After working in the land of corporate America for over 25 years, Renee Scheer knew something had to change. Her passion for creativity and desire to help people realize their dreams had come full force and she decided to risk it all to fly solo. Last year Renee found the courage to wave goodbye to the office cubicle that was slowly suffocating her, and swap her high heels and smart suits for the barefoot boho lifestyle she’d always dreamed of.
Now, as an artist, guide and facilitator of authenticity, Renee uses her own personal and business life experiences to help others find what they need to live passionately and joyfully. Renee is a certified life and spiritual coach and she has received several accolades for inclusiveness, leadership and creativity. Today she shares the truth about her journey towards doing what she loves…
Renee Scheer
“Recently I had a conversation with my father about doing what you love, being passionate about your work, and taking brave leaps to live a happier life. I was talking about why I chose to leave my corporate career and he said that the reason he never pursued his dream of becoming a sports journalist was because he felt it was too late.
As we were chatting I remembered exactly how I felt when I first told him I was going to quit. Even at 44-years-old I was worried about what he’d say and I was scared about disappointing him. Just as I predicted, he didn’t approve of my decision. He referred to it as a ‘mid-life crisis’ and tried to convince me that sometimes in life you just have to do things you don’t like to do. I found myself defending my situation more and more aggressively and it was then, in that very moment, that I discovered something completely new about myself. I realized that I’d finally reached a point in my life where I didn’t need my dad’s approval – or anyone else’s. After all this was my life and only I GET to choose how I live it.
Today, as I pursue my creative dreams and embrace the uncertainty of life, it’s easy to question the choices I make every day. It’s only natural to wonder: ‘am I doing the right thing?’ or ‘am I making a big mistake?’ We all want to know that we are going to be ok. We all want to know that we are going to survive. We all want to know that we are going to be happy. We all want to know that we are not going to have regrets. And we all want reassurance that no matter what, everything is going to work out for the best.
When we wake up each morning we can either choose to believe that we are well and that everything is going to be fine or we can go about our daily business carrying along the burdens of worry, fear, sadness and anger. The truth is that sometimes, because of our situation or circumstances, it’s hard to believe what we want to believe. It can be easier to go that place of negativity and despair. We are only human after all. But we must remember that within us all there lies something bigger: our spirit. Our spirit is our place of truth and knowing; our place of safety and comfort; our place of truth and guidance; and our place of HOPE.
When I made the choice to leave the corporate world I knew deep within my soul that it was because I wanted something more. I wanted to feel fulfilled and free. I wanted to be able to do what I love on my own terms. I wanted to be a full-time artist and share what I’ve learned over the years with others. Not only that, but working in an office environment was no longer a match for my energy. I’d overcome the need to feel safe and secure within a big company. I was becoming increasingly unhappy in my role and I was drained by my new boss and his arrogant, passive aggressive manner. It was time to move on.
Diving into unknown territory and working for myself was a huge risk. I had no idea what I was doing and as a single person, I had no other source of income to fall back on.
So here I am today, learning to swim, treading deep waters, and choosing every day whether I am going to continue to swim, or allow myself to sink! This is an interesting metaphor for me because I literally can’t swim – I never learned. And yet now I’m swimming in an ocean of uncertainty, learning new skills every day. Each day, each moment, is a choice as I consider what’s next. I constantly ask myself: ‘Am I going to dance with my dreams or am I going to be afraid?’ Many times I’ve thought: ‘I must be crazy thinking I can do this. I don’t know the first thing about working for myself, I have no idea how to sell ME.’ I’ve asked myself: ‘What makes me so special? What if I don’t make any money? What if I fail? What if this is a huge mistake? What if I gave up the security I had for nothing? And then, I remember. I reach into that place of hope and I think about why I made this decision in the first place. I made it because I believed I could do it, and that I would be ok.
As I’ve been living my dream and connecting with my true self, I’ve remained open to possibilities – to other ways of making money and to new opportunities that could enhance my human experience. These ‘new opportunities’ have manifested in all sorts of ways. For example, taking a part-time job in a local health food market where I’m surrounded by fun, free-spirited, happy people and the loveliest customers around! It came at the perfect time as after locking myself in my art studio for a couple months, I was starting to miss interacting with people like I used to. Plus it removed some of the pressure I’d put on myself to make money from my art straight away.
In truth, when I first took the job, I felt a bit ashamed. I dreaded bumping into anyone I knew – especially anyone I used to work with – in case they thought I’d failed. The feeling I had reminded me of my dad, and how initially he’d disapproved of my decision to go it alone. It took a lot of soul searching for me to get over this and while it’s not my dream to work here long-term, I understand that this it’s all part of my journey. Yes, it’s not my life passion or dream but it’s a stepping-stone to something bigger and I really enjoy it. I’m making new friends, meeting new people, networking, and earning some extra money. It is simply a choice. And it’s a choice I am very happy with.
I’ll never regret having the courage to follow my passion. There will always be ups and downs, twists and turns, and even the odd roadblock, but I know that my spirit is working with me to grow and expand and for that I am extremely grateful. No matter what choices I make each day, I trust that I am supported and that I am working for my highest good. I will continue to make art, I will continue to teach and coach and I will continue to remain open to all other possibilities along the way. Knowing what’s inside of you, trusting, being vulnerable, and believing in your own power… this is living, this is feeling, this is the human experience.”
To find out more about Renee visit her website or connect with her on Facebook.
