Clarity after the Storm

A year of uncertainty, alignment, and learning to trust the path.

I’m sitting here listening to the thunder. Watching the rain start to fall.

I just submitted a job application.

I’ve been submitting a lot of those recently.

In fact, one already resulted in a job. A part-time gig training English language educators in Vietnam. When I found out I got the job, I posted a note. In true Substack fashion, over 3.4K of you dropped a heart. Substack contains the most thoughtful, supportive, encouraging internet dwellers anywhere!

I’m so excited for this job! I’ll go to Vietnam for 2-4 week periods. I’ll be training English as a foreign language teachers in different strategies and techniques for teaching English. I love training English teachers, especially cross culturally. I’ve only ever experienced magic when I have.

This role is welcomed, but it’s only part-time and for short spurts of time. I need something else. I need stability. I need a full-time position.

This has been the case since we moved across the country in late 2023.

At that point, I put everything into the job search— including my soul.

It was a long, brutal, soul-sucking process that left me tired, hopeless, and depressed.

I quit cold turkey and two weeks later took a job cleaning houses.

Fast forward to now— In the past year, I’ve worked as a freelance copy writer, a contracted curriculum designer and educator, as well as a community college English as a second language teacher. I’ve also been writing on Substack and trying to produce some income here. All the while helping my husband grow his real estate business.

It’s been a process of self discovery rooted in a commitment to my alignment.

I’m in no different place job wise than I was a year ago. I don’t have anything secure. My contracted position is about to end. I lost the job at the community college. Starting a business here is hard. I’m not even sure it’s what I truly want.

What has changed is my mindset.

A year ago I felt defeated. Today, I feel like I’m winning.

I have clarity, confidence, and faith.

I know what’s meant for me is already mine.

I count my blessings as oppose to counting my setbacks.

The road to get here hasn’t been easy, but by continuing to listen to my heart, refusing to do anything that doesn’t feel right, and believing in myself, I feel more empowered than ever.

I don’t know if it’s my mindset or just coincidence, but now as I’m applying for jobs, there’s no longer dread. There’s no longer a complete lack of confidence. There’s no longer confusion.

I only apply for what feels 100% right and know that if it’s meant for me, it will be.

The rain has passed. The thunder has quieted.

I’m still here. Feet on the ground. Heart open. Ready.

Whatever comes next, I know it’s part of the unfolding. And I trust the path, even when I can’t quite see it.

And, I plan to keep exploring. To keep dancing. To keep showing up for me.

I’ll keep applying for jobs that excite me. I’ll keep writing on Substack and following avenues that feel aligned. I’ll keep believing in me.

The job I applied for today was the head of a mountain bike program at a local college. I worked for a mountain bike company for four years, two as the general manager. I’ve worked in higher education for over 15 years. This role aligns beautifully with my unique background.

Last week, I applied for the role as executive director for a trail advocacy organization. Though I love teaching, I feel a strong pull towards this position. Ensuring my local community has outdoor opportunities that are accessible to all is deeply important to me. Much of my background as the general manager of the mountain bike organization as well as leadership roles at colleges have prepared me for this work.

I’m hopeful that one of these works out. If they don’t, I’ll continue listening to my heart for guidance.

In the meantime, I’ve learned a key lesson:

You don’t have to wait until everything is certain or secure to feel empowered.
You can live in the in-between—jobless, uncertain, starting over—and still feel like you’re winning when you align with what’s true for you.

Progress isn’t always external (titles, salaries, clear paths). Sometimes it’s internal—clarity, calm, confidence, faith. And that is what makes external breakthroughs possible.

If you’re facing uncertainty, a transition, or other challenge, remember these four things:

• Trust isn’t passive—it’s an act of courage.
  You chose to quit. You chose to clean houses. You chose to keep applying, but only for what’s aligned. Those are brave, active steps.

• Your worth isn’t tied to job titles.
  You’re still you—creative, capable, deeply skilled—whether you're cleaning houses, freelancing, or leading a program.

• When you honor your truth, the right opportunities begin to appear.
  You’re not scrambling. You’re attracting. That’s a huge shift.

• It’s okay not to know. You can still move forward.
  You don’t have it all figured out—and that’s not a flaw. It’s a reflection of a season of growth.

Now, I invite you to reflect on the following:

What would change if you stopped counting your setbacks and started counting your blessings?

What would you let go of if you trusted that what’s meant for you is already yours?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments. I’m curious to know your experience and what you’ve learned from it or how my experience teaches you something new.

As always, thank you for being here. It means so much.

Sending love.