Today I made a card for a friend who is in a big transition in her life. She’s moving into unmapped territory.

It took me back to one of the biggest lessons of my life, a long time ago.

At twenty-one years old, I married a wonderful man, whom I loved. He was the wrong man for me, and I knew it before I married him. I could feel it in my gut.

But I ignored my inner guidance. I talked myself out of my gut feeling. I was too caught up in all of the “outers”: the process of getting engaged and married, cultural expectations, and other people’s opinions. I couldn’t think of a ‘good reason’ to call off my wedding.

To ‘go with my gut’ seemed difficult and far too risky. I thought I was choosing the ‘known’ over an ‘unknown’ in getting married.

What I didn’t know at the time was that following my inner guidance is the known.

Often there isn’t a map, and I can’t always see the path or the outcome, so it seems riskier, especially at first.

And, I’m left with ‘feeling my way.’ But to me, that’s the adventure, the joy, and the energy of life.

P.S. It took me a few years to gather enough courage to say goodbye to my marriage, but “All’s well that ends well.” My ex-husband and I are now both married to the right people.

Filed under: Being a Reinventer, Adventures of a Reinventer, Lynne's Reinvention Journey on February 1st, 2009