DO SOMETHING

I didn't consult a blog on how to create or start a blog…nor have I done any research on how to create a following or a brand. Nor will I be asking for feedback or proofreading by someone else before I post this, because (#realtalk right out the gate, people) I have an insatiable need for affirmation and approval that I’m trying to kick. (Please refer to asterisks below for more context/reading guidelines.) It’s tempting for someone Type A like me to want to do research…believe me. I would love to research everything about blogging and get everyone including your mother’s opinion about it…because it would keep me from doing the actual work of bearing my soul. to YOU.

I personally don’t need to read another blog, spend another second on Instagram, or read another self-help book. I just need to DO SOMETHING. So here I am and this is my story…

I don’t have a job. (Gasp.)

Nope. Don’t have one. Don’t really want one unless it’s the right one. And here’s some more #realtalk for ya…I have been absolutely paralyzed for the past week thinking about all of the things that I “could be” or “should be” doing, and I have no idea what my next step is.

As I was sharing about my paralysis with my husband the other night, he so very patiently and lovingly asked me what I wanted, to which I quickly replied to him “I have no idea…nothing even sounds appealing to me at the moment” (said with tears streaming down my face…LOL). He then offered me something that totally made sense, as he always does. He reminded me of how it feels when you’re really hungry…you guys know what I’m talking about…the kind of hungry where you don’t even want anything to eat…and even if you had to, you couldn’t choose something that sounded remotely appetizing. He then explained to me that that’s where I am with my “work”…I’m so hungry for fulfilling work that I’m not even sure what I want anymore. Then, he very simply told me that the best thing to do when you’re that hungry is just to eat something and then you immediately feel better and your mind becomes more clear!

In other words, he was metaphorically, in the most loving way possible, telling me that I should just DO SOMETHING. And as I DO THINGS, eventually I'll get my taste back for the work that actually fulfills me and I'll be able to figure out what I want to spend more time working on. How encouraging and liberating not to have to think about what I “should do” anymore but to just DO SOMETHING…anything! I love my husband and I think he’s very wise and what he said made a whole dang lot of sense. So, here I am DOING SOMETHING…writing a blog about how I don’t have a job.

I hope that this encourages you today. If you feel paralyzed, you are not alone. Just DO SOMETHING! If you’re afraid, that’s okay! Just DO IT ANYWAY. Ask God to do something good with the work of your hands, regardless of what it is! And when He does, be quick to give Him the credit for honoring your courage to step out and just DO SOMETHING! Our potential to do good becomes limitless when we allow God to come alongside us. I truly do believe that it matters much less to God what we are doing, and much more to Him the way in which we are doing it. In other words, work hard, with humility, kindness, love, grace…all that!!! And trust that God will see and honor the work of your hands and the courage it took do JUST DO IT! :) And if you’re Type A like me, when you do something, don’t wait to celebrate the fact that you DID SOMETHING…don’t think about how it’s not perfect…just celebrate and let it propel you into DOING MORE THINGS!!!

CHEERS TO DOING THINGS!!! What have you done today? What was the result? It'd be so cool for this to be a place where real conversations were had about what we’re facing, so feel free to use the comments feature to talk about what you've faced today. Really. JUST DO IT. Let's be an inspiration and encouragement to one another.

I’m off to go do some more things!!! Peace. And thanks for listening to my story. :)

xx,

Haley

***I AM NOT AN EXPERT, THIS IS NOT A COUNSELING SESSION, I AM DOING THIS FOR ME AND FOR THOSE WHO CAN BE ENCOURAGED BY IT. PLEASE TAKE EVERYTHING I SAY WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. :)