Category: dreams

courage, dreams, love

Leap: Small Consistent Acts of Courage and Love Make for a Better World

Christa Avampato

“In life, it is never the big battle, the big moment, the big speech, the big election. That does not change things. What changes things is every day, getting up and rendering small acts of service and love beyond that what’s expected of you or required of you.” ~ Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark and 2012 Stanford graduation speaker

You have the desire to do something big with your life. You have massive dreams and hopes for yourself and those you love. You want to rise to your potential, leave your own indelible mark on the world, and make a lasting contribution to humanity. I get it; I want to do the same.

Here’s the trick: your mark isn’t made by one single act. It’s not even made with 1,000 acts. It’s made every single day. The key to making your mark and accomplishing those big dreams has everything to do with consistency. Every time you go somewhere and do something with your whole heart, you transmit that love to everyone around you. Every time you demonstrate dedication and commitment to something that matters to you, we feel it and are inspired by it.

There are millions of ways to make a difference. There is no shortage of challenges and difficulties in the world that are crying out for smart solutions. And the sooner you identify your way to make a difference and give yourself over to it, the sooner this world will be a bit more like the world you want it to be. Your moment to begin is now. We’re all counting on you and rooting for you.

courage, dreams

Leap: All You Need Is 20 Seconds of Insane Courage

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest

“All it takes is 20 seconds of insane courage and great things will happen.” ~ Benjamin Mee

In the 7 weeks since I left my corporate job to step out on my own, many people have asked me what was the scariest piece of the multi-year process leading up to that moment. I distinctly remember messaging one of my co-worker friends and telling her that I was on my way to my VP’s office to give my notice. And then the blood started pumping. I had the letter in hand and told someone I was turning it in. Could I really do this? After all this planning, all this anticipation, all this waiting, could I pull the trigger when it mattered most?

I could and I did, with a steady voice, a full heart, and steeped in the knowledge that though this was scary, it was the right thing to do. It was the next step that would make all of the following steps possible. And the world needs those steps. All of them. It needs me, and all of us, at our best, and this was the way to be at my best.

In the 20 seconds it took to walk into my VP’s office and hand him my letter of resignation, my whole life changed. My whole view of the world changed. I was free to pursue work that fascinates me, lights me up, wakes me early in the morning, and then reluctantly releases its hold so I can go to sleep at night. It’s powerful and invigorating to design my own career and connect with people whom I admire. I’m learning something new every moment of every day.

I wish the same for all of you. I want you to know this peace and happiness and inspiration. Let me know how I can help because the world needs you at your best, too.

design, dreams, future

Leap: Your Destiny, Your Design

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest

You could wait. You could seek the advice of others. You could find someone whom you admire and do exactly what they’ve done. You could let the Universe decide.

I don’t recommend any of those avenues when it comes to creating your destiny. You are wonderful and divine. You know exactly what you want and why. You have the very seeds from which every dream of yours will grow. All they need is nurturing. Some attention. Some room to breathe.

Each of these seeds is as unique as you. No one can tell you how or when they will develop. No one can tell you which ones need your attention now and which ones can wait. No one except you.

Your destiny is your business. You are the one who will live it. You are the one who lives with the outcomes of your actions. You will always wake up to you, walk with you, and go to bed with you. And so you must be your own best friend. Your own best champion.

Care for yourself and care for those dreams because when you are at your best and you are fulfilling the destiny you created for yourself, the whole world benefits. We all get a chance to experience the very best version of you.

business, dreams, entrepreneurship

Leap: The Secret Thrill of Incorporating Your Own Business

Christa Avampato

I’ve spent the last month teaching the ducks I put in a row to march to the beat of my drum. After taking my leap into my own business, I’ve gone about cultivating leads and working to turn those leads into tangible projects. As the Founder of a new business, it’s the best place for me to spend my time at the moment.

To get the administrative wheels turning, I received a recommendation for a great accountant who makes his living helping freelancers. The first week on my own, I took myself over to meet him and 15 minutes later he got to work filing my papers of incorporation for Chasing Down the Muse:

Today, I stopped by his office to pick up the finished package and my heart did a little dance when I saw my:

Certificate of Incorporation

Stock Certificates (seriously!)

Corporate Seal

It struck me that I didn’t just leap out on my own into the abyss when I left my corporate job. I walked out one door and through another, a door I designed with careful attention to detail that is framed by the work I love. Now its official – there’s nowhere to go but up from here. Now I begin to build. Now I unleash my craziest, wildest, most incredible dreams and see if they have wings. It’s now or never, and I prefer now!

adventure, choices, commitment, community, creativity, dreams

Leap: Go Out on the Edge

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest

“You’re not going to have a lot of people you can talk to about this. There is never a crowd on the leading edge.” ~ Abraham Hicks

My friend, Trish, had this quote on her Facebook wall last week and it captures a truth that can be tough for us to hear. Opportunity is glaring at us and growing bigger by the moment. We want to believe that everyone can see what we see and when they don’t we get frustrated, discouraged, and uncomfortable in our own skin. We begin to doubt our own abilities.

Don’t despair. Out on the Edge there is something beautiful and miraculous waiting for you – your kindred spirits. They are a small but mighty crew. They think like you think, believe what you believe, and understand what you understand. They will inspire, encourage, and support you. You are all in the same boat, paddling around looking for each other, and you’ll come together out on the Edge. It is better out there than where you are now. This time, the grass really is greener elsewhere.

But here’s the trick of it: you have to go out there. This is one of the few things that you can’t do virtually. You have to go there fully – mind, body, and soul. The only way to realize the gift of the Edge is to be there. And to make the journey you will have to trust your gut more than you trust the opinions of those around you.

Commit to the Edge and the Edge will commit to you. Now start paddling.

business, dreams, entrepreneurship

Leap: Turn Around The Negatives

Christa Avampato

When you’re starting your new business, you may hear a lot of negatives. People will tell you to do more of this and less of that. They will tell you that your ideas and dreams are too big for someone just starting out so you better scale back. You don’t have enough experience, contacts, or education. You will have people point out to you, over and over again, what you lack.

Here’s what I want you to do: take all those negatives and turn them into assets. Simplify – not your dreams but your message. Focus on who you serve and why and with what and talk to those people. You will learn on the job, which is the very best way to learn, and through those learnings you will gain experience. You will make connections because you are excited about your life and your work and nothing, and I mean NOTHING, attracts contacts as much as someone who is enthusiastic and happy.

Those people who are pointing out what you lack are likely dreading Monday and praying for Friday. In the words of my wise mentor and former boss, Bob G., “they’re just trying to get to 5:00.” You are building a life of your own design and that work has no beginning and no end. You are it; and it is you. Take their feedback and turn it into kindling to feed your own fire.

Turn it around. Develop. Reach. Grow. Show them that you’ve got this and there’s no way to stop you. The late great Babe Ruth said it best – it’s tough to beat a person who never gives up.

creativity, dreams, inspiration, work

Leap: You’ve Waited Long Enough

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest

We wait for signs. We keep our eyes peeled, hoping for a clear and directive sign from the Heavens to tell us what to do.

Here’s the sign: the Heavens have already weighed in.

They gave you all of the gifts you need to make your own opportunities. Pull your dreams down out of the sky and plant them firmly under your own two feet. Don’t let anyone or anything deter you. Stay the course set by your heart, roll up your sleeves, and get to work.

No one else is ever going to live your life as well as you can live it, so don’t let them even try. Everything you’ve ever done has been to prepare you for this moment – it’s yours for the taking.

Let’s move some mountains!

dreams, fear

Leap: Fight Fear With Dreams

Christa Avampato

Have you noticed how much energy you expend on fear? Now think about how much energy you put toward your dreams.

No one can tell you to stop being afraid. But there is a lot to be gained from evening out the equation between fear and dreams. Dreams will make you bolder, stronger, and more creative. They’ll light you up in a way that the whole world can see, drawing good fortune in your direction.

And here’s the real magic trick: the more you dream, the less you fear because dreams teach you what’s possible.

career, courage, creativity, dreams

Leap: My New Year’s Resolution Is Complete – I Took the Leap

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest

“I am not afraid. I was born to do this.” ~ Joan of Arc

On January 1st, I started down the path that would culminate in a leap from my current job. I thought it would be December by the time I actually made the leap but yesterday I gave my notice and my last day at my job will be June 15th. My co-workers are sad and disappointed as much as they are proud and excited to see me give my dream a real shot at coming true. I am so grateful for the lessons I’ve learned there and excited for the next chapter.

For the past 4 years I have been working full-time as a product developer for a financial services company and now I will turn utilize my experience toward teaching, writing, and creative product development projects, particularly (but not exclusively) focusing on technology in the healthcare and education spaces.

When I graduated from business school 5 years ago, I never imagined that I would contemplate working for myself. I made excuses: I’m too young; I don’t have enough experience; I’ll never make enough money to support myself. They are all valid fears, but there was one fear that was greater than all of these combined. What if I never devote my time to the projects that really light me up? How would I reflect on my life knowing that I didn’t do everything I could to merge my work with my passions?

And then the answer became simple – I have to at least try and that means letting go of what seems stable and secure for the sake of following the path that is most authentic. In actuality, the latter is the safest road. When we put ourselves in charge of our futures, we find renewed energy, strength, and creativity. We understand the true value of our time. We find our greatest worth.

So now as this chapter comes to a close, a bright, shiny, new one begins. Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me, for all of your support and encouragement, for believing that we can all be exactly the people we are meant to be, living the lives we are meant to live. We’re on our way. We’re building our wings.

dreams, free, yoga

Leap: Truth Steps Into the Spotlight

Christa Avampato
Image from A Charmed Yogi

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” ~Buddha via A Charmed Yogi

Once we begin to live our truth, once we begin to walk the path that we were meant to take, we cannot turn back. Like a genie free from its bottle, the truth cannot be sent back into hiding and we have no choice but to embrace its power and wisdom. It will force us to be who are at our very essence. It cannot be unseen, undone, nor deterred. Once free, it sets us free, too.

Yesterday I arrived home after a long and productive day of yoga teacher training at ISHTA to a lone piece of mail from the University of Virginia, one of my alma maters. It was clearly a bulk mailing sent to tens of thousands of alums and many times that type of mail finds its home in my recycle bin. On the elevator ride up to my apartment, I heard a clear and confident voice say, “Open it.” It surprised me, so much so that without hesitation I opened it immediately.

And there it was – on the front cover a story that confirmed my decision to leap from my current full-time job in financial services to focus on my career in health and wellness. Following the advice of my friend and mentor, Richard, I went to my stationery box and wrote out two notes to the people featured in the article to offer my assistance and partnership in their recent efforts at the University. In the last few years, it’s become a habit of mine to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) every time I see someone doing something interesting that overlaps with my interests and to whom I can be helpful. Many times, there is no response. The times there is a response have altered my life and path in very profound ways. I hope my recent notes fall into the latter camp.

The truth has a power more potent than we realize – it allows us to connect and collaborate with other like minds. Once we howl, and that howl is clear, concentrated, and genuine, we find our pack. The truth is the vehicle that allows us to tap into a higher consciousness. Once we open to it, it opens doors for us that we never even knew were available to us. It’s as if we’ve been staring into the dark for so long, fumbling and futzing our way forward when suddenly the truth strikes the match that lights up the whole path. It will point out our obstacles and then show us a way around them. It will hand us the tools we need to continue our journey, free from the constant hang-ups of worry, fear, and doubt.

My truth is that I was meant to spend my days teaching people to be well before they ever get sick and teaching those who are sick that within them they have the strength to be well. What’s your truth?