Do you feel called to do something, be something, or create something? Does life keep getting in the way? Here are some thoughts on doing that.
Do you feel called to write a book, build a course, launch or expand a business, create a sustainable property, offer retreats, build a healing practice, start a nonprofit, form a ministry, etc.? Does life keep throwing a monkey wrench into your plans? Life has a way of doing that to most of us. So, here are some thoughts on keeping your momentum going when life keeps getting in the way.
Waiting for Ducks to Line Up
We often want our schedule to be cleared so we can devote it to this thing that God is asking us to do. We want everything to line up — all the resources to materialize, the people to show up, the finances to be there, the knowledge and experience to be there. We have a tendency to look for this big window to open up where all our ducks are in a row, and everything falls into place for us to do what we feel called to do. The reality is, this rarely ever happens. We’ve got to do what God is asking us to do alongside the everyday tasks, hassles, inconveniences and responsibilities of life.
For example, I’ve had a painful case of sciatica since March 12th. It’s gradually getting better. I’m finding some things to help, but in the process, I haven’t been able to do much to help around our house and property.
My husband, Dave, and I feel like part of our purpose is to prepare our property to hold retreats and day classes on connecting with God in nature. We’ve held retreats in the past, but our property currently needs some preparatory maintenance. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to do much physically on the property with the sciatic pain. I’ve felt very useless in that regard, and Dave’s had to double up and do a lot of it.
On the flipside, I’ve made some significant emotional and spiritual progress on the messages I’m here to share. I’ve had revolutionary epiphanies that have been an outgrowth of this pit of pain that I’ve been in. My season of disability has caused me to dive deep and release some of my personal fears — like not being good enough, not being perfect enough, needing to earn my value, and even not belonging. These are all typical fears that get in the way of doing what God is asking us to do. My pit of pain has helped me release a lot of these things.
Fast Tracking Even When You Feel Disabled
I was telling Dave that it’s sort of like the moving sidewalks at the airport. You can either walk to your next gate, or sometimes they have those moving sidewalks. You can get on one of those and literally, lean back and let the sidewalk take you where you need to go faster than you can walk there. You can physically rest completely, but you’ll still make great progress.
Sometimes life puts us in these positions where we feel like we’re not physically contributing to forward movement, but we really are making great strides. We’re on some kind of fast track of emotional and spiritual growth. Much of what I’m getting out of my personal pit of pain, I’ve been documenting for a future book. While I’ve not been able to perform physical labor, I’m making progress in other areas.
Looking for Alternative Growth Paths
What can you do alongside your everyday challenges, responsibilities, and setbacks? Life gives you both challenge and support all the time. Which are you going to focus on? Are you going to focus on the challenge? Or are you going to say, “Okay, maybe I’m not able to move forward in this direction because of certain limitations and roadblocks, but how could I move forward in another way? Where could I dive deeper emotionally, mentally, spiritually? What is opening up to you for me?”
Hopefully we get to the point where we’re moving forward in a concerted effort, but let’s face it. We’re all living in a mortal world. There’s always challenges and there’s always obstacles that we can use as excuses to keep us from doing what we feel God calling us to do. So, when those obstacles arise and close one path, look around and ask, “This closed up for me today, what else is opening up? Maybe God’s asking me to step in a different direction. Maybe He’s asking me to climb through a window because a door just closed.”
Would you like to keep the momentum going on what you feel called to do? Please consider joining us for one of our Momentum Circles.
Image created with Bing AI.
Marnie Pehrson Kuhns is a best-selling author, consultant, musician and Certified SimplyAlign Method™ Practitioner who blends decades of business acumen with spiritual wisdom, nature observation, and music to mentor you past barriers, fears, and doubts to find greater peace, love, joy, and fulfillment in daily life. Her motto is “let it be easy.” Her practical, down-to-earth style helps her clients and students accomplish their goals and aspirations in a graceful, fulfilling way. Whether you’re trying to write and publish a book or stay spiritually connected while you deal with the challenges of life and career, Marnie is a resource to you.
Marnie is a bestselling author with 33+ fiction and non-fiction titles ranging from historical fiction and romance to business and inspirational titles. She blogs about nature, creativity, inner peace, and spiritual topics at www.CreationGirl.com and lives and works alongside her husband Dave at Spirit Tree Farms.