One year ago, I had just opened a meditation studio in the commercial district of my neighborhood in Atlanta. I was living in my teeny sub-500ft ‘career transition’ apartment, and I needed a space to work with clients and teach my meditation course. I was so excited to finally have a place of my own to teach, host workshops, and hold weekly group meditations. I re-signed a lease at my teeny apartment, which was in an ideal location and also fit my budget, given the expenses of the commercial space.

1 month after I re-signed at my apartment, new neighbors moved in above me. A woman, her boyfriend, and their full-sized dog, all living in 487 square feet above me. She worked nights and I heard her coming home every night at 2am. They also had, um, quite an active ‘romantic connection’ that also occurred at 2am. I heard everything. The universe was sending me a sign to start house-hunting.

2 months later, a new business moved in next door to my meditation studio. They played really loud music as part of their business model, and I could also hear every word they said. I closed down the studio for 2 weeks as I spent a fortune on soundproofing, which ultimately made very little difference. My students were complaining, and I too found it really difficult to teach meditation in that environment. I felt trapped.

Meanwhile, the house hunting was extremely frustrating and stressful. My first offer fell through due to inspection issues. I found another house in my price range that also fell through. The market was at its peak, and the competition and pricing were absurd. I had a friend willing to sublet my apartment starting April 1, and I was leaving the country for a month at the end of March, so I felt a huge time pressure to get a house fast.

I was a basket case. At some point, it all came to a head, and I realized something- I’m going about it all wrong! In a flash, I knew what to do- if I left my apartment, and if I was able to get out of my studio lease due to the noise, I could combine those two expenses and look for a much nicer rental house and teach out of my home! Once I set my mind to something, there’s no stopping me, and things moved FAST. I found an adorable house in my neighborhood, got out of the studio lease, and my friend took over my apartment lease. I moved into my house 4 days before my big trip, and I haven’t looked back! I now have a separate, peaceful space to teach meditation, and I get to live in the cutest house with no one above me (other than acorns landing on the roof!).

What’s the moral of the story? I spent so much energy, time, and money resisting what was actually happening in my life, instead of seeing it as an opportunity. The signs were clear that I needed to make changes, and I was missing them. Everything shifted once I moved into my new house: my meditation teaching business was booming, my personal life snapped into place, I was sleeping like a baby, and I was able to direct my energy into growth rather than resistance. Looking back, it is amazing to see how the universe was organizing to bring me something much better. A lot of destruction had to occur along the way, but that’s what often has to happen before creation can occur (much like a forest fire clears the way for new growth).  

Whenever life seems to be conspiring against us, on a micro or macro level, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Is it possible that something bigger is happening, something that ultimately will be much more rewarding and enjoyable? It helps to have a story like mine to remind us that everything happens for a reason. For ALL reasons, actually. We just need to step out of our own way and embrace what is coming.