Risk, Cost, and Severance: My Journey Toward Purpose

February 11, 2025

I wasn’t looking for a profound revelation when I sat down to meditate. In fact, I was just seeking some quiet—some space to breathe and settle my restless thoughts. But as I began, three words entered my mind: risk, cost, and severance.

At first, they felt heavy, even oppressive. Each one carried a weight I couldn’t immediately define, but they were burdensome enough to make me question whether I even wanted to explore them. Yet, something urged me to lean in. What followed was one of my life’s most emotional healing experiences—a vision that shifted my entire perspective.

I found myself standing in the most breathtaking view of the universe. It wasn’t just a view; it was an experience. The vastness, beauty, and silence were unlike anything I could have imagined. And there, standing beside me with his arm around mine, was God.

He didn’t say much at first. He didn’t need to. The love and peace radiating from him were enough to calm every fear, every doubt. We stood together, looking out at the infinite expanse, and I felt a sense of belonging and purpose that I had never felt so clearly before.

Then those three words—risk, cost, severance—came back. But this time, they didn’t feel heavy. Instead, they felt like gifts.

Risk: The Courage to Live Fully Aligned

When I first heard the word “risk,” my mind immediately jumped to fear. Risk meant the unknown, the possibility of failure, the chance that things might fall apart. But as I stood there with God, he reframed it for me.

“The risk,” he said, in the most loving tone, “is that you will live fully aligned to your purpose. The risk is stepping into the truth of who I created you to be. The risk is that you will succeed—not by the world’s standards, but by mine.”

It hit me like a wave. I’ve spent so much of my life afraid of being fully seen—afraid that if I spoke my truth too boldly, I would lose people, opportunities, or approval. But in that moment, I realized that the only real risk is staying small, denying the voice inside me that has been calling me to something greater.

When I look back on my journey, I see this theme over and over. Losing my son Drew was the greatest heartbreak of my life. It shattered me. And yet, that loss became the catalyst for everything I’ve done since—for the writing, the speaking, the sharing. Every time I’ve taken the risk to show up, to be vulnerable, to share Drew’s story, it has brought healing from loss—not just for me but for others.

The risk of living fully aligned is the risk of being fully alive. And isn’t that what we’re here for?

Cost: The Price of Purpose

The next word, “cost,” was one I didn’t want to face. It reminded me of everything I’ve lost—relationships, opportunities, parts of myself that I thought I couldn’t live without. But again, God shifted my perspective.

“The cost,” he said, “is to deny the distractions and focus on the eternal. The cost is to walk this path even when it feels lonely. The cost is to face judgment, knowing that it doesn’t define you.”

That was a hard truth to swallow. I’ve faced judgment before—both from others and from myself. When I decided to write about grief, emotional healing, about expanding beyond pain, there were voices (some external, some internal) that told me it wasn’t my place, that I wasn’t qualified, that I was too broken to lead this conversation.

But the cost of ignoring my calling was far greater than the cost of facing that judgment.

In the weeks and months after Drew’s passing, I often wondered if I could keep going. The grief was so overwhelming, the pain so raw. But in the midst of that darkness, there was a quiet voice that kept urging me forward. It reminded me that there was something eternal at stake—not just for me, but for the people I could reach if I chose to share my story of healing from loss.

The cost of purpose isn’t about loss but prioritizing what matters most. It’s about saying yes to the things that align with your soul and no to everything that doesn’t.

Severance: The Gift of Freedom

The word “severance” was the heaviest of the three. It sounded like an ending, a cutting off, a loss. But in my meditation, God revealed it as something entirely different.

“Severance,” he said, “is not about what you’re losing. It’s about what you’re gaining. It’s about releasing everything that no longer serves you so you can step fully into who you are meant to be.”

I realized at that moment that there are so many things I already want to be free from—fear, self-doubt, the need for approval, the weight of other people’s expectations. Severance isn’t about pain; it’s about liberation.

There have been so many moments in my life when I’ve had to let go. After Drew’s death, I had to sever my attachment to the idea that emotional healing meant returning to “normal.” Healing isn’t about going back; it’s about moving forward.

Severance is about freedom—freedom to grow, to heal, to live fully. And while it can feel like a loss at the moment, it always leads to something greater.

Expanding Beyond Grief

As I stood there in my meditation, looking out at the vastness of the universe, I felt an overwhelming sense of purpose. I knew, with absolute certainty, that I was created for this moment—for this message.

Grief is often seen as a limitation, a weight we carry for the rest of our lives. But I believe it’s so much more than that. Grief is a teacher, a guide, a portal to personal growth and connection.

When I speak about grief, I want people to know that it’s not the end of the story. It’s the beginning of a new chapter—one filled with beauty, meaning, and possibility.

Yes, grief is painful. But it’s also powerful. It can transform us, connect us, and expand our vision beyond what we thought was possible.

Stepping Into Purpose

As the meditation came to an end, I felt a deep sense of peace. I knew, without a doubt, that I was who I needed to be for this moment.

The risk is to live fully aligned.
The cost is to deny fear and embrace eternal truth.
The severance is to release what no longer serves and step boldly into purpose.

This is the path I was created to walk. And if you’re reading this, I believe it’s a path you’re also being called to walk.

We are here to heal, grow, and expand beyond our pain into the beauty of our purpose. By healing from loss and stepping into the fullness of our journeys, we unlock the truest version of ourselves.

God’s arm is around you, just as it was around me in that vision. He is guiding you, loving you, and reminding you that you are ready.

There is no other path. There is no other moment. This is your time.

So now, I ask you: What risk are you being called to take? What truth have you held back, waiting for the “right” moment to share? What is the cost of staying silent, of staying small? And what would it feel like to sever yourself from the fear, doubt, or expectations holding you back?

The invitation is here, right now, to align with your purpose—to risk living fully, to embrace the cost of transformation, and to sever ties with everything keeping you from your highest self. You don’t have to have all the answers or feel completely ready. Just take one step forward.

Trust that you are exactly where you need to be and that the risk, the cost, and the severance will lead you to a life far greater than you ever imagined. This is your moment to expand. Will you say yes?