The other day I was looking through some books and found one that my mom gave me called The Change by Marianne Williamson. She gave this book to me while she and my dad were visiting me in London six years ago, at a time that my life looked very different than it does now…

At that time, I was really a bit of a mess and didn’t know what I was doing in my life. I was still trying to move past a quarter-life crisis and find my passion, and I was honestly sick of feeling like everything was such a struggle. In fact, my parents had decided to visit me on a whim because they’d intuitively felt that something was wrong.

And yep, they were right. I cried at dinner practically every night during my parents’ visit because I was feeling so frustrated and embarrassed by where I was at in my life.

I remember having a “meeting” with my dad before he flew back home where I had to swallow my pride and ask him to borrow $5000 because I didn’t have any money…

That was a really difficult time…

Thankfully, I didn’t give up and I held onto the feeling that there was something bigger in store for me. I kept the faith and continued taking steps forward in spite of the frustration and the struggle, which eventually led to me discovering coaching and starting my business.

Just recently, when I opened the book that my mom gave me during that visit years ago, I found this treasure of a note inside that she’d written that I hadn’t seen when she first gave me the book. Here it is:

I found this note nearly six years to the day it was written. It was a reminder to me of how massively my life has changed since I was that girl crying at dinner. It also was a reminder that even now that I’m running a 7-figure business, there are times when I’ll need to remember to keep looking forward and trusting that things will work out as they’re meant to.

I’ve learned that no matter where I’m at in my life and biz, no matter how much my business grows and my dreams become reality, there will still be challenges and growing pains. And it’s so important to remind ourselves that we each have a greater purpose here and the obstacles and challenges are there to help us learn, grow and become an even stronger and fuller version of who we’re meant to be.

I love the quote by Napoleon Hill in his book Think and Grow Rich with Peace of Mind that says:

“Every adversity has a seed of either equal or greater value or benefit.”

To me, that quote along with my Mom’s note is another reminder that it’s so important to have faith and keep moving forward no matter what, because even the most difficult moments are setting you up for something really special…

You may not see it just yet, but on the other side of the struggle there are hidden treasures – huge breakthroughs, major lessons, massive clarity – all just waiting for you to discover them.

So lovely, no matter where you’re at in your life at this moment – whether you’re more of the “hot mess” like I was or you’re on your way to your dreams – when challenges come up and things feel less than stellar, you have to remember that you have a purpose in this life and that your dreams are within your heart for a reason.

Your dreams are possible, lovely. You have to have faith and keep taking steps forward no matter what. And when you persist and press on toward your dreams, get ready to discover the treasures that await you because believe me, they’re there.

I’ve seen my life transform beyond recognition in just a few years, and I’ve seen my dreams become my reality. As I always say, I’m just a girl from Ohio with really big dreams and if I can transform my life and create a business that I love, I know you can too.