"SHE KNOWS WHO SHE IS. SHE JUST FORGOT FOR A WHILE. ~DONALD MILLER
How do you know how to spend your time? That you're doing what matters most?
Have you ever heard the scripture, “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”?
Since you’re reading this, I already know a little about you and, most likely, you know a little about me. (I’d guess your answer is yes on the scripture above.)
I bet we have some things in common.
We’re women. There is a strength about you, and like me, your Christian faith is at the core of who you are. Not the religious form of Christianity, but having a deep rooted relationship with Christ. Growing with new and more strength every day drives you. It plays a HUGE role in how you determine how to spend your time
Oh, and we can’t forget…we are B U S Y.
What does daily life look like for you?
How do you manage it all – your faith, family, career, household, health and wellness?
What should it look like in comparison?
Maybe there are a lot of ideas in your mind of what you think it should look like. Often, it ALL sounds like something we should be doing and it’s overwhelming.
How do you know how to spend your time and that it’s spent on what matters most? That when our lives come to an end, we know we lived in the fullness of who we are and are at peace with how we ‘managed it all’?
Don’t stop reading now! I have a few things I know you’re going to want to grab a hold of below.
BEGIN WITH UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 'SHOULDS' VS 'KNOWING'
We all have ideas of the ‘shoulds’ in our lives – what everyone thinks we should do. But we often have very little awareness of our own thoughts, feelings, and desires. We simply don’t know.
Knowing is actually one way (as we saw in the scripture at the beginning) that God intends to build your solid self and drive you into your deepest integrity where we become free from operating in shoulds and we operate from a place of knowing.
You will “know” the truth and the truth will set you free.
You make decisions every day of what you “should” do and on how to spend your time. Our culture and how we view ourselves is literally made up of how well we do what we “should” be doing.
As women, we make a really big deal about other women that seem to be doing everything they should. We want to know their secrets, tips, and tricks on how they do it.
Come on now, we know by now that everything looking ‘as it should’ is not the same as KNOWING it is. It’s just that we have decided to listen to and celebrate the shoulds.
I’ve come to realize that what we perceive or think we ‘should do’ is the exact thing that will either keep us in overwhelm or set us free. If our perception is wrong, we can look for clarity and even operate in clarity of what we think we should be doing and be wrong.
Seeking truth is greater than seeking clarity.
On my journey to find tips, tricks and life hacks to help me “feel” better about all of the things I was involved in and the insecurities, frustrations and overwhelm I was facing, I found that the ultimate secret was to operate from a place of knowing.
WHAT DOES SHE KNOW?
She knows her values, her opinions, her thoughts, her weak points, and her desires. She knows herself.
From this place, others will sense your peace, and they’ll say ~
“Oh she knows” and they’ll want to know too.
Developing this solid sense of self, answering “what do you think, what are your feelings, and what are your desires”, is the place to start.
It’s a journey and a process that takes a lifetime.
HOW DOES SHE GET TO A PLACE OF KNOWING?
In last week’s blog, we went deep on How To Replace Your Should Mindset With Truth. This process is pivotal in finding a solid sense of who you are and walking in that knowledge.
I’ve had seasons when I have a solid focus on what matters most, and then there have been seasons that I have been unsteady in my confidence in this area.
When it creeps back in, I now make the decision to slow down and regain a handle on the truth of who I am and who God has shown me that I am.
This is often easy to say or recite. It can be challenging however, to rest in and solidly K N O W.
Resting in this knowing takes ongoing effort on our part because with each growth pressure point, ‘ knowing’ is challenged.
I highly encourage you to head over there and read that information. I can’t tell you enough how it’s helped me as I’ve navigated this journey during places in my life that have brought these questions to the forefront.
WHERE TO START
I challenge you to begin sooner rather than later. Consider taking a few moments to work through this visualization exercise to start your journey.
The next few moments are steps towards walking in confidence around the truth about who you are and what matters most in your life.
Grab a notebook and journal out the thoughts that come to your mind as you read through the following prompts. (Check out the journal I use and designed specifically for the journey I’ve been on)
Ready to Spend Time?
Imagine it’s 10 years down the road, and you are a decade older. You are living the life you desire, how you spend your time is easy and you know you’re living out the best version of yourself. For this moment, everything you’ve dreamed (or currently not allowing yourself to dream) has come true. Don’t hold back, and don’t overthink it. Just journal it out as it comes to your mind. There are no right answers, just your answers. This is for your eyes only.
Can you see it play out like a movie?
- What does a day in your life look like?
- How does it feel to imagine this? (peaceful, guilty, fulfilling, heavenly)
- Does it seem like a dream and unrealistic? Does it excite you?
Be specific – journal it all out…as you write your story.
Allowing yourself to picture this life might begin to reveal some things you haven’t understood about yourself. Maybe you hold back from time to time because you want to be who others want you to be. I get that, I promise, but I also promise you, it’s ok to set that down for a few moments and think, “what are my initial thoughts when these questions come to mind. Not what sounds good for others to read, but what would it look like if I honestly did not think about the thoughts of others for just this moment?
When you gain an awareness of your thoughts, feelings and desires you naturally find yourself doing what matters most.
I am proud of you. It takes courage to begin to understand your own desires.
I’d love to continue helping you along this journey to truly know yourself and rest in knowing how to spend your time. Comment below, email me, shoot me a DM on Instagram, or simply subscribe below for more of my tips on getting there! Let’s be friends.
