And suddenly you know. It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings. -Meister Eckhart

I lost everything. My mental stability. My spouse. My job. My sense of financial security. My world as I knew it had shattered into a million pieces.

I donated, trashed, and got rid of everything else, material wise, that was left. Clothes, shoes, furniture, etc. It was a lot. Why? I was so broken that I didn’t want anything to remind me of my former life. It was too painful.

There have been so many moments when I regretted this decision. Family and friends gently questioned if it was the best choice and if I was “losing my mind.” I wasn’t. I hadn’t. What was unfolding was I’d finally begun living for me and making my own decisions. No matter how insane it seemed to anyone else.

You see, downgrading and downsizing isn’t always negative. Strategically living below your means to reach your goals (because you no longer have the safety net of having a spouse who also makes a good living) is brave and inspiring. It has been so fun and liberating beginning anew!

To my surprise, I learned that there was a silver lining. I learned that with less, I actually have more. Most importantly, I learned that there is beauty beginning again at ground zero.

My advice to you is to take those million pieces and make a masterpiece.