Are you doing the work you were designed to do? Wow, that’s deep. How about: Are you the person you were designed to be? Or if you passed away and got to meet the person you were created to be, would you feel like you had met her before or would she be a total stranger? What a way to stop you in your tracks and make you question your whole life! I don’t think they are meant to though. I think they are meant to encourage you to evaluate your process. After all, isn’t life more of a journey than a destination? Everyone’s journey looks different. Here’s mine:
[Beep. Beep. Beep.] It was Thursday at 5:15am and the alarm was going off. Up I woke like I had been doing 5 days a week for the past 7 years –shower; straighten hair; put on makeup, a skirt, a blouse, and heels; eat breakfast, and rush out the door by 7:15. Not 7:17, or you might as well call your boss and tell her you’ll be 45 minutes late.
Was it a routine? Yes! What is predictable? Yes! Was it robotic? Yes! Was it safe? Yes! AND did the weekends feel as sweet as a bite of cheesecake with strawberries on top? Yes! Was the work routine enjoyable? NO! So why continue doing it? Because it’s what I had always envisioned life would be like: get your master’s and climb the Corporate ladder as high as you can for 30 years. Each step up the ladder gets you closer to the “golden ticket,” right? Only 23 years and a thousand steps to go!
On that morning, my 26-month-old daughter woke up sobbing and wouldn’t stop. This had become a regular occurrence, but something was different that day- she was crying out for help! She was unhappy and needed something she wasn’t getting enough of… her mommy. I immediately recognized how she felt because I had been in her shoes. Raised by a single mom, her career came first. It had to; our lives depended on it. But that meant our time together revolved around her work hours. Seeing my baby girl cry like that gave me a glimpse into the sacrifices my mom had to make. In that moment, I saw two choices: carry on my mom’s sacrifices by making the same ones or give my daughter the time my mom wishes she could have given me.
Shortly after that defining morning, a friend mentioned an incredible opportunity to me. I immediately recognized that Rodan + Fields was the vehicle I had been praying for. The company is backed by two world-renown dermatologists (known for the previous multi-million dollar brand, Proactiv) and who are also two of the top self-made female entrepreneurs. With this legacy brand, they empowered men and women to leverage their reputation, efficacy, marketing, and distribution system to build a business of their own while working from anywhere. Isn’t that brilliant?
Now a little over a year later, life looks a lot different! I am a Corporate dropout! My husband and I decided to take a short term financial sacrifice for me to be more present and focus on building the business that has the potential to be far greater than Corporate could ever offer. My daughter is an almost 3 ½ year old who radiates sunshine and happiness. There is no doubt that she got what she wanted. But something unexpected also happened—I now too radiate sunshine and happiness unlike ever before!
I have re-discovered myself when I didn’t realize I was lost in the first place. That robotic, predictable, living-for-the-weekend routine was a mask for feeling stuck and not knowing I had the power to change it. I am learning to dream because I’ve seen so many other dreams come true with this business. My passions for volunteering, giving back, and helping people are what drive my day. And the best part- a new fire has ignited to help and empower women! My testimony and experiencing the Rodan + Fields sisterhood inspired me to create a women’s empowerment group (soon to be non-profit) with the mission of helping women love the skin they’re in while also inspiring them to become better versions of themselves! And if women are looking to create more options for themselves and their family, then they can join my Rodan + Fields team, which also supports the same mission.
So you may be wondering, “was it worth it to stray from the lifestyle you’ve always admired and step out in faith in order to venture down the road less traveled?” ABSOLUTELY! If you have an inkling of a desire for something more or if you wonder whether you have arrived at your full potential, my advice would be to follow your heart and remain open to new opportunities and experiences, surround yourself with the energy and friends who are going (or have gone) in the direction you want to go, and invest in yourself through personal development as much you can, so you will be equipped to properly receive your new situation. The most beautiful things can happen when you open yourself to change. Your journey may take longer and look different than you expected, but enjoy your journey and don’t force it. It is then that you discover how capable, powerful, and inspiring you really are!
About the Author: Charlsey Childers (CC to many) is a wife and mom of two. She and her family live in Monroe, NC and attend Elevation Church. Her joy comes from volunteering at the local homeless shelter, playing dolls, tag, outside, and in bouncy houses, and working. If you would like to connect with Charlsey, you can email her at charlseychilders@yahoo.com.
