A message from grace

One year into my job as an investment banker, I started feeling that something wasn’t quite right. I felt miserable every day and had sleepless nights wondering what I was doing with my life. I knew something was missing, but couldn’t figure out what it was.

My friends were also bankers, consultants, professionals. They seemed fine. But I wasn’t happy. I was questioning everything I was brought up to believe. I started questioning the ‘wisdom’ passed down to me by my parents and teachers: that if I studied hard and got a prestigious job, I would be happy.

Having no one to turn to, I turned to books and articles instead. They spoke of courage and freedom, of daring to live a life unbounded by others’ expectations. Each article I read steeled my determination, and the words of strangers became the clarion call of my life-changing decision.

With no plan and no job, I left my soul-sucking job in banking.

All I knew was there was more to life and I was going to find it.

I went to Cambodia to live alone and volunteer for 6 months. I started training youths and organising youth leadership camps at home in Singapore. I organised a national campaign to reconnect people to their passions. I became a life coach.

My journey from mercenary banker to life coach challenged every belief I had about life and myself. I stopped believing I was not good enough to make a difference. I stopped living life based on what I felt I ‘should’ do. I stopped doubting myself. I started allowing myself to fail. I started following my heart. I started believing in my own passions and dreams.

Today I continue to walk this path. The path which expresses my love for the beauty and potential I see in each and every person. The path that calls me to inspire myself and people around me, to push my limits and have the courage to live my truth.

I write this because words changed my life and I want to pass on the message that our dreams are possible to achieve no matter how we doubt ourselves or how scary the road seems.

As I walk further along the path, I realise that the journey to becoming fully human is not mine alone. It is all of ours.

This is a message for us who walk the path of self-discovery and truth:

I wish for you to see the beauty in yourself. For you to see how wonderful you are, just being yourself.

I wish for you to stop holding onto your pain. For you to let it go, find your wings and fly.

I wish for you to find joy, for you to fully taste life and all it has to offer.

I wish for you to stop playing small, to find the courage to live your truth.

I wish for you to release your fears – your never good enough, your never ready, your fear of judgment and rejection – any way you stop yourself from honouring who you truly are.

You want to make the world a better place. You want to shine light on the darkness and shadows. Yet you hold yourself back, believing you are not worthy and that you do not deserve it.

There is no need for doubt and fear. You have the seed of greatness inside you. The seed is waiting to be watered through your will, discipline, and dedication. The world is waiting for you to share your gifts.

Your resistances, barriers, and walls are becoming clearer to you. They’re being revealed because you have the ability and strength to overcome them.

Do not seek suffering. Seek excellence and transcendence. Seek your greatest self.

You will stumble. You will also find help when you need it. Your lesson is not only one of independence, but one of interdependence. You are no longer alone. As you walk your path, your light will attract others. They will be your companions. Those further along will illuminate part of the path for you. The rest is up to you. Find the courage to persevere.

You must allow yourself to break where necessary so that truth can be revealed. You may no longer stay within your walls.  The truth will make you strong.

You are being called. There is no other choice, no other path than that which your heart and soul have chosen.

Rise, rise, rise to the ever-pulling tide.