I sold reality TV shows. Then I stopped.

I started a biz that broke even. I shut it down.

I said I'd always rent. Now I'm a landlord.

I thought I'd be buried in LA. Now I live in Oregon.

... and I'm happier than ever.

The changes that occurred in my life from getting off of the track I was on have been hugely positive, and I'm thankful for all of them.

(Though, being friends with me must be like having whiplash.)

All of these life changes that must have seemed big from the outside had a pattern:

• The status quo of my life would seem off kilter for a while.

• An event would make me see that I wanted something different.

• I would immediately stop, and change tracks.

Cue the struggle and hard things necessitated by changing direction.

Of course I had doubts, but all of these things seemed risky not to do.

What if I never found the work I'm meant to do? What if I never found the best place for me to live?

All of these changes required me to stop.

• To stop being certain things.

• To stop identifying with certain aspects of my identity.

• To stop believing certain things.

So maybe ask yourself: Is there something I want to stop?

I shut my business down because an off-hand remark gave me permission. "You know... you don't need to keep doing that."

When you stop you will get to grow and change.

You can stop, and something new can take place.

"You know... you don't need to keep doing that."