Happy July 4th week! WOW – what a gift it has been to spend Independence Day in NYC this year with some of my favourite business buddies.
As I write this to you from high up above the world I am feeling a massive sense of freedom (yup, I’m currently experiencing one of my bucket list experiences – flying from NYC to LA on Virgin America First Class - (a whole other post to write on this experience!).
In fact, this entire trip has been all about FREEDOM at a whole new level of awareness and unfolding for me.
Some of you may remember that my husband broke his collar bone a few days before I was due to come on this trip.
I did postpone my flight for a few days, but I didn’t let the ‘rules’ or opinions of others hold me back from following through on my own path to spending 6 weeks in the US this summer.
In fact, even once I was over here, I found I wanted to stay longer, but I was running a story in my head that 4 weeks was the ‘limit’… that after that I was a ‘bad wife’….
I chatted to John about this and he shared that actually, it was easier for him to heal when he’s home alone and he’s much happier knowing I’m following my dreams.
(HOW awesome is he? Right?!)
It was a massive wakeup call for me that I was still putting my own desires last in many decisions I make, often worrying about what others might think.
You see we all have stories in our mind which hold us back from following our truth. And most of the time that are just that - stories!
Sometimes we are even carrying other people’s stories around with us (I had plenty of other peoples opinions on why I should be home with John – not ‘galavanting’ the world….)
Realising it is ‘safe’ to keep following what feels great to me has been such a big gift – and each time I’ve extended this trip further, yet another opportunity has come my way that I could never have planned if I tried.
On my path of learning to follow my heart’s guidance and following what lights me, I always choose to set an intention for each new month.
For June my intention was “Connection”
When I told a mentor that I was coming to NYC to ‘connect’ with people, she asked if I actually had any meetings lined up and I felt almost embarrassed to say ‘no’.
Stories started playing in my head that I was wasting my time going to NYC, I wouldn't meet people there, no-one would have time to meet with me...
Those sneaky stories again!
Yet when you set an intention, and let yourself be guided instead of trying to ‘work it all out in your head’, magic can unfold.
Just a few of my highlights from NYC are:
- Entrepreneurs lunch in Soho
- Broadway shows with business buddies
- Creators Dinners in Soho
- Juices in Madison Square Park with entrepreneur friends
- Sunday rooftop BBQs in Queens with best friends
- Lunching with UPswing Mastermind clients in Chelsea
- Coffee meetup with a mentor in the Upper Westside
- Intimate night gathering on a Brooklyn rooftop with raw chocolate rose and fempreneurs
- Working in the Ace Hotel Lobby (best draft cold brew, tunes, couches and wifi in town)
- Lounging at the Equinox Pool (followed by massages)
- Bike riding around Central Park
- Lunches and dinners with family friends
Not bad for what was meant to be a quick trip to NYC after my business mastermind in Austin. (where I connected with 30 of the worlds top business people too!)
If I had followed my original ‘plans’ of heading back home to Sydney to be a 'good wife', instead of following my hearts desires, I would not have allowed my intention to unfold for my highest good.
As I watched the July 4th fireworks from the luxurious 53rd-floor midtown NYC apartment I’ve been staying in with my friend, surrounded by some of my favourite biz buddies – I was full of gratitude for a new depth of Independence and Freedom that is available to us today as women entrepreneurs.
This freedom comes from dropping our stories, dropping our fears and daring to follow the whispers of our heart (even when others think you’re crazy)
We all have dreams – growing your business, leaving your day job, hitting your first $5k month, spending your winter in a country that’s in summer, more connection, more freedom….
And it is honestly only our stories which hold us back from experiencing these!
While the world continues to explore and celebrate independence on a global scale, we as women are experiencing this within ourselves in tandem.
We are waking up to the truth that we have a choice.
We have the choice to step into even more freedom each and every day – in our lives, in our businesses – and so it is more important than ever to drop our own stories, drop the judgments of others and ask ‘what would I do today if there were NO LIMITS or rules at all?’
Continually asking this question on this trip not only led to mind-blowing experiences here in NYC but is also the reason I’m heading to LA tonight instead of rushing home.
I’m not sure what will unfold in LA, but I will tell you next week the pretty crazy story of how I ended up adding 8 days in LA to this trip. (and getting upgraded to First Class)
My intention for July is “Self-Care” – I’d love to hear yours!!
Let’s see how July – the month of freedom and choice – unfolds together.
Love
Amanda xx
PS. Grab my super useful resource of 100 Killer Coaching Questions for FREE by clicking the button below!!
Did you find this post helpful? Please share it with your friends by pinning the image below!
