The other side of a big leap

That's where I am. Within the last two weeks I found a new tenant for my apartment in Washington, DC, gave away or sold half of my belongings, and moved the rest to my parents' house in upstate NY.

I'm writing this from the West Village in Manhattan where I'm house sitting.

How does it feel?

Liberating.

Untethered by a rent, and by the things I've carried with me for years. Some of which I don't even like, but have just kept packing and unpacking.

Exciting.

More seems possible. I'm reconnecting with old friends and colleagues, and rediscovering a place I used to call home.

And now...

As things have begun to settle down, I can feel the next stage of leaping nearly upon me.

The Upheaval Ugh.

I have the tendency to leap first and figure it out later.

My leaps begin with a gut instinct. When I go with it, I can be taken pretty far out of my comfort zone. So far that it may be a while until I even realize how far I've gotten.

Like Wyle E Coyote chasing the Road Runner right off the cliff.

That's where I am right now, off the edge, looking around and realizing I have no idea what will happen next.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Along with the freedom, and relief, and excitement, and wide-open opportunity of it all, it is uncomfortable. Especially in the quiet moments.

Lessons I have learned so far:

1) I must like this.

I leap out of my comfort zone on a semi-regular basis. So for all of the discomfort, I must like it or else I would not keep doing it. That means in those quiet moments I need to appreciate what's happened, and what is happening.

2) A fresh perspective is a huge help.

My friend and client, Stephanie Vessely, wrote the other day about keeping the vacation mindset going after you return to your normal life. Walking around New York the last few days I have had a chance to see this familiar place through new eyes. I'm talking to more people, taking more photos, and stopping to look up on a regular basis.

3)  Keep going. 

This is two lessons wrapped into one. First, that you don't need to know the full answer to start down the path. If you leap first like me, you know what I'm talking about. Sometimes, or oftentimes, you can't see what's around the next corner and the only way to find out is to take a step.

Second, when I watched Wyle E Coyote as a kid, I was convinced that if he just kept running he would be absolutely fine. I mean, the Road Runner does it, right?

His only problem is stopping. When he looks down he sees that there is no ground beneath him, not how far he made it without it!

Whether it's before your first step or after your fifth, whenever the Upheaval Ugh happens to you, keep going.

You made it here, and the way appeared when you needed it. It will again.

What lessons have you learned from your leaps? Please share them.