I remember the day I started to take my dreams and goals seriously. In the past, I became certified as a life coach and was super excited to start. Then my marriage fell apart, and suddenly I felt stuck. I didn’t feel I could be a coach for other women while my life was a mess. Becoming unstuck is crucial to growth. I thought, who was I to help others reach their dreams when I didn’t feel worthy of pursuing mine?
I worked a 9-5, only to feel half-complete. What kind of life was I living? I became a statistic when I separated from my ex-husband and became a new statistic when I divorced. Once again, I felt defeated.
Being in a day job felt like I was missing a part of me. A piece of me that had been stifled for years by an old mindset. Instead of moving forward, I felt like I was being pushed back. There was no traction to be had, no matter what I told myself.
When did I finally say, ‘Enough was enough’? I suppose it was the day that I felt I didn’t have any more to give. You know that point when you become depleted? The funny thing was that I couldn’t do any of it alone.
Leaning on Faith to Become Unstuck
That had been my trap. I was too busy thinking I had to hold it all together for my family. Mainly, I had to hold it all together for myself.
I had been a wife and mom for so long that I ended up sacrificing a part of me that I forgot existed.
Although I didn’t regret being those things, I knew deep down I had to do something for myself. This meant going deeper in my faith life to get there.
You see, all of life’s obstacles require putting God first. For a long time, I kept pushing him to the side. I didn’t want to bother God with my stuff. I’d have a go at doing it myself and then be stuck once again.
It takes a certain kind of person to give everything to God. The reality is that there is always a place in the room for Him. You must surrender what you’re holding onto before you can see real change take place.
Surrendering can feel awkward. It’s like you have one foot in and one foot out. At times, it can make you feel indecisive.
So, what can you do about it?
Journaling as an outlet
First, you take a good, hard look at your life. Ask yourself how you want to live it. One thing that has helped me as a writer is journaling.
It has helped me look at things differently, and I get to express it in my notebooks.
The simple act has sparked insight and made me more creative. It is therapeutic too. Putting pen to paper and the flow of a pen always allows me to release what is on my mind.
Do you want to be halfway in with your life? It will take more effort to be all in, but it will be worth it. You must look at yourself in all areas of your life. Remember, you don’t have to do it alone. Write what you feel.
You will experience certain pressures that will make you second-guess yourself. It is up to you to make sense of the things that appear confusing. Sort it out.
Imagine you are doing a load of laundry and you dump it on the sofa. You will have to find matching pairs for your socks. Or you might be inclined to put things in order according to the item or color.
Life is like that load of laundry. You get to pair things together that complement other things. Instead of being thrown across your sofa, you start to make sense of it all. Think of all the things strewn across the seasons of your life.
The time is now
If anything, now is the time to reflect on what you need help accomplishing. Read what you journaled and evaluate what is on your heart. Whether it is big or small, it matters.
Here’s to living life fuller, giving yourself grace in the process, and staying true to who you want to be. Instead of being a statistic in a category you didn’t choose, become something bigger and better despite it. That, my friend, is worth pursuing on your beautiful journey. Surrendering isn’t for the faint of heart. It is a journey of self-discovery and a process of finding your resilience.
For me, it means leaning on God to help me along the way.
What is it for you?