There is Power in Choosing
"For every path you choose, there is another you must abandon, usually forever."
~Joan D. Vinge
I had a challenging decision to make this week. A friend asked me to take some photos for an event. She based her request on my decades of experience as a professional photographer.
I’ll start with the fact that I’m a people-pleaser by nature. So my first inclination is to say yes to most things, especially if it’s in my wheelhouse and I’m being helpful.
Even though the answer in my head was a clear no, I hesitated to decline. Why?
Because it forced me to declare what I stand for and who I am now.
I’ve spent the last year and a half shifting into a different phase of my life. The transformation has opened me up to a more holistic mindset. One that supports wellness, balance, emotional stability, and helping others find their inner calm.
I realized that photography fed a more ego-driven side of me. It kept me locked in a cycle of constantly searching for outside validation.
It felt strange and uncomfortable to acknowledge that the identity I’d aligned with and fiercely guarded for so long doesn’t fit my present reality.
However, it was necessary for me to share that insight out loud. The declaration liberated me to make even more space for who I’ve become. It provided me with an opportunity to embrace my role as a wellness professional.
At that moment, I relinquished the safety net of keeping my former title on reserve.
Photography is now neatly tucked into the story of what makes me, me, and I’m able to move forward without hesitation.
By fully honoring my new identity, I gained clarity and confidence about the direction I’m going.
Choosing to stay in my current zone of excellence is the best way to serve those who need me.
Are you hanging on to something that no longer serves you? Where can you let go to make space to grow and to allow fresh opportunities into your life?