Flourish!
Flourish! Just how do we do that when uncertainty and endless challenges seem to be nipping at our heels each day? It doesn’t matter your age, ethnicity, economic class, or location in the world. We are vulnerable to disease, crime, weather, and well… just life.
Here are a couple of things God has been teaching me.
Embrace it. Your attitude and moment-to-moment choices affect you, those around you, and the ultimate outcome. It stagnates your creativity, leaving you stuck and unproductive. Your choice is just to rebound (accepting the ball in your court and holding onto it), or you can flourish (take the ball and run with it). Choosing to flourish will mean accepting, learning, and growing mindfully. It means choosing to see things with a different focus. It allows you to see God’s endless abundant care and love and choose His abundant life. It means you must conscientiously choose to go forward and practice it. Photographers master their lenses and what they focus on. They master the light and what is or isn’t seen, sometimes taking years to become a “master of photography” and continually learning and growing throughout their lifetime.
The word “go” is used 1542 times in the Bible, while “stay” is used only 62 times.
God is always moving forward. Don’t limit God–our Master–to the confines of human thinking. He resides within you, and you have unrestricted access to His divine power, creativity, and resources. You can live in the realm of your divine humanity in Him. You are not just deserving but inherently worthy of His love and attention. You are valued.
Flourishing means you don’t negate your felt needs or emotions—you allow them, but you don’t live in them. It means learning new things, setting new goals, seeing the future, and embracing the truth that God is living in you and will be your Way, your Truth, and your Life.
Finally, don’t isolate yourself. Community and support from others are crucial for progress. That’s why Influence Women events, webinars, and podcasts were created. We want you to connect so you can collaborate and create for Christ – the 4C’s. God created us to be in a relationship, and research tells us that positive change happens in safe, unconditional, and authentic relationships. One of the best aspects of the thriving Influence Women community is the diversity of age. We learn and grow from each other’s experiences and interactions with God. So… connect, engage, and flourish with both seasoned professionals and newbies – all are relevant and valued. For those who feel the industry is only about the “young,” check out this post from Influence Lab co-founder Phil Cooke on how to stay vital in your career and flourish as you age.
Let’s Go!