Have you ever felt a gentle nudge—or a scream—of dreams you’ve set aside, held back by fear, doubt, or that inner voice saying, “You’re not enough”? If you know my story, you know I’ve been there—shocked into the reality of watching life pass by, paralyzed by the “what ifs” and “not yets,” living what I call an unlived life, where every tick of the clock feels like a reminder of what I haven’t done, a sting especially painful for midlife women like us. I heard a haunting quote that might jolt some hearts awake (I’m paraphrasing here): “Hell is dying as you are and coming face-to-face with the person you could have been.”

But for me, the real wake-up call—the one that shook me to my core—was imagining arriving in heaven, the joy and relief overwhelming as I’m bathed in God’s radiant light—whew, I made it! God comes to me, His smile warm, and congratulates me, “Well done, my child, welcome to Heaven.” Then, with a gentle touch, He turns me to walk beside Him, His arm resting on my shoulder as He asks, “But tell me, what did you do with the life I gave you while on Earth?” That question became my turning point—I couldn’t waste another second dreaming without living. God designed you for a soulful, vibrant life, and He’s calling you to turn in your ticket—salvation’s just first base, not the home run. We’ll see what God has to say about it, I’ll share some metaphors to stir your imagination, give you an exercise to spark your own turning point, and throughout, I’ll share how I stopped striking out on my own dreams to get you started. Let’s step up to bat together!

God’s Call to Account

The Bible reminds us that salvation isn’t a free pass to sit on the bench—it’s the start of a journey where we’re accountable for how we play the game. In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus teaches us to steward what we’ve been given wisely (Matthew 25:14-30). A master entrusts his servants with talents, and when he returns, he rewards those who invested theirs but casts out the one who buried his out of fear. God’s given us gifts—don’t bury them! Romans 14:12 drives it home: “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” And 2 Corinthians 5:10 adds, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” Salvation gets you to first base—safe! But the home run is living out God’s purpose for you, not just sliding in with a “Whew, I made it!”

My Wake-Up Call

That moment sitting on my bed, flipping through my old journals, was my wake-up call. So many regrets, so many unlived dreams and hopes stared back at me. I said, “Holy sh*t, no more!” I’m in my 50s—I couldn’t spend the next half of my life as miserable as the first, sitting on my deathbed regretting all the opportunities, missed moments, and memories that were right within my grasp. I’d let them slip away because of fear, doubt, and feelings of unworthiness. Time isn’t forgiving; it’s neither friend nor foe—it’s neutral, and we make of it what we will. Up until that point, time was my enemy, but from that moment forward, time became my friend, urging me, “Wait no more,” and shifting my focus from running around chasing time, worrying about what time it is, to settling in and asking, “What is this time for?” I’d been running my performance school for 8 years, and it had derailed my health—body, mind, and spirit. Reclaiming my life showed me you don’t need a crisis to turn things around—you just need to decide to claim the life you were made for, Leading Lady style!

A Ticket to Your God-Designed Life

Your life is like a claim ticket you get from the coat room or the valet—you have to turn it in to receive the vibrant, soulful life God designed for you, a life that serves you, others, and the greater good. “Desire”—from the Latin de sire, “of the Sire”—means those deep, godly yearnings are His design for you. Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” But you’ve got a choice: turn in your ticket or toss it in the trash. Leave it unclaimed, and you’re stuck freezing without your coat or walking miles without your car—still yours, but unclaimed. Don’t let regret define you; choose to turn in your ticket for the life waiting for you.

Release to Receive

You can’t grab your coat without handing over the ticket, and you can’t receive your God-designed life without releasing what holds you back. Pain, trauma, or limiting beliefs might have helped you survive once, but do they serve you now? Galatians 2:20 reminds us, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Die to the old self—victim mindsets, unhealthy habits—and be reborn. As Jesus says in Matthew 9:17, new wine needs new wineskins; your new life needs a fresh heart.

Tip: Reflect on what you’re clinging to—fear, guilt, an outdated story? Name it, then let it go for what’s yours.

Dickens Process: See Your Future

The Dickens Process, inspired by Tony Robbins, helps you break free by facing the stakes. Close your eyes and imagine:

• Past: How have limiting beliefs (e.g., “I’m not enough”) shaped your life and affected others in your life? Feel the weight of missed moments of regret.
• Present: Where are you today? How have those past decisions and beliefs gotten you where you are now? How are they affecting the ones you love now?
• Future: Fast-forward 5 or 10 years, unclaimed ticket in hand. See the regret—strained relationships, faded health, a life not lived.
• Now, imagine claiming your ticket: vibrant, purposeful, inspiring loved ones with your strength.

This vision isn’t to shame—it’s to ignite your choice. God has given you a choice. Your time is now to flow toward your true self, the you God created you to be, not linger in regret.

Turn In Your Ticket

Metaphors make it sound simple, and the truth is clear: you were created for more. Don’t let your claim ticket gather dust until it’s too late—unclaimed coats turn threadbare, cars rust. Don’t just sit on the bench or stay at first base. There’s a day when time runs out, but if you’re reading this, that day isn’t today. Choose the good, surrender the old, and claim the life God designed for you. Will you turn in your ticket or walk away?

What’s Happens Next?

Being the Leading Lady is about claiming your life with grit and purpose. What happens next is joining my Leading Lady Experience to turn in your ticket and step into your God-designed life! When you join my Leading Lady Experience, you’ll get access to my Live group coaching along with full access to SPBTV—Your Holistic Living Network—holistic living classes and programs to help you act with the faith and grit God calls us to.  Rise, shine, claim with bold grace—because others are waiting!

And if you can’t wait until we launch, sign up for my newsletter for practical tips to nurture your body and soul, and tune into Sharise Uncut where I dish the truth on health, life, and everything in between. Subscribe and share as a Leading Lady to spread the love!—I’m here to cheer you on every step of the way!

By sharisep—inspired by a life of dreams and determination.