Have you ever slipped into a fog needing just a hint of encouragement to lift your spirit? I felt that way this morning. Later on I met my girlfriend who wore a t-shirt that read, “DOING IT!” Now that immediately caught my attention. The one thing I needed today was a forward shove. We hear all the time the other Nike slogan, “Just Do It” but how many of us are actually “Doing It?” (This by the way is one of Nike’s slogans too).
I looked my girlfriend in the eye and said, “I’m doing it!” Immediately an upwelling release and upsurge of relief literally came over me. Reminiscing this morning’s quiet time reading of God’s commission to Joshua in chapter 1 of that book, God says to Joshua in verse 9:
” Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
It’s a win-win, so, I’m “DOING IT!” What about you?
Doing what?
Getting comfortable at being uncomfortable! When you are walking in God’s design and doing what He’s called you to do, you have to get uncomfortable. When your old comfort space can no longer contain you, then you’re ready for bigger and better things. But first you must rid yourself of the comfort notion. Average people strive to remain comfortable and safe. Above-average people are willing to brave the risk of ridicule, embarrassment and the unknown in doing, seeing, having or experiencing something that has never been done before.
Look at the publisher, Dianna Hobbs of this wonderful magazine, Empowering Everyday Women.
Five years ago Dianna was neither a recording artist, TV personality, radio talk-show host or being honored at the 2013 Stellar Awards! I’ve never had this conversation with her, but it must have been an uncomfortable step for her to broaden her reach and embrace a new horizon. But she did it!
Peter had no qualms about stepping into the unknown either!
In the Bible, Peter was doing it. Peter got very uncomfortable and he was also a big thinker too. Although it was obviously comfortable for him to stay in the boat, he stepped out on faith and began to walk on the water. Yes it was uncomfortable at first; however Peter soon became comfortable operating like Jesus, well outside his comfort space. In fact, Peter was completely personally developed and transformed from a timid man into a bold faith man who became contented ministering salvation to thousands.
All too often we embrace the comfort of a safe space and undoubtedly miss out on the adventures of exploring new territories that can possibly catapult us to higher heights and the possibility of prominent progressions.
Now let’s talk about you. What has been holding you captive from “Doing it?” Let me help you here. After you have done new things consistently for a while, you begin to feel yourself becoming a different person. Seeing yourself this way is essential to any major growth step.
Right now, do yourself a favor and list ten things that you would love to do that will cause you some discomfort. Think about exhilarating experiences which may cause you to feel completely uneasy and perhaps a bit scary if you do them. Here are some examples to help jog your thoughts:
- Designing a new look for yourself totally out of your comfort zone
- Speaking in front of a large audience
- Looking for a new job in a different field you’ve always dreamed of working
- Starting that new business idea that burns in your heart
Now write your list.
Because you’ve identified some things that will stretch you, now you must design a plan. How you may ask? By doing these:
Learning, understanding and practicing.
Is fear knocking at your door? Ladies, please; open that door and stare fear in the eyes while remaining immune to its poison. Fear is nothing more than your Forgetting Everything About Reality.
I’ve given you both a contemporary and historic example of what can happen when you have the courage to stretch yourself. And anyway, true courage is not the absence of fear; it is a realization that something else is more important than fear. If it were not so, then God would not have said, “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Now choose one item from your list above and implement the plan to accomplish it in the next thirty to ninety days. Share it with me in the comments section below, or email me at dmurphy@eewmagazine.com.