Take the Time!

It’s ok to feel your emotions.  So many times, we let ourselves ignore them like they are meaningless or the plague.  But they are usually telling us something about ourselves.  

It’s ok to take the time and sit in them.  This step is not easy by any means.  Trust me, I'm a pretty emotional woman, but it's hard for me to express them out loud. Last week I felt powerless against my thoughts and emotions.  I lacked motivation on all levels.  I didn’t want to work out. I didn’t want to talk to anyone.  I knew something was bothering me and I couldn’t figure it out.   The first few days I ignored them completely, binge-watched a show, and read three books in one week. I knew I couldn’t keep going down this road because I knew from experience it wouldn’t lead to good thoughts.  So, by Wednesday of feeling this way, I was like ok emotions I’m in.  I was ready to listen, so I sat with them.   I mean I literally sat in them.  I prayed and journaled and let the thoughts swirl around in my head until BAM, I realized what was going on.  I was hiding behind my lack of motivation and realized the culprit was FEAR and exhaustion.  I know the next steps to making my dreams a reality is completely out of my comfort zone and I was tired of stepping into that. I did it all last year while finishing my book, book readings, promoting my book, quitting my job, and then starting a new job.  I didn’t want to do it again.  It’s scary and a lot of hard work. Being an introvert and shy keeps me wanting to hide.  I want to hide behind amazing stories that take me to another world.  The very place that I want to take my readers.  I was mentally exhausted. 

“When motivation is lacking, that’s where discipline comes into play.”  

This quote kept popping into my head all week.  I probably heard it from one of my coaches at my gym.  Another reason I had to get back there.  They are full of life nuggets like that, plus when you surround yourself with amazing women who are working hard, it inspires you to get your butt back on track.  I was reminded of Joseph from the bible.  He’s my all-time favorite bible dude!  The guy had all the reasons to lack motivation.  Sold in slavery, put into jail for an accusation he didn’t do.  He had every reason to shut down, but he didn’t.  With the time he had while working and being in jail, he prayed and listened to God.  He wasn’t lazy with his time there and God saw that in him and used him to save a whole country.  So here I am, back to the basics.  I’m writing again every day, even if just journaling to get the emotions out.  

It's ok to take the time to sit in the emotions, read a good book, and binge-watch a show.  It’s ok if you are lacking motivation because that is where discipline will show up again.  It’s a reminder that dreams are not easy to get to.  We have to remember that awful word, WORK!  It is what will get us to the dream job, the book finished, the marathon ran, the goal of lifting heavier, healthy friendships and marriages.  It all takes work and work starts with discipline.  Jason and I decided to make that our word of the year.  I love how when we decided to do that, my body crashed against it, and didn’t want to lean in.  But this year we will make it a great year.  What is it you would like to be more disciplined in? Please share below. 

Always Smile,

Michelle