How I realized my life was like a breaker box and I flipped the switch

 

I love to connect with people and hear all about them, their story, their business, their goals and dreams. They often times turn around and ask me to do the same, to share about myself. Unfortunately, I would tense up and just say boring things like… I have 2 kids, 11 & 9 and I am married to an active duty Marine and that I had a successful business and then I would freeze. I could not figure out how to share the real me. Did they want to know? Would they like what they heard? Would it be too much?

Then an amazing friend and coach invited me to share with her the very story I had never gotten out of my head before. I at first shared with her the simple things, the boring parts and she was unimpressed. She wanted know what made Amy, Amy. She asked me some questions about my lifes journey and I realized I had so much more to say. I also realized it was ok to share because women needed to hear it. They need to know that we all have a real raw story worth telling. And when I shared that piece with my friend, out loud, I got emotional and all weird. I told about a journey so close to my heart that I felt like I had walked into the new phase of my life with acceptance at that very moment for the first time. I feel empowered to share that with you.

Here is that story.

There was a moment in my life when I cried all the time because I felt physically defeated. I didn’t feel appealing to my husband and I certainly didn’t feel attractive. I didn’t like the woman who I saw in every mirror in my house. But one Sunday morning as I was getting ready for brunch (as we do every Sunday) I felt miserable. I was sad at how nothing in the closet fit me. I was sad and angry at myself for treating myself so terrible and getting into a place as dark as that was and so I sat. I sat in my closet and I cried. Again.
My amazing, supportive, fantastic, super attractive 😊 husband came into the closet and he sat next to me. He said something to me that at the time infuriated me to my core. He said “Amy, only you can change the way you feel.” I had an overwhelming feeling of anger. He was right and damn it he is always right.
I love a good ole challenge and I felt just that…challenged. At that exact moment I made the choice and the commitment and I changed my lifestyle.
I declared it to everyone. I posted it on social media, I told all my family and friends in an effort to gain support and accountability and they were surprisingly accepting of my position to dramatically change a lot in my life.
For the first time in my early 30’s I felt proud of myself because I was working towards something for ME. People began to notice quite a transformation in me both physically and emotionally and they were very complimentary. Guys it was tough for me to accept. I would laugh a little when they said it and I certainly had trouble saying “thank you.”

The lesson I learned changed my perspective forever, I learned that my life is a breaker box and I can flip the switch to be the person I choose to be not the person I thought I should be. I learned my life is in my control, I can do the hard things I thought I could not do. I had a choice and at that moment in my closet, I chose to live not just survive.

I am thankful to share this part of my journey because I want all women to know that they can be all they want to be in life, in business and health and wellness. You can flip that switch. Focusing on me and being consistent with my choices had given me much reward. Rewards so huge that I am feeling like a new version of myself. I am Amy 3.0 today.

I am grateful to all the mentors, coaches and friends who have helped me see my greatness and make the decisions to flip that switch. I hope to help other women see that they too can do this very thing. Your story is worth sharing and you can be the success you want in your life.

Amy Young