The Possibilitarian Project is more than a blog series, it’s a movement. Because when you step forward as a Possibilitarian — and share the truth about how you created your beautifully messy, magnificently complicated & exquisitely joyful life and career — you give everyone else permission to dream bigger, be braver, and create what they want. And just like that, the impossible simply . . . . . isn’t.
I have to nominate Tiffany, not only because she is so talented, has built a reputation as an exceptional photographer, is very professional to work with yet a sheer delight, has created a beautiful website and thriving business, but has accomplished all of that and so much more with a severely disabled child. For me, this would be an insurmountable obstacle that emotionally I am not certain I could ever personally rise above or ever be capable of. She has achieved so much while up against daily struggles, yet remains inspiring and gives to so many others. She is most certainly a Possibilitarian.
Get ready to be inspired....
::Roots::
Who were you before you became a Possibilitarian? What was your ‘early’ career, or ‘previous life’?
Before I let go and became a "possibilitarian," I was very much a prisoner to judgement, criticism and putting the needs and wants of people I didn't even know ahead of my own family and friends. It was very much a life lesson I had to learn to leave the negative rut I was in in my late twenties and early thirties to become the self-confident and independent person I am now. I had several independent small business before my current career, and I believe I was not successful as I am now due to the fact that I had not really lived my passion but tried to "fit the mold" of what a wife, mother and young woman was meant to do.
::Dreams::
What did you (secretly) long for, in that previous life?
In my PPL (pre-possibilitarian life :) I secretly longed to let my real personality show without the fear of judgement. I am a little quirky. I wanted to be able to wear a vintage prom dress to the grocery store. I wanted to wear flowers in my hair and walk my donkeys to the local park. I dreamt of an identity larger than that of wife and mother. For the longest time I told myself that was very selfish of me to think. Why wasn't being a wife and mother good enough? What I didn't realize at the time was that it was completely good enough, but a part of my soul was being neglected – my creative passion. It was a volcano wanting to explode inside of me, the lava bubbling to the surface, needing release.
::Moment of Truth::
Was there a pivotal moment when everything shifted? What happened?
Yes. Most Definitely. You see, my home situation was a little different from most. A wife at the age of 20, a mother at the age of 23, it wasn't until my second child was born that our lives took a direction we could not possibly anticipate. Our youngest child was born with a disorder called Rett Syndrome. She is confined to a wheelchair, has dibilitating seizures, is non-verbal and eats through a feeding tube. Out of such tragedy came several gifts. The most important was unconditional love. Both the kind she has for me, and I have for her. The other gift has been perspective. The kind you gain when you live everyday with a child that truly has nothing to live for, yet can manage to wake up cheerful and have a smile on her face. It is a miraculous thing to witness and has brought my own life to a place where possiblity now rules. It has taught me that no matter how rough the road may be that you have a choice in the situation, even when there seems not to be any choice.
I stopped living in fear of judgement because one thing my daughter has taught me is there is no time to waste. I started to allow myself to change dreams into real concepts, rooted in the fact that the only failure was if I let my own cowardice hold me back. I also knew that if I was to be the best mother and wife I could be, that I must care about my own happiness and not just that of my husband and children. It is a very fine balance to find, but as the matriarch it is also our duty to teach our family how to nurture others as much as we nurture them. I wanted to have a creative career, to take a hobby and turn it into something bigger. I wanted the world to experience life through my eyes. I started wearing vintage prom dresses anywhere I wanted and if people teased me I shrugged it off. But mostly people embraced me. They could feel the happiness it brought to me, and it propelled them to take their own risks without fear of judgement.
::Courage::
When that pivotal moment arrived, how did you gather the courage to cross the threshold into a Possibilitarian life & career?
Quite honestly, I believe I had an "ah ha" moment. It just clicked for me one day when I went to get my daughter out of bed in the morning, after a night where seizures had kept her awake half the night. I bent down and she beamed up at me with the biggest smile. I thought to myself "how dare i have a bad day today!?!?!" After her body had been ravaged all night long, she still could find happiness in the morning. It changed my attitude right then and there. I decided not to let the small things irritate me as much and to start dwelling in possibility. I just decided to change my mindset!
::Change::
How has your life changed since then?
The biggest change in my life has been rather cliche, but it is to live in the moment and not put anything off for later. I decided to take a passion of mine and turn it into a business, fufilling a long time goal of mine to share my photography with people. Within my new career I have found my bliss, not just taking pretty pictures but encouraging others to see themselves as beautiful.
The other big change has been attitude for me. Remember when i said everything has a choice? Well I firmly believe that about your own happiness as well. Even when things go wrong, I can choose how to react to it, whether or not I let it consume me, or if I allow myself to let it go. It is inevitable that things will hurt you, make you mad or scare you to death. Overcoming each of these emotions instills pride and in turn creates happiness. One of my favorite sayings is "Don't let anyone rain on your parade," and I plan on having parades very often!!
::Awesomeness::
Where are you NOW? What have you created, what’s on the horizon, and how have you been applauded & recognized for your work? (This is your chance to brag away & BIG yourself up! Go for it!)
When I first launched my photography business, I decided to create a portfolio from the heart – to show people something truly reflective of me, so if they liked it they would be hiring me for who I am and not just for what I can do. Fortunately for me, it was extremely well received, and I have been very lucky enough to have been hired for my asthetic ever since, making my job very fun. I went from a hobby photographer 3 years ago to having been published in over 40 magazines, 4 different books (both in the US and the UK) and have been featured on major websites like Curbed National, Apartment Therapy and soon to be HGTV. While I absolutely love my commerical / editorial work, I still look forward to having private clientele as well. Each time someone tells me they love a photo of themselves that I have taken I feel so great that I was able to make them feel good about themselves.
::Advice::
What’s ONE piece of advice or encouragement you’d give to someone who’s facing their own pivotal moment, right now?
Don't hold back or fear that someone may not like what you are doing. If you love it and it makes you happy, people will feel your bliss and believe in you.
Thank you, Tiffany!
You can connect with Tiffany through
Facebook | Website | Blog
Do YOU know a brave, tender & wildly inspiring person . . . someone who has created their dream life & career, on their own courageous terms? Nominate them for The Possibilitarian Project!
You can connect with Tiffany through
Facebook | Website | Blog
Tiffany Kirchner Dixon Is a Possibilitarian...Are You?
Feel free to snag any and all of these for your sidebars. I just ask that you kindly link it to ThePossibilitarianProject.com so that others can join in the fun. Thank you!
Do YOU know a brave, tender & wildly inspiring person . . . someone who has created their dream life & career, on their own courageous terms? Nominate them for The Possibilitarian Project!
