What Do Your Purpose and Faith Have in Common?

It has not always been easy for me to believe God for my future. There have been so manytimes where I have doubted His will for my life, and wanted to find the quickest escape hatch. I was doing things in my own strength, which caused anxiety in the worst way. 

As women trying to unlock the mystery of our calling in life, there is no way to bi-pass what we believe about God. We may search to the ends of the earth to understand what we have been put on this earth for, but if we don’t know in whom we believe then we will never fully grasp our purpose. 

This can leave us frustrated because we are trying to understand why life happens the way it does, when really we fail to see that God is asking for us to not lean on our own understanding. For someone like me who always wants to have a plan and get things moving in the right direction, this seems like an impossible task. Especially since I was taught to do it all on my own.

You feel me? 

Maybe you find yourself there too. Are there dreams that you believe God has placed on your heart, but you can’t seem to find a way around your current circumstance? It wasn’t until I learned to lean into my relationship with God, that my spirit was at rest, and I knew that I was not alone in what He had called me to do. 

It was never about me in the first place. It was always about Him. 

So let me ask you some questions. I want to encourage you not only to read the questions, but to spend a little time answering them. This is a good time to stop and reflect about how our purpose is tied to our faith. If you joined me on the 21 Day Purpose Challenge, then I want you to know that getting this is paramount to moving forward. Perhaps, you just stumbled on this blog today. Well, I want to encourage you to join the challenge - CLICK HERE.

1) What do you believe about God?

If you are having a hard time trusting God, and believing that He is a good Father, then you may also have a hard time understanding how you are going to walk out your life purpose. Who is God to you?

2) Do you believe God has a plan for your life?

Faith and purpose go hand in hand. When you believe God is who He says He is then you will be able to trust when life gets hard. Take a few minutes and get alone to ask God about where the plan that He has for you. Not your plan, His plan.

3) Are you ready to submit your plan to God?

I think I may have stepped on a few toes there. Been there, got the t-shirt. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to release my plan so that I could see the bigger picture. Don’t get tunnel vision. God’s plan is a view that is much larger than yours. 

For some of you this may be new, and may challenge you to think beyond what you have known. That’s a good thing. When we get to know who God is we will begin to see that He is way more interested in having a relationship with him than anything we will ever accomplish. Believing God for your future is more about deepening your understanding of who He is. He loves you, and desires great things for your life. Keep your eyes focused on him. 

‘You will keep in perfect peace those minds who are steadfast, because they trust in you.’ (Isaiah 26:3).

Sign up TODAY for the 21 Day Purpose Challenge at www.designedwithpurpose.ca. I will be sending you a FREE gift to help you through the challenge, as well as invite you to be part of a private Facebook group. We will keep the conversation going there. And, I will be doing some FB Live events throughout the challenge. 

Give Me 21 Days And I'll Show You How To Live With Purpose

Living a life of purpose doesn’t just happen, it’s cultivated over time. It definitely has its ups and downs, but always pushes you towards growing your potential. And let’s be real here, not everyone is living their true purpose, even if they are talking about it. That begs me to ask the question, ‘why are people all talk, no action?' 

It’s hard. It takes commitment, and consistency over time. 

When I decided to pursue my purpose it meant I had to make some huge adjustments in my life, and completely re-adjust my priorities to ensure that I was aligning my goals with my vision. And, let me tell you, it was not simple. Life was happening all around me, and I had to move past my own limitations and self doubt to keep moving forward. Basically what I am saying is, I get it! 

It’s been years now, and although I’m not even close to where I believe I will be some day, I make steps everyday towards the purpose God has called me to. So, let me ask you, 'do you feel like your life is happening, and yet going nowhere?' Do you desire to really move towards your dreams, but are afraid of what your friends and family may think about it? 

Here is the truth. Are you ready for it?

 Our purpose is something we journey through. Not something we arrive at. 

Hopefully that takes some of the pressure off of you. But don’t stay where you are, it’s time to start your own journey. And here’s how you can do it. Let me share four shifts that you can make in your life today that will get you moving in the right direction. 

1) Challenge yourself… You, my friend will stay exactly where you are today if you do nothing. Nothing yields nothing. Get moving!! Do the hard work that it takes. Isn’t it high time you started investing in yourself financially and spiritually? Now is the time to commit to do whatever it takes. 

2) Cultivate your passion… If you are wondering if your passion is part of your purpose the answer is a resounding YES! Now, that does not mean that your passion or purpose will be your livelihood. And, guess what, it doesn’t have to be! However, if you are not pursuing the gifts that God has given you, then you will feel out of balance and dissatisfied. 

3) Community is key… Walking in your purpose always happens within community. It’s not meant to be all about you. Your purpose is to lift the lives of others, to be an impact on the lives of your family and friends. You may even desire to make a impact on people who have gone through the same life experience that you have. Pursue your purpose in a safe community. Allow yourself to hear feedback, and be encouraged by others who are doing the same thing you are.

4) Create momentum… Whatever you do, don’t stop! Don’t allow yourself to become stagnant. Always keep moving forward!! Even if you hit roadblocks, and feel like turning back. It may get hard, and you will be tempted to quit. Stay the course. 

Ok, so I made a pretty bold statement at the beginning of this blog saying that if you give me 21 days, I will show you how to live your purpose. Do you believe it’s possible? Lets find out. 

I want to challenge you to for 21 days to prioritize YOU. I know it’s a crazy idea, but what do you have to lose. 

For 21 days (beginning Sept 1), you will be challenged to get real and transparent about your life and purpose. Each day I will post a challenge on Instagram to get you thinking about the greater purpose for your life, and how you can take steps towards it. When you join, you will get access to a private Facebook group where we can share what we are learning. I will be popping in daily using Facebook Live. Together as a ‘ isterhood', we’ll challenge and encourage one another to get real about our lives. If you’re wondering what we will cover over the next 21 days, here’s a sneak peek of what’s in store.

• Discover how to leverage your personal strengths
• Get direction on how to write a life message
• Gain clarity on how to pursue your passion
• Be inspired to dream again
• Interact with women all over the world who are journeying together

Are you ready to take the Purpose Challenge?

Sign up TODAY at www.designedwithpurpose.ca. I will be sending you a FREE gift to help you through the challenge, as well as invite you to be part of a private Facebook group. We will keep the conversation going there. And, I will be doing some FB Live events throughout the challenge. 

CLICK HERE

Do You Have The Guts To Be More Assertive?

I’ve experienced the painful reality of rejection a time or two. It never felt good, and it always took me way longer than it should to get over. I’m an all or nothing kinda girl. When rejection strikes, I feel it deeply. To be quite candid, I have been let go from several jobs, and broken up with multiple times. Ouch! It’s hard to even write it. No one, including me, wants to talk about their experience of rejection. 

When I take a look back over my life, I see the times when I didn’t have the guts to be myself. There were moments when I did not have the courage to speak the truth when it needed to be said, and to assert myself when necessary. Because I was afraid of being myself, I stayed in jobs and relationships way longer than I needed to. Can anyone relate?

As women, we get so caught up in what others are going to think about us, that we hide our true selves from the world. We show people only what we think they want to see, and nothing more. Before long, we can find ourselves caught up doing things we never thought we would do. We say ‘yes' to way too may things, and feel guilty when we actually want to say ‘no'. 

Being assertive is not the same thing as being aggressive. Maybe when you read the title of this blog, you automatically assumed that to be assertive, you would have to harsh and rude. Not even close. We can be assertive without offending others. And, even if we do offend someone… just perhaps it might be their problem, not ours. 

Here are few helpful tips that will ease you into being more assertive:

Learn to say ‘no'. And mean it!!! Don’t change your mind and decide all of the sudden that you are going to do something you don’t want to do. Take some time to really understand what it is important in your life, and then say ‘yes’ to those things. At first, this may take some getting used to, especially if you are a people pleaser. But, once you learn how to say no, you will open yourself up to new opportunities that you do want to do. 

Express yourself. Sometimes when I am trying to get my point across I get so caught up in what I am trying to say, that it comes out all wrong. Think about what you want to say, and then express it. There is no sense in hiding how you feel, whether good or bad. 

Let go of your guilt. You may be tempted to think that you have to please everyone, (your boss, family, friends, etc) but at the end of the day you answer to yourself and God. Stop feeling guilty for not being able to be everything to everyone. Just be yourself!! 

It’s time for you to really be the woman God made you to be. Get out there and show the world who you really are! 

5 Amazing Secrets Of A Winning Mindset

When I was a kid, I desperately wanted to learn how to water ski. My family would go to the cottage every year. We would spend all day at the beach with hopes that my uncle would start up the boat so we could all go water skiing. I wasn’t what you would call athletic, I was more the musical type. Standing at the edge of the beach, I would watch cousin after cousin pop out of the water and ski around the lake, making a huge splash upon returning to shore. Everyone on the beach would applaud. Until I tried. Time after frustrating time, I would get half way out of the water, then take a nose dive into the lake, face full of water. Completely humiliated, I would give up after several sad attempts. Trust me when I say that I did not feel like a winner. 

I’ve often thought what gives someone that edge; a winning mindset. How are some people just wired to be successful in what they do. Are they born with a natural inclination to do well, do they come out of the womb winners? It can’t be. We are taught how to win. Some of us just catch on sooner than others. 

Over the past week I’ve been enjoying the summer olympics. My favourite summer sport takes place in the pool. I guess I have an affinity for water sports. And as one does, I love a good underdog story. Just this morning I woke up to find out that a female Canadian swimmer named Penny Olesiak had just won her fourth olympic medal at sixteen years of age. Unbelievable! But what made it more amazing was that in her final race, she came from a seventh place start to win a gold medal. Absolutely amazing!!

Ok, maybe you are thinking… how does this apply to my life? Well, hold on. I believe that we can take so many great lessons from these amazing athletes and apply them to our own lives. Here are five AMAZING secrets that are going to take you from the back of the line to a winning mindset. 

1) See your mistakes as way to grow and learn. When we see our mistakes as truly valuable then we will be able to gauge how we can move forward, and the momentum will propel us closer to where we want to be. 

2) Be coachable. A winner doesn’t arrive at their destination all alone. There is a team of coaches and trainers who have been with them the entire way. I may be a little biased here (being a coach and all), but I know that people who are coached are more likely to succeed than the average person. The reason for that is because they are willing to be given feedback. Sit with that for a second.

3) Never give up. If I had known this as a kid I would have fearlessly got up again and tried over and over. Maybe you can relate! Is there something in your life that feels impossible right now? Don’t ever give up! If you have it in your heart then fearlessly (or fearfully) go after it.

4) Develop a strong work ethic. Get up early in the morning. Keep from distractions. Do whatever it takes to hone your craft, and to become the best at what you do. 

5) Guard your mind. We can learn a lot from olympians who keep themselves separate from the masses. They do this to keep their minds right. Only allowing their team access to them gives them the upper hand. This is gold!! Imagine the difference in your life when you stop listening to what others have to say about your life, and stay focused on what God says about your life. 

I want to leave you with this thought. It took me a long time to realize that standing humiliated on the side of the beach was going to the catalysts to make me winner later in life. It was the journey I was meant to take. No longer do I stand on the side lines watching everyone else. I’m in the game, training to win!!

Get after it! 

3 Keys To Unlock Your Inner Strength

When I was growing up I was probably a lot like most little girls who wanted to be seen as beautiful and strong. I had a picture in my mind of what I thought that looked like, and for years spent an enormous of time trying to accomplish just that. If I’m honest, I’m still trying. People would tell me that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I didn’t buy it. I felt over looked because it didn’t seem as though anyone was beholding my beauty. It was a huge struggle, and the myth that I wasn’t good enough really held me back for a long time.

It really doesn’t matter where you grew up, what kind of environment you were raised in, or how outwardly beautiful you may appear. Women of every age struggle with feeling less than, and passed over. As if there is nothing they could possibly to do to measure up to the standards the world has thrown their way. 

Can I let you in on a little secret? Your confidence and strength will never come from how you look. It doesn't matter how you dress it up, or dress it down. It simply is not so. Granted, you may look great, but that the feeling of being beautiful simply does not last. As women our inner strength will always be the guiding force that enables us to overcome insurmountable odds, and to have victory when situations seem impossible. It might feel like today you are not very strong, or very courageous but I want to encourage you that your inner strength and faith in God will take you further than you could ever imagine. 

You are stronger than you know. Maybe you have been facing life head on and feeling as though you have been bruised and battered. Here are three keys guaranteed to help you unlock your inner strength:

1) Be AWARE of who you are and whose you are. Know your identity in Christ. When we try to do things in our own strength we will fail every time. But, when we place our identity in Christ, we see that He gives us the strength we need. 

2) Guard your ATTITUDE. When life gets tough, it is your character that shines through the most. We may not have control over every circumstance, but we can have control over our attitude towards our situation. 

3) Live AUTHENTIC. It’s ok to fail and fall as long as you get up again. Don’t be afraid to be who God has made you to be. 

When you are able to unlock your inner strength, you will be surprised at just what you can overcome!

Together We Are Better!

Five Shifts Guaranteed To Improve Your Creativity

The past several years have proven to be the most exhilarating, and yet the most challenging years of my adulthood. It all started when I decided to venture into the wild and crazy world of entrepreneurship. Although I was completely unaware of what was coming my way, the one thing I was hoping for was that I would gain a new found sense of freedom and be the creative genius I was meant to be. After all, now I was calling the shots. I can hear you laughing. 

Yeah, well… that was the furthest thing from the truth!

The reality of working for myself meant working whenever the creativity presented itself. And, if you are a creative person you understand that it’s not always on your timetable. This meant that if in the middle of the night I all of the sudden came up with a clever idea for a blog post, then I better grab my laptop and start typing. I was at the mercy of my own inability to schedule time properly. Days off and my creative mojo became a thing of the past. 

My so called ‘freedom’ was not all it was cracked up to be, and I began to realize that I was running myself ragged. Even though I knew I should take a break, I could not seem to convince myself that this would be beneficial. After all, what about the hustle? When I finally wised up and actually started to take a break from the grind, I would find myself answering emails, texts, and phone calls. So much for my time off! 

At this point, I am certain that the majority of you are shaking your head in agreement. So, let me ask you, “when was the last time you took an honest to goodness break?” The kind of time off where you don’t get on your computer, or even snapchat your walk on the beach? Does this even exist?

Well, if it doesn’t exist now, it should!

Isn't it about time for you to take some time away to recalibrate, to gain some fresh perspective, and really get rest for you mind, body and spirit. 

Trust me, I’m preaching to the choir. I might just be the worst offender. However, I know that when we take time to rest there is a shift that takes place in every area of our lives. I want to share with you five shifts that I know will take you from stressed and overworked to being creative and fulfilled in your passions. 

Shift #1: Interrupt the negative habits. This means getting away from the hustle. Yes, turn down the noise and excuse yourself from the interruptions so that you can start to think clearly again. Trust me, you will see change.

Shift #2: Rediscover your passion. Go on a little adventure. Take a day to go to the flea market, or get out there and experience new culture and cuisine. Pick up a book and ready it from cover to cover. Whatever floats your boat, and gets the motor running. 

Shift #3: Pay attention to your body. If your body is tired and exhausted, not only does our health suffer but so does your mood. Hello! Get active again. Go on a hike. Learn to paddle board. TAKE A NAP for goodness sake! 

Shift #4: Dedicate time to those you love. Start to engage in real life conversations, not just the ones on social media. Spend time with your friends and family. 

Shift #5: Eliminate what stresses you. As in cut yourself off for good. It may be time to say no to whatever is causing you anxiety. 

You may be thinking that who has time to really start to make these shifts. Well, I’m gonna be frank… you don’t have time not to. Don’t wait until you are so burnt out that you are no good to yourself or anyone else for that matter. Get that creative tank full so that you can make a difference in the lives of others. You'll be better for it. 

Together We Are Better!

TIME TO TAKE SOME ACTION? Get some clarity on how you can really make your creativity work for you again. Let's set up a FREE 30 minute strategy session (new clients only)

Do You Want To Be In My Squad?

Of all the squads in the world, I have the best one. Hands down!! No one can beat them. My girl gang spans the globe, consists of risk takers, world changers, encouragers, leaders, entrepreneurs and women who are on mission. I decided long ago that life was too short not to have a group of women in my corner. Women who stood out from the crowd, who weren’t afraid to make their mark on the world. And, I have to admit … I am nothing without them! They lift me up when I’m down, and they believe when I am tired and weary. These women have stood the test of time, walked through the fire with me, and have been there when I am at my best (and my worst). 

They sound amazing, don’t they? Who wouldn’t want in! But here is the hard truth. Not every girl is up for the task of being part of my squad. There is a reason my girl squad is strong. We have made a commitment to one another to there in the good times and the bad. And above all else, we seek to spur each other on to reach our full potential. Honestly, not everyone wants that. Not every woman is willing to lower themselves, and allow their friend to jump on their shoulders. But, if you are one of those women who is ready to take on the task, then I want to invite you to be apart of my squad.  

These amazing women... 

1) Speak generously This may sound super easy, but on the days when you have been through your own hell on earth the last thing you want to do is call up your friend and speak words of encouragement into their situation. But I’ll tell you, women who speak generously, live a life that honours others above themselves. 

2) Bring perspective. They know how to be positive in light of a negative situation. We all know life is hard. But, that's not what is needed when you have lost your job, or you are so overwhelmed that you can’t see the light of day. Instead they bring fresh perspective and light to dark places.  

3) Reveal truth. When life can be toxic and our beliefs about ourselves masked in deception, these women reveal what is true. They know how to speak the truth of who we are, and whose we are.  

4) Applaud destiny. They know the fastest way to achieve our potential is by being cheered on in the race. So they take their place at the side lines and cheer wildly.  

5) Encourage faithfulness. At the end of the day, these women encourage us to continue on when when we are tempted to give up. 

I would love for you to be a part of my squad, and hopefully you are (even virtually). But, I really wanted to encourage you to get out there and forge relationships with women that will not only take you to the next level, but will also be an encouragement to them. It’s time to leave those toxic relationships behind for good.

Together we are better. 

Why It's Better To Be Faithful Than Successful

The WOW factor gets me every time. I love it when things are done really well, leaving no detail unchecked. And, I am admittedly a big picture person. Which at times can get me into trouble because I seem to overlook the small details. Details that should not really be left unattended. But in the grand scheme of things, I think "what the heck, who really gives a rip?"

Shockingly, people actually do care about the small things! Who knew? In fact just the other day I sat across the table from a brilliant leader in my church who is all about the details, and proves herself invaluable because of her attention to the smallest decision. It’s pretty incredible that she notices every tiny little thing. Where as I look at things from a completely different perspective. Both equally important, but sometimes it’s easy to forget that when we pay attention to the small decisions our greatest victories are won.

Everyone wants to get ahead these days, clamoring to find their place at the top of the heap. Looking for a quick way to be recognized or noticed. And, it does not take long before we are caught up in the whirlwind of misplaced fame, especially when it looks shiny and exciting. But in our conversation, do we ever really talk about the nitty gritty, the faithfulness it takes to be refined through the process.

Success is a tricky thing. Not every wildly successful person possesses the characteristics of a great influencer.  As well, not every person who is successful makes an impact or changes the world. It could be because they were not faithful in the small things. In the race to get to the top, they skipped very important lessons that only faithfulness can teach. 

When we give ourselves time and space to grow and learn, we understand the need to serve the vision of others. That is where our true character is developed. If the 10,000 hour rule is correct (which I believe it is) then in order to really be good at anything we need time to be practicing our skill over and over. Getting better with time, and moving past our desire to not only be the best at what we do but to make a great impact. 

Mother Theresa states it so succinctly, ‘be faithful in the little things, for in them our strength lies, because He is so great we are so small.  Not only is our character developed, but our intention is revealed. When we don’t want to put the time and effort into completing the small tasks, to serving a greater vision than our own intention becomes larger than life and keeps us from being trusted by others to do greater things. 

Being faithful to complete even the smallest task reveals shows our grit and determination. When it could be so easy to throw in the towel and walk away from something we feel is beneath our ability, it will be sheer determination that keeps us motivated to continue. It will also be what compels us to keep working hard every day to be faithful to even the smallest decisions in our lives.

Some may rise to the top quickly. Their skill may elevate them before their character can sustain them. Learn to be faithful in the small things. Your impact will be greater and your character stronger. 

Together we are better! 

Get clarity on how you can create a life you love by setting up a FREE 30 minute strategy session TODAY! (new clients only)

2 LIKES

Are You Free Indeed?

This weekend marks the celebration of two of the most amazing countries in the world! Yes, you guessed it, Canada and the USA. Admittedly, there is a lot going on within both of these great countries, but I am still extremely proud to have called them home. Although I am a proud Canadian, I attribute much of my spiritual growth to the time I lived south of the border. 

I took some time this weekend to walk the bustling streets of Toronto to take in the festivities of Canada Day. It was not hard to see how incredible this nation is and I was completely undone by the freedom that we have been given and yet so quickly take for granted. This country is so amazing, and the liberty and freedom we have in unparalleled. And, with so many amazing freedoms as a nation, we still don't live in the freedom that we have been given.

So, it got me thinking. 

Let me take you back a bit. Over the past few months, I have heard so many podcasts and sermons about what it is really like for us to live in freedom. But, the truth of having freedom does not always mean we are living as free people. Why is that?

Even when we have been released from the pain of our past hurts, we still live as though that is our current reality. For many years I felt the sting of rejection. It did not matter that I had many trusted friends tells me that I was accepted, I lived as though the inevitable would eventually happen, and I would be rejected again. I wasn’t living free. 

Are you living free?

Or, are you living bound in…

• fear of the future
• shame of your past
• disappointment in your circumstances
• hurt from relationships

When we are not able to live free from the past, we carry into our future that which keeps us from being able to possess the promises that God has for our lives. Then we wonder 'why' we are not able to have the breakthrough that we so desperately need. 

Maybe you have been trying to be free from shame or guilt, but everyday those thoughts creep back into your heart and mind. Wreaking havoc in your life, and causing you to stay stuck. They are keeping you shackled to your past. 

When we continue to live as slaves to our circumstances, we will never walk into the freedom of our future. It’s time to be free of the past, and to really live as God intends us to live. 

So what do you need to let go of today? What freedom do you need to possess?

The freedom of…

• peace in your life
• joyfulness in your circumstance
• sound mind 
• knowing that you are loved

So here is the clincher. It is a choice that we need to make every day to live free from the past. To not allow what has happened to us, or what we have done to determine where we are going in the future.

"So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free." - John 8:36

Make the decision today to finally walk in the freedom that you have been given. It will take effort on your part to lay the chains down. On a completely practical level you may need to invest in your freedom by going to see a counsellor to talk about unresolved issues. Or, it may be that you are ready to tackle the future and need someone to champion your success by investing in a coach. It is truly time for you to live free indeed.

Together we are better!

Get clarity on how you can create a life you love by setting up a FREE 30 minute strategy session TODAY! (new clients only)

Do You Have Enough Faith?

What happens when you have a dream deep inside of you, but it seems as if everything in the world conspires against it? It may seem as though you take one step forward only to take several back. It’s easy to feel like all hope is lost. Wouldn't it be easier to throw in the towel? To say the ‘hell’ with it, and move on.

The answer may be within your reach, but seemingly out of your grasp. After all you wake up every day, and hustle to make your mark. But, it can get tiring, and you may be wondering if it really worth fighting for. 

Alright my friend, has your faith (your hope) taken a beating? After you have meditated and searched the scriptures for verses to reignite your faith, do you feel as though you are at the end of your rope?

Take heart!

I’m surrounded by amazingly talented individuals. A lot of my friends are young entrepreneurs, artists, and up and coming musicians who are out there doing great things, changing the world.  I know that they have been working for years to see their dreams come to pass. But they are not waiting passively, they wait in expectation. 

Often that is where we go wrong. When we wait passively we become lazy in our thinking, and our hope gets buried underneath the piles of disappointment. But, when we wait with expectancy, our hope is focused on what is to come. 

I know it might seem easier said than done. Trust me. I’m right there with ya. I have big dreams. The kind of dreams that are only possible with God. It can get hard to watch friends and loved ones breakthrough to their promise, and yet wonder if God is ever going to come through on what he has spoken to you. 

Take courage! 

If the fight has been long and you have given up hope, find your strength in God. It may seem counter intuitive to stop the hustle in order for your dream to come to pass. Take courage in what God is doing, and that the character being built along the way will not only sustain you but elevate you to where he wants you to be.

Sometimes it is not just about the dream, but about who you are becoming while the dream is taking root in your life. The dream God has for you can only be sustained by who you are becoming right here and right now. Choose to wait with expectancy, and see what God will do!

Together we are better!

Get clarity on how you can create a life you love by setting up a FREE 30 minute strategy session TODAY! (new clients only)

Don't Almost Do It

In college I ‘almost’ failed a running class. Allow me to clarify. Yes, my college had a college running class. To this day, I’m not sure what purpose it served, unless you count the mileage I have gotten from telling this story over the years. 

But, back to the story...

Although I was relatively fit, I would not have classified myself as a runner. So when I took the class and started running on the first day I experienced a great deal of pain. The second day the same thing, so on and so forth. The coach decided that instead of making me run he would have me get on the stationary bike and ride the entire class. That might have been just as painful (painfully boring).

The reason I say that I almost failed the class is because by all standards I passed the course, but I definitely did not pass the running test at the end of the semester. My lack of training did nothing to prepare me for running the timed 5 km race. What it did do was solidify within me an attitude that it was ok for me to not put my best effort into what I was trying to accomplish. That almost doing something was enough. 

What in your life have you ‘almost’ accomplished? 

Better yet, what in your life do you wish would have happened by this point in your life. Maybe you really have been desiring to step out and start a new opportunity but it is never the right time and the money is not there for you to make the leap. So instead of positioning yourself to take the leap, you sit back and say, “I'm almost ready to do it”. 

There are times in our lives when without certainty the timing needs to be right in order for us to really take a leap of faith. But for most of the things we really want to do in life it boils down to our attitude and to our belief that it is possible. 

It is has become all too easy for us to use the excuse that

• I almost finished my education.
• I almost got chosen for the promotion.
• I almost decided to take a risk.
• I almost got out of debt. 

It's as if we qualify the ‘almost’ in our lives, it becomes ok. Normal somehow. But the reality is it's an excuse we hide behind because we either fear we can’t do it, or that God will not come through for us if we step out in faith. 

Over the past few weeks, I have personally been convicted to not live in a place of ‘almost’. To detach myself from the thought patterns that I allowed myself to believe. Back in college, I didn’t believe I could run. But, since then I have shattered that belief by finishing several races. God continues to remind me that when I partner with him, that we are able to do it together. No ‘almost’ about it. 

What do you need to believe for today?

If you agree with God about what he says for your life, then you begin to see that all things are possible with him. Maybe you just need some encouragement to take the next step, or perhaps you need to completely shift your mindset so that you can believe again. 

Together, we are better!

I am so excited to launch Purpose Coaching Online on June 29, 2016. Ladies, this is a great opportunity for you to discover your purpose in the context of community. Discover how you can not only discover your purpose, but live your God given purpose and potential. Click HERE

Face Your Fear

What thoughts go through your mind at night that cause you to toss and turn with anxiety and dread? My worst thoughts, most fearful thoughts, come in the middle of the night. They came last night. Unexpected, and unwanted. And, more often than not, they come when I am on the brink of something great. 

I dare say that I am not the only one that deals with fear. What about you? If you are honest with yourself, what would you say are the doubts and fears that come at you like a speeding train? They are the words that echo in your mind, trying to derail you from ever feeling like you will be good enough. Keeping you bound, lost, and isolated from the people who love you. 

Are you in fear of lack, that you will not be able to come up with enough money to pay the bills this month or ever find your way out of the mounds of debt that have piled up on you? Possibly, you are fearful that you may never have the kind of love that you dream of having. We all fear something. Big and small. Sometimes it is the smallest fears that hold us hostage for way too long. 

Let me be real with you right now. Having fear is normal. But, you don’t have to live there. Although your fears may seem so much bigger than you, they do not have control over your life. It is possible to live free from your worst fear. So lets just go right to that place where your fear resides. You may think that is the craziest thing ever. But let me tell you when you are able to confront the fears that keep you bound up, you are really able to experience the freedom you are longing for.

But instead of being on guard all the time, waiting for them to come out of hiding, we have everything we need to confront them and tell them that we are no longer afraid of them. No longer afraid of being in lack, worried that things will not work out, and stuck in hopelessness. 

There are three things I believe will make all the difference for you. They are practical tools that will help you move from that place of fear to a place of freedom. 

1. Get into the light. Bring your fears with you, expose them for what they are. You will soon see that they really don’t have the power over you that you thought they did. 
2. Choose what you think. Make the conscious decision to mediate on things that are positive. Personally, I take scripture and speak it out loud over my life. The word changes everything.
3. Change your conversation. It could be that you talk about your fear with others, start to speak about in past tense, and believe that you have the freedom from your fears. 

My friend, you don’t have to live in fear anymore. It’s time for you to unshackle yourself, and do what God has called you to do. Do it afraid! Fear has no power over your life. 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fear. Psalm 34:4

Together we are better,

Move past your fears, reach past those limiting beliefs and discover the God given purpose you were meant to live. Join me and some amazing women for a journey of a life time as we reach beyond our ordinary lives - PURPOSE COACHING ONLINE. Registration is open now!