I continue to be amazed at how much can change in one year. I have seen this over and over again in my life, but it's still shocking how much things can change and be different in that year.
This year is no different. I look back at my memories on Facebook (thanks Facebook) and I see that this time last year, I was in final preparation mode for my wedding. This year, I am in final preparation mode for selling my house. By myself. Nobody could have prepared me for what was to come following my wedding. No one could've prepared me for this summer. And nobody could've prepared me for just how life altering others' decisions can be. The beauty of life, however, is that these changes are often necessary for us to grow into who we are truly meant to be. Difficult situations are not fun to go through, by any means. But they help us see that we are stronger than we believe and we can persevere. We all have different seasons in our lives. There are seasons of growth, seasons of despair, and seasons of pure joy. And it's how we navigate through those seasons that really make us who we are. For instance, do you fall apart when you're in a season of despair? Or do you find an inner strength that you didn't know you had to help you get through that season? How about those seasons of joy? Are you humble? Or do you rub it in people's faces? And those seasons of growth. I know those can often be the most difficult to go through, especially because you don't always see what the outcome will actually be. How do you handle those? Do you roll with the punches? Or do you fall apart when something doesn't go your way, or the way that you think it should, or the way that you want it to? Yes, I know it is so cliché, but it is so true that you can tell who a person is by how they react to the different seasons in their lives. I've gone through a lot of different seasons this summer, and I know it's just beginning. And while people continue to tell me that I am handling the situation with grace, I know that I haven't always been or reacted the best. But I'm finding my way, slowly but surely. And I know I will come out of this so much stronger than I ever thought possible. Stay tuned for my post next week, where you will get a little more insight to exactly what happened this summer. Have a beautifully blessed week! With love and wellness, Whitney
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This past weekend, my team hosted an amazing get together, where we enjoyed each other's company, ate a little bit, drank a little bit more, and really dove deep into our thoughts about our businesses.
I didn't know what to expect going into it, but at some point in the evening, we were asked to write down a fear we had in our businesses so we could throw them in the fire and release them! I hadn't ever voiced any fears I had, but I immediately knew what I wanted to write. Without hesitation, I wrote that I was afraid of being too successful. I know it sounds crazy, but I have always had this fear of being too much for others or worse, not enough. And I think because of that, I tend to play small. So when I have something so amazing in my lap, I don't give it 100% or allow myself to reach full potential in whatever it is. It sounds so crazy to say it out loud, or in this case, to write it out, but I feel so much lighter having it out of my subconscious and out in the open. The reality is this summer has been hard. Like, nothing I ever would have thought I'd experience in my life hard. And while I tried my hardest to not let it affect my business, it has. I put a lot of things on the back burner because I didn't have the energy to focus on anything but figuring out my new reality and trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. And let me just tell you, that makes it kind of difficult when you are building a business. I mean, duh. And while I hoped and wished things would continue going well, they have drastically slowed down. Because here's the truth: I can hope and wish all I want, but NOTHING is going to change unless I work for it! And NOTHING is going to change unless I embrace exactly where I am in life and KNOW, without a doubt, that I am made for greatness. It doesn't matter what has happened to me or how life has changed, I am the only one in control of my actions and what happens next in my business. So I'm done sitting back, hoping and wishing for great things to happen. I am putting this out there so I have all of you as accountability partners! It's time to get to WORK! I was born for great things and to be wildly successful! So you better believe that is EXACTLY what's going to happen! No more feeling sorry for myself, no more hoping for things to happen, just me picking myself up, dusting myself off, and moving forward...with HUGE goals in mind! I don't know about you, but I am ready to WORK for it. I am ready to prove myself wrong! That I am ENOUGH and that I will never be too much for the right person, business, thing, etc. Screw waiting for New Year's to set these goals! I am ready NOW! Who is with me? I hope y'all have a beautiful week! Embrace your journey, embrace where you are, but don't get stuck there! Don't get stuck just hoping and wishing your life away...WORK for exactly what you want! With love and wellness, Whitney I'm the type of person who likes to have all the answers. I like to know what's coming next. And I don't like making big decisions without having all the answers.
But do you know how well that works? Let me help you out... IT DOESN'T!! If I waited to have all the answers or to know what was coming next, I would be forever in a holding pattern. I would never move forward. And I would be stuck in the same place. How boring does that sound?! Yes, making changes and moving forward without seeing or knowing what's ahead can be scary. Believe me, I know and understand this really well. It actually gives me anxiety when I am in situations like this. And I've been here before. Not knowing what decision to make or what next step to take. It's so difficult. I tend to go back and forth about what's right or what's best. And I've found when I try to control the outcome, it tends to backfire. I have to trust in God that He has my best interests in mind. That all I can do is make the best decision for me with the information I have at that time. So here's where I have to confess and maybe eat a little crow. If you recall my post from a few weeks back about marriage and leaving, I now know that making the decision to leave, just like making the decision to stay, is insanely difficult. There is no "easy" about anything when it comes to marriage. Let me be very clear about one thing: I have zero idea what the future holds for me, but I HAVE to move forward. I can't be stuck in this same place over the next several months or even years. I would be absolutely miserable. Oh - and to clear up one more thing: life is going to move forward, with or without me (or you). How do you think it would feel if you woke up one morning and realized life had just passed you by? That you had been stuck in the same place for months, years, decades? I don't know about you, but I don't want to end up that way. Not even remotely. So here's to having faith in myself, faith in God, and taking risks. I'm going to think big, even if it's scary. Because life is good. I am blessed. And I'm not staying in the same place. Nope...not happening! Remember...you don't have to have it all figured out to move forward! I hope you have a beautiful week! Stay strong, think big, have faith, take risks. It won't always be easy, but it will always be worth it! With love and wellness, Whitney I am by far, the most stubborn, hardheaded person I know. I struggle with asking for help. I feel like I need to be this strong, independent woman all the time. Even when it drives me into the ground.
However, these last three months have proven to me, time and again, how thankful and grateful I am for all the friends who have helped me in so many ways, even when I didn't know how to ask for it. People would ask me what I need and what they could help with and I honestly had no idea how to answer. Not because I didn't want the help, but because I honestly didn't know what I needed. Or wanted. I've learned to swallow my pride and to ask for the help, even with the seemingly little things. It doesn't make me weak and it doesn't make me any less of that strong, independent woman that I want to be. It simply means that I know my boundaries. And I know what's going to push me beyond my limits. And the beautiful part of it is that people are willing and able to help. Don't ever forget that there are people out there who support and love you and will be there for you, through the highs and lows of life. And there's part of me that forgot that. And because of that, I struggled for the first part of the summer. No matter what you're going through or how bad it seems, your friends and family will have your back. And you'll be surprised at the people who step up and offer anything you need. I promise, you're never alone. And I know that I'm speaking as if I'm talking to you… But I needed this reminder, as well. The love, support, the help, the shoulders to cry on… All of these things have been overwhelmingly amazing and I know I will never be able to say thank you enough. Believe me, I know how hard it is to ask for help. To admit that you can't do everything on your own. But it's OK to ask. There are things that we aren't meant to go through alone. Nor should we have to. So just remember, there are people out there who love you and will support you and will help you, and all you have to do is ask. I love y'all. Thank you so much for your continued support and reading my blog every Monday. I hope you are getting something out of them. And if there's anything specific you'd like me to talk about, let me know in the comments. I hope you have a beautiful week and that you ask for help if you need it. With love and wellness, Whitney |
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