Thursday Thoughts on... fear

Several weeks ago I shared that I have a very real fear of failure. While writing that post, I realized (and shared) that "success" was not something I considered to be an option. When considering possible outcomes to any given situation, my goal was to fail in the least painful way. This realization gave me hope. 

Maybe I fail because I choose to... and maybe if I choose to succeed, I will.

Around this same time, a dear friend approached me about buying into her online business. The business has been very good to her. VERY good. Like, "she just quit her regular job to do this full time" good. I was just on the verge of agreeing to join her, when someone pointed out that I'd never put that much effort into marketing my art... and that if I did, I might be just as successful.

With all this in mind I committed to give painting 100%.  For me, right now, this comes in the form of doing "Paint With Me by Southern Breezes" classes/parties. You know the drill... I walk you through a painting and when we are done, you have a work of art all your own. 

I have shamelessly marketed weekly classes on social media. I have shamelessly asked people to come to a class (only when I think their completed painting would make them happy).  The whole process has been more uncomfortable than I can express. 

I woke up Sunday morning with only 2 people signed up for this week's class. I was SICK. I almost canceled it. I REALLY considered just calling it quits all together, but then reminded myself that I was gonna give 100% until the end of the year... just to test this "I fail because I quit before I have a chance to succeed" theory. I prepared myself to make the best out of a 2 person class. I made the conscious decision to follow through, to NOT quit, to not chicken out... to just follow the plan... this week that simply meant hosting a paint class with 2 people. 

Would you believe that by Tuesday morning I had NINE people signed up for this week's class??? I kept getting messages and emails that read something like "is there still room in this class? can you please fit me in?" and "I know I missed the deadline, but could you let me know if you have a cancellation?" and "I forgot to message you earlier, can I still come to the class tonight?"

Y'all... my poor little defeated heart SOARED! 

I know that sometimes we have to cut our losses and get out of something that isn't beneficial. However, let's not confuse "this isn't beneficial to me" with "I'm scared I'll fail."  Failure is not fatal and we won't know if we can succeed unless we try...REALLY try.

Just my thoughts..

K

Thursday's Thoughts on... the luxury of being too busy to write

When I don't write, one of 2 things has happened... I've gotten really depressed or I've gotten really busy.

I've been really busy these past few weeks.... and I haven't written... because I have the option to write or not write. No one is gonna be upset with me if I don't post something here every Thursday. I'm not sure anyone would even notice... which is a good thing... I think.

I was thinking about this on Sunday morning as the hubs got up to preach and it hit me... he CAN'T have a week where he just doesn't "feel it." He can't have a week that he doesn't seek a message from God... cause, ya know... that's kind of his job.

Of course, I am tempted to add a little "but it IS his job and he can work on his sermon all day for 5 days at work," and I SUPPOSE this may seem true for anyone who isn't in the ministry... but for those of us who are, we know that "Sermon Prep time" is not honored by the typical church member.... or anyone else except other preachers... and maybe not even with them. 

Not only that... but honestly, on weeks when I have nothing to say, it wouldn't matter if I sat at the key board for 27 hours straight... the screen is still gonna be blank. So on weeks when I have nothing to say... i say nothing.

A preacher does not have that option. He doesn't have the option to skip a week. He doesn't have the option to be too tired or depressed or stressed out to write a sermon. He doesn't have the option to be "too busy" to write a sermon. 

I've been married to "the Preacher" for almost 23 years.  I sit on the pew every week like most of you and totally take the sermon for granted. Today I am amazed that he is able to prepare a sermon week after week, no matter what life is throwing at our church, our family or him personally. 

Makes me respect him a bit more and appreciate him a lot more. I hope these thoughts help you see the effort and sacrifice behind YOUR pastor's sermons... and will encourage you to let him know that you appreciate what he does to deliver God's Word to you each week.

Just my thoughts,

K

Get Fit Friday

This Week's Goal: Do I even have goals anymore? LOL

Did I meet it? I have no idea.

Biggest Accomplishment: I DID get in the gym and I DID IF 16 hours or more 4 days this week

I'm feeling... energized, excited, hopeful, READY FOR COOLER WEATHER

Next week's Goal:  IF 16 hours or more 4 days, 1 24 hour fast, in the gym 4 days

It's Important to me because: I don't want to lose the benefits I gained from PLS training

What I need to succeed: Baby steps. Just keep going and don't give up. Focus on the process and let the results come when they come.