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Beginning the journey toward a dreamed about outcome comes with a boost of energy, a surge of adrenaline as we step off the previously traveled trail and onto a newly chosen, and unknown as to what exactly will happen path. 

This boost of adrenaline is helpful because, much like pushing off from the swimming pool wall, it enables us get our bearings and thrusts us far enough away from the wall that we can't immediately reach back and change our mind. 

As the journey continues forward, again a journey toward an outcome we have never personally experienced, but having done our homework, have a strong inner pull of curiosity and knowing of ourselves that this is where our true self and passions have pointed us, we not only become further and further away from where we began and what we knew, but also are not sure how long it will take to reach where we'd like to go. 

How will the winds blow, so to speak, dances about in our minds because after all, we can only control how we are swimming, but we cannot control all that swirls and goes on around us. We are in many ways at the mercy of Mother Nature, in the case of the swimming, or the universe or whatever entity we ascribe everything beyond ourselves. 

Fear may seep in, and when it does, that is a very good thing.

What?! You may respond to such a truth. Yes, fear arising is a very good thing indeed. 

We have talked about this often here on TSLL and in TSLL's three books, but it is this fear, when it arises, that while we may not want to feel it because it conveys our acknowledgement that we just do not know how it will all work out, it also conveys that we indeed do want this newly chosen journey to reach its desired outcome. 

In many ways, this is confirmation that bolsters our confidence that we indeed are on the right track. After all, we wouldn't feel fear if we didn't care how we were progressing, wondering when or if we would make it. 

And here is the good news, now that we know this trepidation is a gift of assurance, we can also rest easy knowing this fear will pass, and we will remain on the path and be all the more determined to get about the business, ignoring distractions, to reach what lay ahead for us to welcome into our life in the near future. 

I share this life truth with you, because as I share in the final post of the two-month series "New Year, New Life" (ten in all), I too have run up against - temporarily - unwanted moments this past month that felt as if they were attempting to thwart my progress, but after taking a breath, reminding myself of this wisdom, I now know it has only fortified my determination and continuing forward after overcoming the unwanted has commenced. 

February arrives and then concludes readying us for spring, and so whatever you have been intently working on, reward yourself for every small step you have made because it is adding up, and it will all eventually result in something truly life changing for the better.

In this month's newsletter, new photos coincide with the annual birthday post sharing life lessons learned (one is shown above), another home tour at Le Papillon, a French-inspired podcast episode and This & That posts full of delights and ideas and enjoyments to discover. Plus so much more. 

Thank you as always for subscribing to TSLL's free monthly newsletter. I do hope you enjoy, and until Easter! on March (Sunday), the 31st, I will see you on the blog!

—Shannon

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