I stood in the middle of my empty studio and asked myself, now what?
I had just left a 10-year marriage, only two years after immigrating to a new country. I had no money, no career, no friends, and barely any clothes.
The little savings I had were just enough to cover rent and buy a laptop. Thankfully, a small monthly income trickled in from work I had done previously. It was enough to keep me afloat—barely.
It took a year and a half after my January awakening to start taking action. Looking back, that time was necessary for me to process, reflect, and build up the courage to make the big decisions I knew were coming. Change doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes, it’s the quiet, slow moments of preparation that lead us to the breakthroughs we’re meant for.
Growing up in a religious family, my decision to divorce was met with disapproval. I was the first in my generation to leave a marriage, and when my family realized I wasn’t going to change my mind, they shut down communication. It hurt deeply, but I knew that staying true to my path meant breaking free from old patterns and expectations.
Most of my friends in the new country were couples we had met together, and they tried to maintain friendships with both of us. But given the unique situation I was in, that dynamic no longer worked for me.
Everything felt so overwhelming. I wasn’t afraid of my decision—I never questioned whether I had made the right choice. Deep down, I knew I had. What I didn’t know was what my new life would look like. I couldn’t see the future, but I started building and imagining it with the pieces I had in front of me. And that image? It has changed many times since then, and that’s the beauty of life’s puzzle. I’ve continued to build my own unique picture, adding new pieces, experiences, and dreams as they’ve come along.
That shift from focusing on what I had lost to embracing what I was creating was liberating. I stopped worrying about the security, family approval, or support I no longer had. I let one thought take over my mind:
I am FREE!
For the first time, I had the opportunity to live life on my own terms.
That feeling was exhilarating. It was a pure burst of joy that made me forget I was sleeping on the floor. In that moment, none of the external discomforts mattered. I was finally free to create a life I had only imagined before.
In the midst of my newfound freedom, my family eventually came to terms with my decision. They saw how determined I was and began supporting me in ways I never imagined. Their acceptance, though delayed, was a turning point in my healing.
Within a few months, I furnished my apartment. I made new friends, ones who truly understood me and became lasting connections. And then, I got together with the love of my life. He became my biggest supporter, my mentor, my cheerleader, and above all, my best friend. His presence reminded me that when you let go of things that no longer serve you, the universe often gifts you something better.
During this time, I took advantage of the freedom and, to be honest, the abundance of time I had. I invested in myself. I worked on my skills, educated myself, and eventually landed a job that was not only what I deserved but also became a stepping stone for my career. I began meeting new people and, for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t afraid to express my true self. I no longer feared criticism or rejection because I was finally living authentically.
But before all of these beautiful changes began to fall into place, there were many dark, cold, and lonely nights when I had to rely on finding the courage to face challenges that felt overwhelming. There were times when I didn’t know where the next piece of my puzzle would come from. Yet two things kept me going: the feeling of being free and my unwavering trust in the universe. I trusted that I was on the right path, that the universe had bigger and better plans for me than I could imagine.
That trust—and the belief that freedom was my foundation—carried me through the hardest times. And as the pieces of my new life slowly came together, I knew that everything I had been through was leading me exactly where I was meant to be.
This was the beginning of something bigger. My story wasn’t ending here; it was just getting started.
And if you find yourself in a similar situation—standing at the edge of the unknown—know this: you don’t need to have all the answers right away. Sometimes, the most powerful decision you can make is to choose yourself. Trust in your own choices, even if you can’t yet see the path clearly.
Start with the pieces you have. Maybe those pieces feel scattered or incomplete right now, but that’s okay. Freedom isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about giving yourself permission to build and rebuild your life as many times as it takes. It’s about trusting that you’re on the right path, even when things feel uncertain.
You are the architect of your life. With each step you take, with each piece you place, you are creating something uniquely yours. And in that process, you will find the strength, the clarity, and the peace you’ve been searching for.
Trust in the journey. Trust in yourself. The universe is always conspiring in your favour, even when you can’t see it yet.
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