What Is God Calling You to Share or more Powerfully Step Into?
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
I remember it like it was yesterday.
It was April of 2015 and I was at the mall in search of a gift for my sister’s 38th birthday.
As I entered one of the gift stores, my eyes were instantly drawn to a chocolate brown leather journal on one of the display shelves in the center of the room.
It felt like time slowed down.
I grabbed it, rubbing its soft smooth edges in between my fingers as I flicked through the pages; taking in all of its beauty.
Prior to this point I had never really felt drawn to journals, so this experience of noticing my reaction to this one felt a bit foreign.
“Man, this is really nice.” I remember thinking to myself.
Grabbing the tag on its cover, I was met with the words “Handmade in Italian Leather.”
The smell was very fragrant, clearly confirming its quality.
As I searched for the price tag, I was met with a slight surprise upon seeing it.
“$70!”
“Damn that’s quite a bit for a journal.” I thought.
I had never spent more than $5 on a basic five-star notebook, so the sticker shock was indeed a bit real for my nervous system.
Even with that though, I still deep down inside felt the desire to make it mine so I proceeded with the purchase.
OUTLET FOR BURDENS
The following day I began writing out both my thoughts and feelings into each and every morning.
I was in a place within my life where I didn’t truly understand why the practice of doing so was so useful to me (on a logical level), however I didn’t overthink it as I just knew that it was helpful to where I was at (on an emotional level).
The year prior I had started and ended a short lived but very passionate relationship (which at the time had scarred me).
I also began supporting my mother financially, which I was appreciative of being in a place to be able to do (while at the same time I felt blindsided and helpless, harboring feelings of resentment as I felt I didn’t have any other choice but to).
And also that same year, I experienced a complete breakdown in my physical, mental, and emotional well-being, which led me to seek support from a Naturopathic Doctor to regain my vitality.
A lot of new experiences and deep insights were born throughout that period for me.
One of which was the power in opening myself up to be truly seen and heard through the experience of working with the said Naturopath (who was also trained in coaching).
During that time together, it became clear to me how much I had been holding onto both mentally and emotionally, that I was afraid to truly look at.
I was used to being Superman, or the person that everyone came to when they had issues or problems in which they wanted advice or support with. However when it came to myself, I truly didn’t know how to receive the same. That was foreign to me.
I was the go-to guy. The guy who always appeared under control, willing to lend a hand, and trustworthy to the point where friends, family, and colleagues would come to me in order to experience a sense of relief within their own life struggles or challenges.
The purchasing and subsequently daily practice of journaling and freely sharing myself within it, was a new seed that was birthing many future seeds (which at the time I had zero awareness of).
DISCOVERING MY LOVE FOR WRITING
The more I continued journaling, the more I realized how much I loved writing.
It began with just enjoying the internal feeling of the peace that was created inside of me when I did write (which at the time was all I was generally in search of – inner peace).
However, the more I continued, the more I realized there was something even deeper that wanted to be communicated through me.
I wanted to share my experiences, learnings, mistakes, challenges, and the whole gamut of what I recognized was the human experience for me up until that point.
I soon began reading many articles and blogs from different writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs all over the world who's stories I felt I could resonate with.
The more this occurred the more an internal nudge showed up within myself to equally do the same.
When there weren’t any football home games on the schedule that I wasn’t responsible for hosting prospects or seeing clients at, I would go to a local coffee shop a few blocks away from my condo.
There I would listen to deep house music and write out whatever was present and on the mind for me at that time.
Later that same year I ultimately chose to resign from my corporate career with the intention of supporting others around stress management.
Since I had experienced a complete 180 shift within my own health and mindset, something profoundly shifted for me, to the point that I knew within my whole entire being that God was calling me forth to step into that more outwardly supportive lane myself.
THE BIRTH OF MY FIRST BLOG
A few months post-resignation, while laying on my sister’s sofa after traveling throughout Europe and South America on a solo backpack trip, I fired open my laptop and began writing what became my very first blog.
Its title – “Why I Left My Dream Job.”
1,700 total words.
From start to finish I wrote it in 38 minutes.
I felt a huge opening within my chest and whole entire body, both while writing it, as well as once complete.
I began shaking my shoulders and dancing as I stood up in the living room, full of both excitement and nervousness.
Excitement for what was just created within my words and the feeling that I experienced during that moment.
Nervousness around the thought of actually sharing it publicly.
“Where would I share it?”
“What if people don’t agree with what I say?”
“What if no one cares or even wants to read it?”
“What if my former employer is upset based on what I wrote?”
All these thoughts began penetrating through my mind until the point that I soon became mentally exhausted by them. I then chose to just stuff the writing, quieting down all of the internal noise that had kept buzzing in my head.
“Yea I’m not going to share this.”
A part of me felt safe and clear with those words at the time.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF SUPPORT AND COURAGE
A few months later I came across a Health Coach by the name of Megan Lyons. Upon sharing with her some of my story and how I transitioned out from my role with the NFL to now beginning the building of a coaching practice from scratch, she invited me to meet up with her at her office to talk further.
She herself was a former consultant for McKinsey & Company.
She herself had experienced a major breakdown in her health, and once she got back to balance, felt inspired to go into health coaching.
Our stories were pretty similar as we had each come from the #1 organizations and brands in our respective fields, to doing something completely different.
She was well ahead of me though as my journey was essentially very much in its infancy.
After chatting with her she asked if I was a writer.
Curious of why she asked, I then asked what led her to asking the question.
“You’re a really great communicator Brandon.”
“From how you reached out to me online as well as just in our conversation here today, you seem to have a very strong way with words.”
My heart exploded from her reflection of me.
During this time I felt so alone and isolated, as I had really just started writing in a more vulnerable way (aka putting myself out there), and I at this point didn’t have any direct friends or people in my circles who were doing the same.
I then shared my appreciation for her compliment and told her that I actually really loved writing and even wrote my first blog a few months prior.
“Awesome! Where is it? Can you send me the website link for it?”
“No because I haven’t shared it yet.” Stuttering a bit in my words.
“What is it called?” She responded back.
“Why I Left My Dream Job”
“Brilliant! Would you mind sending it to me?”
“Really??” I thought.
“Yes! I would love to read it.”
She continued.
“I’m getting ready to go out of town but give me until the end of next week and I’ll for sure have it read by then. I can even share my thoughts around it if you’d like.”
“I would love that!” I quickly responded. Seizing the opportunity to have someone else see what I had written.
Later the following week, I received an email back.
“You really got to share this Brandon; your voice is so needed at this time.”
“Obviously I can relate to your story, but there’s so many men who I know will be able to relate too.”
“Your experience and voice can help other men who feel stuck in a career that they too once felt was their dream, know that there’s another way.”
Megan then offered some suggested edits and told me how she would handle asking permission to use my previous organization's name and a photo of me on the field with a couple other executives (which I thought would be a great one as the cover image for the blog).
Shortly after this I made the edits and received permission from both executives in the photo to use it on my website.
I then posted it.
To this day it’s still one of the most viewed articles on my website.
Since then I’ve written and published over a 100 blog articles and have supported men from all around the world on creating greater mental clarity and focus within their lives, via 1:1 coaching and men’s groups.
Some men even communicated that it was that past writing that led to them reaching out for said support from me, as they felt seen and no longer alone with what they had been internally battling within themselves.
WHAT IS GOD CALLING YOU TO MOVE TOWARDS?
Think about all the ripple effects that would not have been possible if I still had continued to hold back on what God wanted to convey through me.
I only mention this to come back to the title of this said writing for you to sit with:
“What Is God Calling You to Share or More Powerfully Step Into?”
Here’s three (3) questions for you to sit with around it:
1. What keeps showing up for you (even if you may try to suppress or pretend like it doesn’t during periods)?
2. What is it that you know from your lived experience that could be truly helpful for others who may have no idea (that you truly now know on a deep level, that comes easily for you)?
3. What possibilities could appear or rise by you planting a new seed towards whatever it is that is on your heart to be put out into the world (have fun with this, remember anything is possible)?
If what I’ve shared is speaking to you and something clear as day has internally sparked for you from the questions I’ve asked, I invite you to respond to this email with your answers to them.
The same way Megan offered a lending hand towards myself during a time where I needed it, if I’m able to do anything based on what you share on your end to me, I’m open to provide my version of that as a gift from me to you.
With Love,
Brandon
P.S. – Here’s the link (with the still exact photo I mentioned above) if you’d like to access and read the “Why I Left My Dream Job” writing.
Double P.S. Wondering what to do next? Here are a few ways we can stay connected:
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https://brandonbennett.com/mens-group
🙏🏿 💜