Yes

Shonda Rhimes issued a challenge in her book, The Year of Yes. Say "yes" for a year. She chronicles how saying "yes" changed her life. My immediate thought was that there is no way you can say "yes" for a year. There has to be some balance. Rhimes explains that she had to learn when to say "yes" and when to say "no," and often times she was saying "no" to the very things she should be saying "yes" to. It's a hard balance. Many of us don't learn this lesson until our bodies physically tell us "no!" We should evaluate every opportunity through the capacity lens. What is the capacity lens? The capacity lens asks the question,"just because you are capable, do you have the capacity? What will this "yes" take from me and is it worth it? Am I operating on a full tank or a quarter tank? Am I giving out of my abundance or my need?" There's nothing wrong with saying "no," but make sure that you are saying "yes" for the right reasons. 

Willing

Are you willing? Are you able? Are you ready? Sometimes, the major decisions in our life have more to do with our mindset than our capabilities. We weren't there yet. We couldn't wrap our mind around it. We weren't mature enough. We hadn't lived long enough. We didn't trust God enough. We didn't trust ourselves enough. Our faith was shaken. We were scared. We were afraid. It happens, but in order to get where God wants us to be, we have to assuage our doubts and fears. We have to take the first step. We have to be willing. 

Whole

"Wholeness does not mean perfection: it means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life." -  Parker J. Palmer

I don't think we truly appreciate our wholeness until we are broken. We don't appreciate our health until it fades. We don't appreciate the goodness of today until we encounter the challenges of tomorrow. We don't appreciate what we have until it's gone. Why can't we live in the now? Why can't we have an attitude of gratitude? Why do we spend so much time looking for our next that we don't relish in the present? Today is a blessing. Today is all we have. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Just be and enjoy being. 

"You don't need another person, place or thing to make you whole. God already did that. Your job is to know it." - Maya Angelou

Well Done

Matthew 25:21 (KJV) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

The ultimate goal is to hear God say, "Well done." In order to achieve this, I must recognize that my first title is servant. My life should be a life of service. Every other role in my life is secondary, yet still connected to the other areas I must serve. I am a servant of God. I called to serve my husband, my family, and my job. I am not an owner, but a steward. The aim is to be faithful over the areas of my life God has blessed me to serve. This requires a change of perspective and a great deal of humility. Have you accepted that even as a CEO, a wife, a husband, a supervisor, a manager, and an entrepreneur that your first calling is to serve? Do you recognize that ownership is not stewardship? Everything belongs to God...even you. Lastly, do you recognize the blessing of being called to be a servant? Remember, the goal is to hear God say, "well done my good and faithful servant."

For your listening pleasure: https://youtu.be/lgybJ6h5YDA


 

What Hurts?

Have you ever been to the doctor and they asked you, what hurts? You typically begin to list a series of symptoms. A good doctor will not just treat the symptoms, but try to find the root cause of your pain. If you're like me, you will Google your symptoms and try to self-diagnose. Typically, I'm pregnant, have cancer or dying according to WebMD. I had to stop using WebMD. Over the counter drugs usually alleviate the symptoms, but not the cause. It's a temporary fix. Most of us put band-aids on bruises. We treat surface injuries. We deal with only the things we can see. True healing goes beyond skin deep. Sometimes, we have to revisit that childhood pain. True healing requires us to acknowledge that we are broken and need to be healed. True healing requires us to answer the question, what hurts?

When

When I get older...when I get married...when I have kids...when I get more money...when I have more time...when I get a better job...when I get a new car...when things lighten up...when the kids are gone...when I lose this weight. Our lives are filled with when's that double as excuses. We create obstacles before we ever get started. We are our own biggest enemies. We hinder our own progress. When does this endless cycle change? Now! Change your perspective. Change your mind. Change your attitude. When? Today. Do better. Be better. 

Vulnerable

Self-preservation is a natural instinct. It keeps us out of harm's way. It is our own internal "spidey sense." If you've ever had your heart broken, love can make you a little gun shy. You become protective of your emotions. You don't want to fall in love too quick or too fast. You want to take things slow. Falling in love can be terrifying. Vulnerability is seen as weakness. You isolate yourself and your heart from the very thing you say you want. You find fault in everything and everyone. Being vulnerable is the only way to get what you truly desire. 

"What makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful." - Dr. Brené Brown