Laid Off and Living It Up

I Got Laid Off. So, I Booked the Tickets.
After getting laid off in March 2025, I decided to take advantage of the circumstances and celebrate a new beginning by taking a chance, living it up and setting off on a month-long trip to places I never been. I’ve been looking for work since then but haven’t had any luck.

One of my long-time goals has been to travel the world for months at a time. My friends Tatiana and Jeremy were getting married in Iceland, and since I was already going to be there for their wedding, I figured, why not keep going? I took advantage of the cheap flights within Europe and decided to go on an adventure.

After Iceland, I spent a week in London. And right now, as I’m typing this, I’m sitting at a café in Madrid. As I sit here, sipping kombucha and watching strangers pass by, I feel a deep sense of peace and belonging. Not because I know where I am going, but because I feel I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

And I think:
“I don’t need to have it all figured it out. It’s just about enjoying the present moment and taking the next best step with courage.” And right now, that’s exactly what I’m doing.

No Job, No Income – Still Living It Up

I am so happy and deeply grateful because I’m living my dream, doing what sets my soul on fire: traveling, writing, and building something of my own. I try to continuously follow my soul’s calling, and it has led me here.

It’s an amazing feeling to live what your soul has been longing for. And yes, it’s a bit risky for me because I have no income coming in, and the funds in my bank account just keep getting lower. But then there’s also that feeling of, “F*ck it, you only live once.”

Life is too short not to live what your heart truly desires. Too short not to take the chances when they are presented to you. Too short not to follow those inspired ideas that move your soul.

This felt like the time to follow my calling while also overcoming some of my fears. And really, what better time to travel for a month than when you don’t have a job and are not working for anyone else? Makes sense to me.

When Travel Turns into Inner Reflection

My time traveling has been super reflective. And honestly, I’ve felt like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. From meaningful synchronicities and perfect timing to the amazing people I’ve met and the conversations I’ve had with my friend Pilar, I feel incredibly connected.

Throughout this journey, my Magic Within Manifestation Journal has been my constant companion, a space where I write my thoughts, have honest conversations with myself, reflect on what I’m experiencing, and even find inspiration for my blogs. (If you are someone who finds meaning in self-discovery, intention-setting, and journaling, you are welcome to explore my other self-published journals here.)

While out in the wild and loving this adventure, I found myself writing:
Why is it that starting over can feel so scary?

How many times have we started life all over again? I know I have a bunch.
And every time we do, there’s fear, fear of the unknown, fear of failing, fear of not being good enough. Yet somehow, we rise.
But what are we really afraid of?

Getting Comfortable with Fear

I’ve purposely done things that scare me, just to break the fear. Honestly, that’s where the magic happens, outside the comfort zone. Fear keeps us still. It convinces us to play it safe, to settle for what’s familiar. And yet, for me, deep inside my soul, there’s this craving for more, for real success. Not the kind that’s expected of us, but the kind that truly sets our soul on fire.

Where the Fear of Failure Begins

One of the most persistent fears we carry is the fear of failure, in our careers, relationships, or goals. But why? Where did that even begin?

I believe that for many of us, it starts in childhood. Many children are often punished instead of being guided when they make mistakes. So instead of learning that failure is a part of our growth, they associated with shame, fear and guilt. If you don’t get As, you’re in trouble, you’re labeled as a failure. If you’re not the best, you’re seen as not enough. You’re told you won’t get anywhere in life.

We grow up believing that success means being perfect, the best, having it all together, constantly having to prove ourselves. We are taught to aim high, but often towards other’s expectations, not our soul’s true desires.

Chasing Dreams or Expectations?

So, we chase success, but often from a place of fear:

• Fear of letting others down.
• Fear of not measuring up.
• Fear of not being enough or good enough.

And let’s be real, that kind of pressure is heavy. Sometimes it weighs more than the desire to succeed.

When things feel heavy, it is often not because we truly want them… but because we’re afraid of not having them. Afraid of what others might think. Afraid of not being “worthy.” We fear that without it, we are not good enough or seen as failures. Or maybe.. we’re just trying to prove our worth to others.

So are we chasing our dreams, or someone else’s expectations?

Or maybe, like me, you’re learning to chase from a place of purpose and our soul’s true desire, instead of fear?

What Hard Times Really Teach Us

But what if we shifted that?
What if we embraced failure instead of fearing it?

Lately, I am not even scared of failing. I welcome it, because failure teaches us.

Failure can teach us resilience. It shows us that we are stronger than we think.
It teaches us humility, and reminds us that we are human, always growing, always evolving.
Failure is a doorway into becoming more of who we are truly meant to be.

Mistakes teach us too. Heartbreak, loss, disappointment, they break us open. And in that brokenness, there’s truth. There’s clarity. There’s deep compassion.

These “unfortunate things” taught me what really matters to me, what I truly desire, and how I truly want to live. They pushed me inward, to focus on my real needs, and to finally take care of myself. Otherwise, I might have stayed lost.

Trusting the Process

I’ve come to believe that the things that happen in our lives, even the painful stuff we try to avoid, are all part of a larger process. Maybe it’s the universe guiding us. Maybe it’s God helping us grow. Or maybe it’s just life unfolding in ways we don’t always understand in that moment.

People often ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” But maybe it’s not about good or bad. Maybe it’s about growth.

Sometimes the hardest moments are just the beginning of something we’re not ready to see yet. Or sometimes is just a way of life telling us to choose ourselves.

I Want to Master Failure, Not Avoid it

So with all these thoughts in my head, I think:

I want to master failure, heartbreak, and loss not to avoid them, but so I’m no longer afraid of them.
I want to take chances, over and over again. Because I’d rather live boldly and grow continuously than sit safely in fear, completely stagnant.

If you’re standing on the edge of something new, something uncertain, ask yourself:

• What am I really afraid of?
• Is this fear mine, or something I was taught?
• Am I chasing success because I want it, or because it’s expected of me?
• What does success truly mean to my soul?
• What would I do if I knew failure wasn’t the end, but the beginning?

Take the Leap – The Beginning Is Waiting

Then take the leap. Take a leap of faith. The worst thing that can happen might just be the start of something better, of something meaningful, of something beautiful.

What are you still holding yourself back from?

Leave a comment or share this with someone who needs the reminder.

Remember, failure isn’t the end — it’s a beginning.

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Journal Prompt

What dream have you been too afraid to pursue — and what’s one small step you can take toward it this week?

If you’re ready to live more intentionally, explore your inner world, and get into true alignment with what you desire… my Reiki-infused guided journals are here to support your journey.
→ Explore my journals here ✨

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