In support of Walk to Work day on 1st April, Centre practitioner Marcus Matthews talks about how a walk can lead to some pretty significant moments in your life.

"We have all heard of the benefits of getting out of the car and cycling to work. We all know the benefits of slowing down and moving at a slightly slower pace by taking a walk.

Shropshire is a rural area and many people use the car to get to work, often we park in front of the office then go inside and don’t have time to just be.

When I was in the police I used to park my car 5 minutes from the station to give myself time to breathe, but that walk one day changed my life.

I document this journey in my book Drowning in Anxiety (available on Amazon) or from my website www.makeyourlifecount.co.uk/help, but now the sales pitch is done let me share with you that moment.

It was a cold December morning in 2019, I was on earlies and with Costa in hand I exited my car for my usual walk. Let’s pause there for a second and now rewind.

In August 2018 on the verge of suicide I broke, this moment would be pivotal on this very morning. Having broken free of PTSD and back on the beat, I had made a promise to never let anyone go through what I did. The mental health system was broken and I had experienced that and like the rebel I am had chosen an alternative method to get myself back on top, the method I now practice as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Transformation Coach.

All was not well though. Even though I was back doing the job I loved, the frustration of feeling like a caged animal and not living my true purpose of helping people was becoming a heavy load on my back and as I walked through my career when really I wanted to run, leap and serve, I had come to a junction in my life.

In 2019, frustrated with my situation I started working with a coach, who had this simple yet effective tool to give you a sign to ask the universe what to do. I spoke with my coach and she told me to pick an object, then ask the universe to show me that object, to indicate if I should leave the police and follow my passion to help people with Anxiety and PTSD.

“Universe show me a sign of a grey speckled feather, to tell me whether I should leave the police to become a full-time therapist, show this or something better - it is done”.

Sceptical I went along with it and forgot all about the session and got on with my day to day life.

Back to the story.

Tired with coffee in hand I started my walk, it was dry but being December it was cold, but the cold on my face in the early morning was welcoming.

As I crossed the road near Morris Lubricants in Shrewsbury, I felt my lace tapping against my foot, once on the pavement, I placed my cup on the floor, knelt down and half asleep tied up my shoelace and then it happened.

For some reason, I looked to my right and on the floor was the biggest grey feather with speckles I had ever seen.

It was like time stood still. WTF (I think you know what that stands for), I went cold.

It was decision time. I took a photo of the feather, sent it to my coach with no words.

She replied back “OMG – decision time”.

I went to work with the feeling of being guided, my head said one thing but my heart was yelling at me.

That night I wrote my resignation letter and handed it in the next day.

The rest as they say is history.

The lesson – sometimes slowing down and being present in a moment can offer you a gift.

Why don’t you consider a #walktoworkday, you never know it might be the best walk you ever took.

If you are looking to walk out of the Valley then why not check out my 5 week empowerment course Stepping Out of the Valley at http://steppingoutofthevalley.com

If you are looking for a personal guide then feel free to contact me via the Integral Health Website or find out more at www.makeyourlifecount.co.uk

You can even start your own manifestation journey where I teach you how to communicate with that higher power at http://the.universehasmyback.com "