Your Next Level is buried in Old Baggage

Have you ever felt exhausted just thinking about all the change that’s coming? What’s behind that exhaustion? Is it knowing that we’ll have to leave certain things, or even people, behind? Is it the courage it takes to break free from old patterns, beliefs, and structures? Or is it the fear of the unknown… the fear of getting it wrong?

For me, it’s the fear of making the wrong choice. What if I take the wrong path? What if I commit to the wrong changes? Because when I look back, I can see where some decisions brought  me pain - personal loss, financial struggles, heartache. And in those moments, it’s easy to lose trust in my ability to “get it right.”

But were those choices truly wrong? I’m not so sure. I love who they’ve helped me become. I didn’t enjoy all the lessons, but could I have learned them any other way? They shaped the foundation of who I am and what’s coming next. Would I have preferred an easier path? Of course. But if my life had been simpler, where would I be now?

I believe the universe maps out the road that leads us to our purpose. Every decision we’ve made is somehow part of the journey. Maybe the lessons could have come differently, but different doesn’t always mean easier. There are no shortcuts. A different choice might have dragged out the pain for years longer, or taught the same lesson in an even harder way. We’ll never know.

The only way forward is to keep faith that everything happens for us, not to us. If we think life is happening to us, we are opening space for disappointment, fear, and resistance. We start believing that hardships have no purpose and that we’re victims of circumstance.

Those beliefs are incredibly limiting. If you can’t see the possibilities, if you believe you’re being held back or swallowed up by life, how can you ever see the light at the end of the tunnel? How can you turn things around?

But what if life was happening for you? What if every hard moment was setting you up for something extraordinary, something that will lead you to your best life? Manifestation is about keeping your eyes on the outcome. You can’t reach the calm shores of your dream life without first navigating the storms that teach you who you are.

You can create anything you want, as long as you trust the process. Keep your goal in focus and embody the version of you who already has it. Don’t let doubt creep in. Don’t let other people convince you that you’re “too ordinary” to create extraordinary things. And most importantly, don’t give up. You only fail when you stop trying.

The process of moving forward always requires letting go. Letting go creates space for the new. The universe doesn’t like a void. When you make space, something new will always come in to fill it. Think of how difficult it is to create a vacuum, it needs to be sealed off from everything else. Wind moves from high pressure to low pressure, always filling the empty spaces.

Sometimes we don’t even know where to start or what we need to let go of. So start small. Start with what’s right in front of you. August might not be spring, but it’s the perfect month for a little “spring cleaning.” Declutter your space. Repurpose, recycle, donate, or throw away the things you’ve been holding on to without even knowing why. Every year, I seem to accumulate more “stuff” too! We fill our spaces as though we’re trying to fill a void, but that void is meant for something much greater than old belongings.

As you free up your physical space and start asking, ‘What’s really important?’ you’ll find that the same clarity ripples through other parts of your life - your routines, your habits, your relationships.

Life begins to simplify itself. And once space is created, you’ll start to see what you actually want to fill it with - maybe a new job, a shift in lifestyle, healthier thoughts and actions that align with who you really are.

This is how letting go works. The ripple effect shifts your focus from what’s gone to what’s coming. You spend less time looking backward and more time envisioning where you’re going.

I’ll admit, I’m not great at decluttering either! I have piles of things to donate and a list of things to sell, but getting them out the door? That’s another story. I’m very good at distracting myself with other priorities. But even these small steps have opened the door to bigger ideas. I’ve caught myself thinking: Maybe it’s time to move house? Stay local or go further afield? Those thoughts are bubbling up now because I’m creating space for them.

It’s the same with people. I’ve started asking myself: Are there people in my life who are just filling space? Are they holding places that someone new and aligned is meant to fill? I’m so inspired by the courage of people close to me who are boldly stepping into their own changes and new timelines, it almost feels contagious.

And big changes are coming to Tidalwood Wellness too. A rebrand, a refreshed website, and new projects that feel so aligned I can hardly wait to share them. I could let the sheer number of ideas overwhelm me, but I’m choosing excitement instead. If I can see it, I can make it happen. This is life happening for me, not to me.

But those fears of making the wrong choices have been showing up for me again here.  I’m having to trust the people who are helping me with all of this, and I’ll be honest, it’s not easy. It’s almost natural for me to spiral into panic, worrying that they don’t fully understand my vision or don’t have the skills to bring it to life. But here’s the thing: I have two choices. I can stress myself out thinking I’ve made the wrong decision… or I can remind myself that I believe there are no wrong choices. That even if the road gets bumpy or takes longer than I hoped, it’s still leading me exactly where I’m meant to go. So for my own peace of mind, I have to choose trust. The changes are still a work in progress, and so am I.

This year has been gently preparing us all for change. The question now is: Are you going to answer the call and step boldly into the new? Are you ready for your glow-up? Are you ready to fill your life with everything you’ve been dreaming of? Because it’s yours if you’re ready. The universe is nudging you forward. The only question is: will you go willingly, will you be pushed or will you hold yourself back?