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    • Love Your Personal Growth
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Empowered Moms and Kids

Momma, Go for Your Dreams! Let Faith Overcome Your Fear

(Inside: Go for your dreams, momma. Do you need courage to pursue your dreams? Do you wish you would take that first step to follow your dreams? Read on…)

My entire heart wanted to say yes, but I worried I wouldn’t measure up.

An email had popped into my inbox inviting me to speak to a mom’s group of eighty women. It included a topic I must research and vulnerable stories I needed to share to make the point. 

Then that speaking engagement led to another invitation…then another. I even got to be a presenter at an online mom conference,  meaning I made a video and uploaded it to The Actual YouTube. (Somebody, hold me.)

I’ve felt led to write and speak and teach for years. This dream has pulsed deep in my gut for so long, I knew I needed to stir the comfort-pot in my life and get my name out there. 

But…

(Why is there always a “but?”)

go for your dreams

Alongside the strong feeling of being led to do something came a feeling of fear. (I hate admitting that!)

Since I’m being honest, though, let me explain more. Once that reply “yes” left my sent box to both that first speaking request and all of them after, I felt a cold sweat course through my body. Then, this thought pounced: What if I can’t do this well enough? Even though I feel called – that doesn’t mean I’m going to be good.

(Stick with me in my irrational thinking here.)

I mean, God is awesome, so shouldn’t everything He leads us to do be done with all his glory and awesomeness? So, if I can’t do this task with complete awesomeness, with the funniest of funny stories, with the most profound-est of profound points, while holding the entire audience captive despite not knowing how well they slept last night – should I be trying at all?

These perfectionistic-style thoughts can immobilize me. They can stop me midstep and spin worry like a boss as I talk myself out actually following the “inner knowings” God places in my soul. 

But then again, those defeating thoughts don’t really sit well in my brain either, because…there’s another “but,” and this one is worth holding our attention.

But…haven’t we all been impacted in amazing ways through imperfect people?

Mrs. Klagus, my high school Algebra II and Precalculus math teacher, inspired me to study education and become a teacher. 

However, she didn’t teach perfect lessons and wear a smooth bun at the base of her head. Nope. I took her class when the school introduced the fancy graphing calculators and she told us from the get-go, she’d be learning with us.  The class buzzed of talking, clicking away at our calculators, numbers, question, and figuring it out. The bumpy learning was so fun and effective that I wanted “in.”  

I am a high school math teacher because of Mrs. Klagus.

Furthermore, I can name numerous coaches, friends, my beloved parents, and other family members who imperfectly walk through life – but, still deeply move me, shape me, and inspire me. 

Moms, as we go for our dreams, it won’t be perfect. But it doesn’t have to be – God works in powerful ways through imperfect people. Imperfect people are incredibly effective. 

Also, haven’t we all been impacted in amazing ways through the “ordinary” and “average?”

Here I am ready to do the work to be the funniest of funny and profound-est of profound speakers but wait a sec… if, I’m “ordinary,” can’t I still make an impact? After all, doesn’t God call us to ordinary tasks and move in huge ways through the simple? 

One of my favorite speakers shares her heart in the same way as a girlfriend I’ve met for a cup of coffee would, and I always leave her teaching pondering something. 

Also, don’t most of us chip away at our jobs, fulfilling the daily grind, but making powerful influences because of the collective consistent effort? 

Aren’t we all effective in parenting through the “ordinary” moments? Meals, rides, homework check-ins, laundry, sports, and more meals. I look back at my own childhood and the most influential moments were the conversations around the dinner table, my mom’s car idling when I walked out after practice, and family prayers before bed. 

In our friendships, aren’t some of the best things that we can do is not to say something amazing, but instead, show up in love and vulnerability to simply be there?

Moms, what if we show up for our dream – we research, prepare, and practice, and we turn out to only be ordinary? Well, bravo, we did it, because…

God works in mighty ways through ordinary moments. Ordinary can be extraordinarily effective. 

So how come I can hesitate because I fear that what God has called me to do, I might not be able to do awesome enough?

God is so much bigger than the idea that everything must be awesome. So, be still my shaky hands reminding me that I might not pull this speaking dream off with the abundant amount of confetti I’d prefer.

Because it doesn’t matter – God’s put a calling on my heart and I’m going for it. 

Momma with a dream you feel like you need to chase after, consistently show up with love and truth and hard work. But, also, know that sometimes we’re going to be amazing and other times not-so-much. 

But that’s just fine – because if we’re imperfect, well, we can still be effective. And if we’re “just okay,” we can also still be effective. 

God moves in mighty ways through imperfection and transforms abundantly through ordinary. 

So, let’s let our faith can be bigger than our fear and send off our “yes reply.” Then, we can confidently tell our racing heart to settle down. Because we’ve got this. We really do.

Momma going for that #dream – remember, if we're imperfect, well, we can still be effective. And if we're "just okay," we can also still be effective. So, #followyourheart with #confidence. Read on… #momlife #motherhood #parents Click To Tweet

Read the Full Series on Self-Care & Inspiration for Moms

go for your dreams

Why is self-care so hard for moms? Y’all, I ignored it for so long, that I had an epic mom crash. (I talk about it over here.) I never want to go there again, so it’s game on, self-care!

I recently listened to a podcast by the author of my favorite book on creativity (affiliate link), Liz Gilbert, where she talked about how she feels like she been given the divine responsibility of being in charge of “Liz,” so needs to do what’s best for “Liz.”

Okay, I hope I don’t mess up the interpretation of what she said too much, but let me tell you how it went into my heart…

God gives us the sacred responsibility of taking care of ourselves. So, I need to see myself in the 3rd person. I need to step outside of myself in and say, “Cheryl doesn’t need to be doing that. She’s done enough..she needs sleep, or to say ‘no,’ or to sit and pet her beloved dog.”

For this go-go-go, do-all-the-things girl, that way of explaining our self-obligation was powerful. Self-care is vital. We better serve our family and communities when we are in a good place. So, be encouraged by the full series on self-care and other inspiration for moms.

Self-care & Inspiration for Moms

INSPIRATION TO REFUEL MOMS
Free eBook: Christian Meditations for Busy Moms Just Like You
Best Podcasts Every Mom Needs to Hear
5 Best Relaxing Songs to Make Your Day Better
60+ Encouraging and Inspirational Best Books for Mothers
Need Hope? Look for it – Hope will Always Come Back to You
Momma, Go for Your Dreams! Let Faith Overcome Your Fear

SELF-CARE IN THE CHAOS
8 Reasons Why “Me Time” for Moms is Good FOR YOUR KIDS
The Power of Finding Peace and Joy In the Choas of Momlife
Moms Need a Break and Good Things Can Come of It
Good Parenting Skills: The Single Best Thing Parents Can Do (Free Mini-eBook)

Join this community of moms raising tweens and teens

You just dropped one kid off at practice, picked up another, and are trying to decide what to make for dinner. Your days are filled with work, parenting, and waiting for password reset emails.

You are parenting tweens and teens.

It’s an amazing life-phase, but also challenging in unique ways. In it all, you’d love a little encouragement to help you laugh, grow in faith, see parenting hacks, get ideas to connect with your kid, and celebrate the awesome momma you are. 

I got you, friend. Sign up for Empowered Moms and Kids monthly emails and get encouragement in your inbox geared for someone exactly in your life-chapter. It’s totally free and you can unsubscribe at any time. 

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parenting tweens and teens
Cheryl Donely

Cheryl is a mom of 3 boys, wife, speaker, high school teacher, and author of Empowered Moms & Kids. She has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and is passionate about learning and teaching. On www.empoweredmomsandkids.com you’ll find inspiration and encouragement for moms raising tweens and/or teens. Read more in the “about” section of this page.

Tags: faith, inspiration, Motherhood, self-care

14 comments

  • Deb Wolf November 22, 2014 at 4:42 pm Reply

    I love this. Just doing what we are called to do. Showing up and giving Him glory! Amen. Thanks so much for joining the Blessing Counters Party!

  • Cindy Hasko November 22, 2014 at 7:32 pm Reply

    Ohhhhh Cheryl!! This is so awesome!!!!! I feel called to do so much for God and as little things are slowly coming together, I am like "Whoa!" I was just telling my best friend "What if I slip and mess up what God wants me to do!?" …or, "it's already been done and said 100 other different ways!?" That is the devil trying to mess with our heads. The devil puts feelings and thoughts of fear in us to distract us on what we are called to do for Jesus! The only fear we need, is the fear of God and in the end, we all need to be confident that we did all that He called us to do. What if YOU are the next Beth Moore!? 😉 Ya never know!!! I love your blog posts!! I visit so many website blogs that are so empty or they post, just to post. Your blog posts are full of Christ and His gentle whisper of His reminders. Thank you for that!! I'm so happy I "met" ya and your blog 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!! xoxo

  • sinceibecameamom November 23, 2014 at 12:44 am Reply

    Cindy, I am so happy I met you too!!! I was just thinking that earlier today!

  • sinceibecameamom November 23, 2014 at 12:44 am Reply

    Thanks for letting me join!:)

  • Dawn November 23, 2014 at 2:24 am Reply

    Absolutely! Whatever we do, when we do it for His glory, it is certainly important and necessary. 1 Cor 10:31. It is pretty awesome, though to be able to get up and speak in to the hearts of women as you share what God is leading you to. Way to go! May he provide many more moments of opportunity for you to share your faith from the podium to the coffee shop table, and more.
    Blessings,
    Dawn

  • sinceibecameamom November 23, 2014 at 11:27 pm Reply

    Thanks for the encouragement Dawn!

  • Jayne Marti November 24, 2014 at 1:10 pm Reply

    Thank you for the encouragement in this post. Fear of failure, not measuring up, has always been one of my main obstacles. But God doesn't want us to live in fear – thanks for the reminder!

  • Brittany at Equipping Godly Women November 27, 2014 at 11:57 pm Reply

    That is so awesome that you got to speak! I would have loved to have heard you!

  • sinceibecameamom November 29, 2014 at 2:31 pm Reply

    I can relate! Thanks for commenting!

  • sinceibecameamom November 29, 2014 at 2:31 pm Reply

    Thanks, Brittany!

  • Terri Presser December 1, 2014 at 12:16 pm Reply

    It is so wonderful when we get to do what God wants us to do and we know it, there is something so exciting in this, yet there is also some fear attached. No one wants to let God down, but knowing that He loves us no matter what gets us through. Thanks for sharing at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings

  • JES December 5, 2014 at 5:42 pm Reply

    Being steadfast in everything is often over-looked in this over-amusing, attention needy world but it is ever so important to God (and your children). Thank you for sharing this encouraging message on the Art of Home-Making Mondays. We hope you continue to join us each week!

  • sinceibecameamom December 7, 2014 at 2:37 pm Reply

    Thank you so much for letting me link up!

  • sinceibecameamom December 7, 2014 at 2:38 pm Reply

    I love linking up with you! Thank you!

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