[ Guest Post: Meet Jamie]
Jamie is one of those crazy beautiful friends of mine on both the inside and on the out. It's hard to find a combo like that, right?! We met in January 2010 in a young married's Bible study at our church and we also got involved in a women's Bible study together. We always connected by a few major similiarities: we're perfectionists, we're control freaks, we're blog lovers, and we're people pleasers. We both know it of the other, so we can just throw it out there and say it, right Jamie?! :)
This amazing friend has grown so much in the time that I've known her, developing qualities and characteristics of that of the Proverbs 31 woman. She blows me away with all of the hats she wears: devoted & caring wife, teacher at an adorable little charter school, student (getting her Master's Degree while working full-time), faithful friend, workout enthusiast, gluten-free cook, and so much more.
Thank you, Jamie, for your friendship and for contributing today!
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Something has truly been on my mind and I've realized that it is time to get real. I'm going to let you in on one of my huge downfalls. I am a "people pleaser", desire acceptance, and have a huge fear of failure.
A couple days ago I was talking to Heather, and we were both saying how hard it is to deal with our fear of failure. But we agreed that we have to put our foot out there, trust that God will meet us in our fears, and take the risks. After I talked to Heather I went to yoga, and oh boy did my fear of failure truly meet me there! I was working on my headstand, and no matter how hard I tried I just could not get up. My yoga instructor knew I had the strength to do it, but was letting my mind hold me back because of my fear of falling or holding myself up, etc.
Then, as one negative thought formed in my mind, a chain reaction occurred and a flood of more negative thoughts took over. You see, I love blogs but I always see these cute DIY projects, homes, dishes, etc. and think to myself that I could never do that. My house will never look like that, my bedroom will never be so cutely decorated, my classroom will never be that organized. It's in these negative thoughts that I have to seek God, knowing that He has a purpose for me and I am living it. My purpose may not be to be a cutesy homemaker, a great crafter, a crazy organized teacher.
But, He has made me a wife, daughter, beautiful friend, teacher, seeker of JOY, motivated, caring, compassionate, responsible, and inspired.
A couple days ago I was talking to Heather, and we were both saying how hard it is to deal with our fear of failure. But we agreed that we have to put our foot out there, trust that God will meet us in our fears, and take the risks. After I talked to Heather I went to yoga, and oh boy did my fear of failure truly meet me there! I was working on my headstand, and no matter how hard I tried I just could not get up. My yoga instructor knew I had the strength to do it, but was letting my mind hold me back because of my fear of falling or holding myself up, etc.
Then, as one negative thought formed in my mind, a chain reaction occurred and a flood of more negative thoughts took over. You see, I love blogs but I always see these cute DIY projects, homes, dishes, etc. and think to myself that I could never do that. My house will never look like that, my bedroom will never be so cutely decorated, my classroom will never be that organized. It's in these negative thoughts that I have to seek God, knowing that He has a purpose for me and I am living it. My purpose may not be to be a cutesy homemaker, a great crafter, a crazy organized teacher.
But, He has made me a wife, daughter, beautiful friend, teacher, seeker of JOY, motivated, caring, compassionate, responsible, and inspired.
I found this on Pinterest and it is a daily reminder to press on for God's purpose for me. Seeing who I am in His eyes is more important than what I accomplished, what I blogged about, who I cooked for, or what I made. Instead of seeing images and thinking what I can't do or have not yet done, I need to focus on who I am and my successes.
Coping with the struggle of comparing myself to others is a daily battle, but I know that I have to live to do on purpose. Change the negative and turn it into a positive. My house may not be clean, but it is lived in. Our living room may not be decorated, but it holds precious memories. My classroom may not be a 5-star palace, but it creates an environment in which children learn to read.
Coping with the struggle of comparing myself to others is a daily battle, but I know that I have to live to do on purpose. Change the negative and turn it into a positive. My house may not be clean, but it is lived in. Our living room may not be decorated, but it holds precious memories. My classroom may not be a 5-star palace, but it creates an environment in which children learn to read.
Change the negative and turn it into a positive!
Stop on over & visit Jamie's cute & fabulous blog, The News from LaFuze.
Stop on over & visit Jamie's cute & fabulous blog, The News from LaFuze.
