The power of believing you deserve it

I used to believe the best things in life only came through struggle. Every decision involved endless analysis, constantly pushing hard to open doors and climbing mountains. It felt like it was the only way to achieve anything worthwhile.

Looking back, I wonder why. Maybe it was my small-town upbringing, where the future felt limited. Maybe it was a defense mechanism, a way to shield myself from potential hurt and a desire for control. 

Whatever the reason, I’m an over-analyzer. The simplest task can spiral into paralysis. It drives my husband crazy. He walks into a store, skims the options, picks up what he wants, and leaves. I have to scrutinize everything to make sure I’m picking the PERFECT item.

Ironically, some of my biggest life decisions were made quickly and intuitively. Like moving overseas multiple times – choices that felt right deep down. Not that those journeys were easy, I still managed to overcomplicate them and get hung up on details. 

It was only recently I learned life didn’t have to be that way.

This all started to shift with our first rental home together. We had a specific vision – a fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows, on the ground floor with a split layout. Finding it felt like fate. My future husband stumbled upon the ad on Facebook the morning before a trip. The landlord waited for us to return. He then waited for us to be able to move in, instead of giving it to one of the many other interested parties. It was as if the universe conspired for us to have it.

This experience sparked a realization: sometimes, simply wanting something, being clear about it, and putting it out there is enough.

We’d always joked about not moving until we found a place even better. 

My husband was raised in a tight-knit community in New Jersey and we’d often wished we could find a similar place in the south. Vacationing in Florida during winter made us realize how much we wanted warmer weather. One morning, I stumbled upon a YouTube video showcasing a charming village in North Carolina. “Have you ever been to Pinehurst?” I asked. His answer? “I’d love to live there.” And just like that, we were moving. (Yes, I hadn’t even seen it yet!)

We dove headfirst into making it happen. Packing began within the week of coming home from vacation. We found a realtor, started the house-buying process, and secured movers (they picked a random day – it just happened to be my birthday!).

In February I saw Pinehurst for the first time (and only time before the day we closed on our house). Karl says my eyes were sparkling when I drove into the village that day. I still feel that sparkle. With a month left, Karl quit his job, and despite not having a house, we held onto our vision.

Finally, with just 3.5 weeks to go, we did a video tour of a new build in an established neighborhood, one block from the lake. It was a random choice, a “drop a pin” decision based on my heart being pulled to that area of the map. We made an offer, but negotiations and getting the final contract in place dragged on. Here’s where my old ways snuck back in. Difficulty felt like validation, a twisted sign we were on the right track. Thankfully, I recognized this limiting belief and it was time to work on letting it go. I could let it be easy.

The Friday before moving day, we closed on our house (which was the first time we saw it other than the video tour). Our realtor said she had never had a closing that went so easily, especially with the short timeline.

When my parents visited, my mum said it was the house I had drawn a picture of as a child. We adore our house and our already large community. Life is beautiful, and it keeps getting better.

What does this have to do with intermittent fasting? Because that’s where it started. That’s where I achieved the goal I had had from childhood, where I learned to believe it could come true and trust in the process. It was the ability to maintain that weight loss for years that lead me to realize anything is possible. I can let go of limiting beliefs, and I can trust that things will work out.

Creating a better life starts with believing you can do it.  Believe in the results, clear the mindset hurdles that hold you back, and make the necessary changes. 

Live life. Love life. And most importantly, stop creating hurdles for yourself.