Your purpose is like your home, you always come back to it

As the world moved into their homes, our brains moved into the global online space. And we, as a collective have found new and creative ways to disagree about pretty much everything. Our phones and keyboards have become our soapbox...and sometimes the causes are not even that important! I’ve seen people angrily disagreeing about recipes.

And honestly, we get so much conflicting information on every. single. topic. It’s hard to determine fact from opinion or answers from agendas. We are all wading through swamps of information searching for clearer waters...and hoping to lead others there to get a drink. Most of the time, our intentions are to help each other...but we allow our steadfast opinion to put a wall around the simple acts of love, respect & kindness.

The online space has also truly stepped into finding ways of supporting one another. Of lifting up important causes and bringing light to topics that need attention. It’s beautiful to see people rally together. But we can’t expect every person to maintain being the voice for every cause. We all have our own work to do in the world. We can show our solidarity and also continue being ourselves. We can support your efforts and celebrate the way you’re using your voice for good. We can cheer you on, but not join you.

You’ve heard the term “stay in your lane” but it really makes no sense to me. We, as drivers, rarely stay in one lane forever...we are going places and must exit the lane or the highway all together. I like to think of it as having our own homes and that we always come home to. We journey out and accomplish much in the world, but our home remains mostly unchanged. A safe place to come back to. We may update our home with new ideas and welcome new guests. But it will always be ours. I don’t need to change my home just because you changed yours. I don’t need to change who I am with every new trend. My home is built on a firm foundation, and that will never change. And though it could be destroyed by storm or fire, it will be rebuilt on the same foundations! My hope is that we all come home to ourselves and who we are called to be in this world. #homebody #worldchanger #both

Consistency & Quitting

We all have days when we want to give up….

Some days I feel like quitting. Some days I want to quit on myself or my health. Some days I feel like quitting as a mom...even just for a day. Some days, my business is hard and I quit on myself. Some days I quit pursuing my dreams and my purpose because it’s hard and I’m tired.

But there are some things I will never quit. 

As I grew up, I tried a lot of things. I also quit a lot of things. I was someone that wanted to escape anything that was too hard and anything that felt like I wasn’t going to be great at. Why? Probably because I cared way too much about what people thought of me. I thought if I quit, then I was in charge of my life - it felt powerful. I would even get a rush from it. But l, if I did something and failed, than everyone would know I was a failure. Everyone would see that I wasn’t good at that. Everyone would judge. I quit out of fear. Not empowerment. I know that now.

As I lived through my twenties I started to learn that I would never be good at anything if I kept hopping around from activity to activity and job to job. And, that I would never feel a real sense of stability without setting down roots. I also learned, that the people around me needed to have confidence that I won’t quit on them. I need to speak it into my marriage that I will never leave him. And, into my kids that I will always love them. It’s HARD to promise yourself to never quit...but it’s so incredibly fulfilling when you realize you can live a stable, peaceful, fulfilled life knowing that some things are constant. The knowledge that God loves me? Constant. The knowledge that my husband is fully committed to me? Constant. The knowledge that I’ll always be their mom even as they grow up? Constant. It’s beautiful, really.

There are some things in my life that I will never quit. I will never quit my Faith. I will never quit my marriage. I will never quit being a mom. I’ll never quit on my business. There. I said it out loud. So even when times are hard, I’ll keep going. Not because I have such great will power (trust me, I don’t). But because I’m fully committed to living the highs and lows in every season to experience the beauty in all of it. I’m committed to growing and changing and improving but also knowing I’m fully loved just the way I am.

I know what you’re thinking, you never know what life has in store for you. And that’s true. You’re absolutely right. Things will always be changing. Things might end tragically or slowly. Things will never stay exactly the same. And, I’m open minded enough to recognize that growth needs to happen in my life & relationships. I am not suggesting you allow yourself to be taken advantage of or put in harms way because of your commitment. If you are being harassed or abused, please tell someone and get out! If what your commitment is toxic, unhealthy or mentally damaging...it’s probably good to examine quitting. But, for the most part, consistency is the key to your success & well-being.

(God models that consistency of character and unconditional love for my perfectly).

If I wasn’t fully committed to what’s most important to me...I just wouldn’t put a whole lot of stake in it. I think of what the opposite mindset looks like. You always have an escape plan. An exit strategy. An out. This doesn’t allow you to go ALL IN. I’m so all in with my marriage that I work really hard at it. To make sure he feels loved, appreciated and supported in everything. I’m so ALL IN as a mom, that I’m committed to our relationship and their learned independence from me at the same time (side note - being all in doesn’t mean I’m a perfect mom by any means...but I’m trying!). I’m so ALL IN in my business that my team knows I’m not going anywhere and I’ll always be there for them. And if they didn’t know that...this message is for you. I’ve got your back. I want you to succeed and I’m not going anywhere. There’s so much peace in that. 

This photo is of me in Prague. A trip I took for my business. With the full support of my incredible husband. With my kids totally safe at home while I was gone. With a lot of fear around my ability to do the training and lead my team effectively, but with WAY more belief that my consistent steps forward would only help them. This is me going all in. Doing things that terrify me and staying committed to what I started. This is me embracing the struggle knowing that God has my back and that hard things need to happen for me to get better. 

Interestingly, I don’t get asked often “are you still married?” Or “are you still doing that doterra thing?”. Because people see my commitment and consistency. And I plan to let it shine more and more as I find my voice and what I have to offer this world. 

2020. Bring it on!

Your Voice Matters

YOUR VOICE MATTERS

I have foolishly believed a lot of lies about myself. About who I am and who I'm "allowed" to be and who I think I'm supposed to be. As a kid, I was unapologetically loud and a natural leader (some might say silly words like bossy or obnoxious). And for many reasons, I learned that not everyone is comfortable around people who are vocal. So, I trained myself to be quiet. In many ways, this self regulations is important. But in other ways, it taught me to stifle my opinions, self-expression & ability to share the Truth with others. It taught me to care a great deal about what others think of me. 

I told myself often...
"I don't have a voice"
"I don't have anything important to say"
"People won't like me if I have an opinion"
"People don't want what I have to offer"

I was entirely convinced that if I was my true self in public that I would be rejected. I would make myself look small so that I don't make others feel uncomfortable. I believe in the importance of humility and treating others as better than yourself 100%, but I don't think God intended for me to go into hiding to accomplish it. 

For those of you who really know me, you've heard me singing mindlessly to myself - or maybe to you. You've heard me speak on a stage with bold confidence. You've seen me leading worship with the joy that comes right from my soul. You've listened as I give advice and share my thoughts and values, usually deeply rooted in scripture. So why do I feel like I don't have a voice? When using my voice gives me SO MUCH JOY? It's a contradiction I've been wrestling with trying to understand. 

I learned recently that there isn't actually anyone telling me to be quiet anymore. I'm stifling myself. I keep myself small because it's more comfortable here. It's less scary to only let a few people see the real me. There's no fear of rejection when you don't put anything out there! Because, rejection and resistance will happen when you use your voice more. 

But I've learned this year something pretty big for me. Starting in Septmeber of this year, I remembered who I am in my natural, comfortable state. I remembered that my default, when I'm operating as my true self, is someone who uses their voice all the time. I sing praise to God in Church or in my kitchen at the top of my lungs and it fills my heart up like nothing else does. I love public speaking and teaching and feel fulfilled when I create opportunities to do so. I have a voice. I have something to say. I have a small platform and an important message to share with the world. 

And so do you. 

Your voice matters. The world needs what you have to offer. God has made you with your own unique gifts and there's a way to use them like only you can! 

Women. You do not need approval or validation from other women to be yourself. you don't need permission from a man to speak up. You don't need to fear judgement for being yourself. 

Please, do us all a favour, and SHINE. Use your voice! Get LOUD (not for the sake of being loud, but for people who need you to use your voice for them! To stand up for people and causes that matter). Share love, truth & kindness. Be yourself. Help others do the same. You have more power and influence than you think. It's time.