From Fog to Flight Series-Part 2: The Flicker

Holding Onto Light When You’re Surrounded by Darkness

If you’re jumping into the series today, welcome.

This post stands on its own, but it’s part of a bigger journey — one that mirrors what many of us go through when we start asking, “Is this really it?”

In Part 1, we met Marcus — a mid-30s father, partner, and provider — doing everything he thought he was supposed to do.

He worked hard. Showed up for his family. Kept the routine going.

But underneath the surface, he was emotionally exhausted, spiritually restless, and quietly burning out.

The job drained his energy.

The rhythm of his life no longer reflected the man he felt called to be.

And while he didn’t have full clarity, he had something small — something powerful.

He had a flicker.

A flicker of self-awareness.

A flicker of hope.

A flicker of belief that there had to be more.

And now, as Marcus begins to see his deeper desires — purpose, freedom, alignment — he’s faced with a new tension:

His environment no longer fits his vision.

The job, the conversations, the circle of influence — they reflect who he had to be to survive.

Not who he’s becoming.

And that’s where this chapter begins.

Because the moment you start waking up to what’s possible…

is also the moment you realize how misaligned your surroundings have become.

This is The Flicker — that delicate phase when your light is still fragile, but it’s real.

And the challenge is learning how to hold onto it… when everything around you tries to dim it.

🔦 What Is the Flicker?

It’s a strange kind of ache.

You’re doing everything you used to do — showing up, working hard, keeping it together — but deep down, you can feel it:

something’s changed.

That’s where Marcus found himself.

Still going to work. Still providing. Still being the steady one in his family.

But the routine that once felt necessary now felt unbearable.

The trade that once gave him purpose was now breaking down his body — and wearing on his spirit even more.

“I’ve got goals,” he told me. “A list of everything I want to do. But I don’t know where to start. I don’t even know what’s possible.”

Marcus had done life on his own for years — no roadmap, no real mentors, just a handful of lessons picked up from the few men who showed glimpses of integrity and strength.

He built what he could with what he had.

But now, standing in the quiet moments of his commute, he realized…

He was ready for something more — a life beyond burnout, one that felt aligned with the man he was becoming.

And he’s not the only one.

I remember having a moment like that myself — one of those quiet but undeniable signals that burnout in midlife was creeping in.

For me, it didn’t come in some dramatic breakdown. It showed up in the middle of my everyday life.

Work was getting harder to tolerate.

My spirit felt disconnected from the rhythm I was forcing myself to live.

I was still functioning, still doing all the things — but inside, something didn’t feel right anymore.

I didn’t have a name for it at the time.

I just knew I was restless, drained, and quietly wondering, Is this it?

That subtle realization — that knowing without yet knowing — is what we call the flicker.

It’s not full clarity.

It’s not a loud epiphany.

It’s a quiet shift inside that says:

“This isn’t working anymore.”
“I’m meant for more than this.”
“There has to be another way.”

It’s not always easy to explain. Sometimes, it’s hard to even admit — especially when everyone around you seems fine with the way things are.

But the flicker isn’t about your outer life just yet — it’s about your inner awakening.

It’s the earliest sign of emotional exhaustion, misalignment, or the soul-deep realization that you’re outgrowing your current reality.

It’s your values coming back into focus.

It’s your beliefs asking to be lived out loud.

It’s your soul tapping you on the shoulder and saying, “Don’t forget me.”

And that’s exactly where Marcus was.

He hadn’t changed anything on the outside — yet.

But inside, something was stirring.

He didn’t want just a better job.

He wanted to escape burnout and build a life that actually reflected who he was becoming —

A life where his peace was protected.

His values were honored.

His effort was meaningful.

And that’s where so many people find themselves:

Still in the dark… but starting to see the light.

That’s the flicker — the moment you begin to recognize that something more is possible,

even if you can’t see it clearly yet.

📝 Reader Journal Prompt:

What’s flickering inside you right now?

Is there a belief, desire, or truth that’s been quietly trying to get your attention?

Even if it’s unclear… even if it’s small… name it.

Write it down — not because you have to act on it today, but because it matters.

Because it’s real.

Because it’s yours.

🌪️ The Tension Between Vision and Reality

The flicker doesn’t come without friction.

Because once you start to see what’s possible, you also start to feel what’s not working.

You’ve probably felt it too — that dissonance between what’s rising inside you and what’s still around you.

Here’s how it often shows up:

👉🏽 You feel spiritually awake but emotionally exhausted

👉🏽 You believe in purpose, but your day-to-day feels meaningless

👉🏽 You’re craving clarity, but surrounded by confusion or chaos

👉🏽 You’ve outgrown the conversations, expectations, or habits around you

👉🏽 You want to evolve, but you’re scared of what it might cost

Marcus started to get honest about what he wanted — a life that honored his values, his peace, and his gifts.

But that realization didn’t immediately change the people he worked with.
Or the job that left him sore and depleted.
Or the internal voice that said, “Who do you think you are to want more?”

“I feel like I’m not supposed to be here anymore,” he said, “but I don’t know where I’m supposed to go instead.”

That’s the tension.

You know you’re not where you want to be — but like so many navigating change in midlife, you’re unsure where to go next.
You’re starting to see clearly what doesn’t align anymore…
but you haven’t yet figured out what life looks like on the other side.

I’ve been there, trust me.

There was a time in my life where I was waking up early, praying, doing the work, getting things done…

But underneath it all, something in me was out of rhythm.

I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t falling apart.
I was just… off.
Disconnected from the life I worked so hard to build.
Going through the motions while a quieter part of me whispered, “There’s more.”

The hardest part wasn’t the exhaustion.
It was the space between the life that looked good on the outside… and the one I actually longed for.
It was the grief of letting go of what used to fit.
The guilt of wanting something different.
The uncertainty of stepping into what I hadn’t seen modeled before.

If any of that sounds familiar, it doesn’t mean you’re broken or lost.

It means you’re waking up.

You’re recognizing the early signs of burnout or misalignment.
You’re seeing clearly now what no longer fits — and your inner-self is asking for something more honest, more whole.

That space — the one between where you’ve been and where you’re called to go — is uncomfortable, yes.
But it’s also sacred.

Because that tension?
That’s what tells you growth is already in motion.

The question now is:
How do you protect that flicker… when your environment still hasn’t changed?

That’s where we go next.

🛡️ Protecting the Flicker

When you’re still surrounded by the same routine, relationships, or responsibilities — it takes real intention to protect what’s beginning inside of you.

The flicker is subtle.

It’s not loud.

It’s not fully formed.

And it can be easily questioned — especially when your outer world hasn’t caught up with your inner shift.

Marcus felt this.

He knew he wanted more alignment.

He was clear that his current life wasn’t sustainable.

But he also knew he couldn’t tear it all down in one day.

So the work became this:

How do I nurture this spark without losing it in the noise around me?

Here’s what that looked like for him — and what it might look like for you.

✍🏽 Name What’s True (Even If It’s Not Fully Clear Yet)

You don’t have to know everything. But you do need to name something.

What are you starting to see differently?

What feels off?

What desire or direction won’t leave you alone?

Naming your truth — even just to yourself — gives your flicker something to hold onto.

✍🏽 Set One Soul-Centered Boundary

Not all boundaries are about people. Some are about patterns.

Start with one:

No phone before 9 a.m.
Silence in the car instead of scrolling
Saying no without a three-paragraph explanation
Time with people who fill you, not drain you

Boundaries create space. And space protects your light.

✍🏽 Revisit Your Core Values

When life feels uncertain, your values become your anchor.

Choose 3 that reflect where you’re headed — not just where you’ve been.

Purpose. Peace. Integrity. Joy. Freedom. Whatever speaks to the you that’s trying to emerge.

Let those values shape your decisions, your conversations, and your next right steps.

✍🏽 Seek Aligned Voices (Not Just Advice)

Marcus didn’t need more opinions. He needed alignment.

People who saw his future — not just his present.

Voices that wouldn’t dim his flicker just because they couldn’t feel their own.

Ask yourself:

Who am I listening to?

And do they reflect the direction I want to grow?

✍🏽 Take One Quiet Step Toward the Life You Want

You don’t have to leap. But you do have to move.

Reach out to someone new.
Join the group.
Make the list.
Create the margin.
Say yes to something that scares you — just a little.

Every aligned life starts with one quiet decision to honor the flicker.

💭 Final Thought

The flicker is a fragile but powerful moment — that first sign that something within you is shifting.

You may not have all the answers yet. You might still feel surrounded by the same pressures, people, and patterns. But the fact that you’re even noticing the misalignment?

That means something is already changing.

This post was about protecting that inner shift — honoring the light that’s trying to rise even when your world hasn’t caught up yet.

Now it’s your turn to reflect:

What’s flickering inside you right now?

What’s the truth you’ve been sensing but maybe haven’t said out loud?

👇🏽 Drop it in the comments, or just name it quietly for yourself.

Or if you’re ready to talk through what your next step could be — spiritually, professionally, or personally — I invite you to book a free strategy call.

You’re not alone in this.

📝 Next up in the series: The Friction

In Part 3, we’ll talk about what happens when you start acting on your flicker — and run into resistance. Whether it’s doubt, delay, or pushback from others, the next post will guide you through the tension of doing life differently… and not giving up when it gets hard.