John is a forty-something man who considered himself to be a cautious person. 'Truth was he lived his life through a lens of fear, like many of us. He spent 25 years in the same career and stayed there because he thought it was "the right thing to do." It wasn't that he was terribly unhappy or hated his job. He stayed because of the fear of doing something new and risking his financial security. In the background though was the nagging feeling that life was not as satisfying as it could be. Secure, sort of. Vital? Definitively no.

John's employer decided to downsize and close the office. He was faced with making a choice. Relocate to Atlanta and keep his financially secure corporate job or stay in Charleston, South Carolina and create something new. Relocation was not an option but the underlying fear, despite a generous severance package, was at the forefront of John's life. He decided to start searching for another corporate job much like the one he had before.

Around the same time, John learned he had a potentially life threatening illness. He was diagnosed with lung cancer. John was stopped cold. Now not only was he anxious about his career, he was potentially facing his own mortality. He quickly had major surgery to remove a tumor and, as it turns out, an entire lung.

Running in the background was the feeling that lung cancer was more than a fluke of his body; maybe that tumor was literally an outgrowth of a greater imbalance in his life. Looking back, that feeling was deep knowing. What was really at question was the willingness to risk to do something about it.

'Turns out, that nagging feeling during his corporate days was his heart. John wanted to make some sort of contribution, but he had no idea where to begin. He didn't want to simply move back into a familiar, corporate job but thought that he would require health benefits going forward. After a few months of improved heath, John simply made a decision.

"I decided to concentrate on my heart's desire rather than my fears. I had a major health challenge and realized that what was important to me six months earlier - a corporate job and money - no longer had as much relevance in my life. It was more important to discover what I could contribute to other people, however unknown that might be at the beginning," John said. Wanting a structure and some support, he contacted Paula Sellars and enrolled in The Cliff Jumping Program.

"Cliff Jumping has taught me to take some risks. It's been a process of looking for what takes care of me fundamentally, going with that, and being OK with not knowing the outcome." John decided to finish a college degree in Business Management that had been on hold for more than 20 years. He has delighted in being a student again, even though his financial future remains in question. "I have learned to trust myself and live in present time. That in itself is a huge shift! Cliff Jumping has taught me to make choices from my intentions rather than my fears. And that goes for my career, my relationships, my finances and my health. My intentions have become the source of my security."

"What's great is I still don't know exactly what my next career is going to be, but everyday I get a little closer to knowing. I am delighted with the discovery, and especially the synchronicity as people come into my life to help me distill my ideas. My next career may be outside the corporate environment," John explained. At the same time, John feels confident that if his path leads him back to corporate America, he'll be better equipped this time. He knows his personal satisfaction will lead his choices.

"I am learning to trust my intuition more, and to trust that those nagging feelings are actually my desires pulling me along. The contribution I'll be making will be helping others uncover and live their own heart's desire. I know it's what I'm to be doing, possibly as a consultant in business. Looking back, this has been the common theme throughout all the transformational work I have done. I've learned that we have to personally live first what we ultimately have to teach."