abundance, abundance will come your way. If you can learn to push yourself beyond thoughts of self-doubt, and begin to believe in yourself and your worth, you can achieve far greater success. 

Practice Gratitude

Once the opportunities begin to come your way, it’s important to not start taking success for granted. While you deserve great things in life, it’s also important to remember that God has put these things in your path. Gratitude helps to fuel joy and helps to make you feel even more fulfilled by your successes, so don’t hesitate to celebrate your wins! 

Say ‘Yes’ To Change

Transitions and positive change can’t happen if you don’t let them, so be sure to say “yes” when change comes your way. Lots of us are scared of change, which is totally natural, but without periods of transition, we would never have anything beautiful or new. Now is your time to transition from an ambitious caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. 

Ready to start embracing change and living your life with intention? Visit my blog for more advice for an abundant and joyful life, join us every Sunday night at 8 PM on Facebook, Instagram or You Tube for a Success Sunday message or start a conversation with the Devine Team today!