~All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without benefit of experience~ Henry Miller

It came in a flash of genius, a burst of pure white light. Teetering on the cusp of an epiphany, the vision shone so brightly it was undeniably crystal clear. In a brilliant moment, I saw the truth of my destiny and followed my path with full conviction.

I wish I could state this was true, that I experience spontaneous explosions of clarity and vigorously chase my newborn dreams. It reads so perfectly like a storybook romance. But the reality is the majority of decisions in my life have been a slow brewing phenomenon, a restless undercurrent beneath shimmering calm waters that erupts in super slow motion.

Fear is the killer of dreams and imagination. We all get that spark for a new bold adventure, idea or endeavor – that fleeting moment where your heart speaks before your mind. It happens in love, travel, career and other milestone events. You’re initially captured by the moment and it takes your breath away. Your natural instinct is to go for it, the voyage into the unknown. Adrenaline rushes through your veins as you feel alive and energized. You feel it in your gut and every fiber of your body. All feeling, no thinking. But then the power switch clicks on in your head and the mind takes over as fear takes hold and dominates your senses, bringing all these wonderful feelings to a grinding halt.

But succumbing to our fears robs us of living in the moment. Spontaneity tunes us into our total being and allows us to proceed with feeling before the mind corrupts our process flow. You are free of structure, of your hardened beliefs that weighs you down and throws caution to the wind. It is a liberating sensation, but only truly enjoyed when you trust your judgment and open yourself to the world.

Being spontaneous starts with putting our fears to the side and suspending your beliefs. Jump out of your comfort zone. Once we realize all the things we have become attached to dominate our inner dialogue and create fear, we can free ourselves of structure as this is how we grow and evolve. It starts with the first step so take a leap into the unknown as magical things await.