In working with my Pathfinding clients, I’ve noticed a lot of signposts that point the way toward your heart’s calling.

Some Pathfinders feel a “click” or a “rightness in their heart” when they find their path.

A lot of Pathfinders experience ease and flow when they’re doing their heart’s work.

Many Pathfinders feel a sense of fulfillment when they’re making progress on their path.

But the one thing that all Pathfinders experience when they find their path is…

Terror.

Finding your path isn’t all skipping down the Yellow Brick Road singing songs about brains.

Finding your path is terrifying. It’s unimaginably massive. It takes your breath away – which is awesome at first – and then you realize you can’t breathe.

Finding your path brings up this deep sense of terror and dread because the very existence of this calling smashes everything you thought you knew about your life.

Yesterday

Yesterday, you were living your life, doing your thing, getting by.

Yesterday, you knew the score. You knew the game. You knew what to do, even when doing it wasn’t easy.

Yesterday, you took solace in the knowledge that you were doing your best, that you were doing all you could.

Today

Today, you glimpse the glint of the edge of your path out of the corner of your eye, and it changes everything.

Today, you have a new path that is open to you. A weighty, daunting path of meaning and danger, of fulfillment and fear.

Today, you are a Pathfinder.

“Pish and/or tosh!”

It would be so easy to just shut your eyes and pretend you never saw that glint of the edge of your path.

It would be so easy to just roll your eyes and laugh at the silly woo-woo idea that a “true calling” is something that could even exist.

It would be so easy to turn away.

It would be so much easier than facing this question:

What if I fuck it up?

What if I choose this wild crazy meaningful path, and I stumble?

What if I allow this delicate, fragile gift to be placed into my upturned palm, and then I drop it?

What if I accept the call, but I don’t measure up?

Pathfear

I call this special, weighty flavor of terror “pathfear”, because it’s the surest signpost that your path is toward – not away from – the fear.

Pathfear is actually a good sign, because it shows that you care so incredibly deeply that you’re utterly terrified of failing.

I know that these words won’t magically make the fear go away. I still feel it myself.

But take heart. You’re not being called to master your path. You’re being called to show up wholeheartedly. You’re being called to take that first step – and then another, and then another.

The Pathfinder’s Blessing

May you have the courage to take the first step.

May you have the grace to make mistakes.

May you have the resilience to take the next step.

May you have the faith to not turn away.