Beautifully Unbalanced

I go into each day, week, month and season with a list of goals. I’m realistic and very disciplined in working towards them. This Summer was unlike other Summers in that while I had still made a list, I made a big adjustment to it and decided that most of what I wanted to do could wait.

The house projects, hosting, blog/clients, and activities I thought I’d have room for would take away from time with Vivian and my family. She’s 7 and entering 2nd grade and while every Summer with her is precious I felt this one in particular needed a majority of my attention.

So I chose to give most of my ‘yeses’ to being present with my family and let the rest keep!

Note: this was NOT always easy as I thrive on productivity!

If you were to make a pie graph of my summer it would look a lot like packman, one big piece of family and a single slice for the rest. I couldn’t be happier about these proportions!

I resist it strongly, but I needed rest. I’m not a machine! I evaluated my responsibilities and prayed hard to choose wisely what took my time. His Word, My job (I manage a private medical practice), our home, exercise, and FUN were the priorities.

The rest could wait or receive attention while Vivian was away at camp.

One thing I’ve done for a few years now is partner with a friend to do a bible study.

This Summer it was ‘ The Best Yes’ by Lysa Terkeurst

We did a few chapters each week and gathered to discuss. I even made us a study guide with questions (I’m happy to share it with you) that really helped us dive deeper into our personal circumstances to grow. The fellowship blessed us just as much as the study!

God put this book on my heart to study as I navigate a culture with endless demands for more. It has changed my life!

I feel encouraged to lean on God for discernment on what I say yes and no to. There is so much in this book that helped me look at my life and my purpose to see what is the BEST to say yes to.

Here are some of my favorite takeaways:

Be intentional with what’s important. Schedule it.

The decisions I make -> determine the schedule I keep -> determines the life I live

Not all assignments are my assignments.

Wisdom makes decisions today that will still be good tomorrow.

Evaluate requests/decisions on their fit physically, financially, spiritually, and emotionally.

Whatever attitude we bring will be multiplied.

We steer where we stare.

Evaluate expectations on whether it’s realistic to say yes or no considering my time, ability, money, passion and season.

There is a right next thing to do.

Whenever I say yes to something, there is less of me for something else. Is my yes worth the less?

I encourage you to read this book. Even better, do it alongside a friend!

I have no regrets however I feel that once school does start next week it will feel like drinking from a fire hose facing all the things I set aside.

I miss my friends, gathering, being involved, writing, styling, decorating, organizing the list goes on …

Next week starts a new season of decisions and I look forward to saying yes to more on this space.

Dress Beautifully Making Your Best Yes Decisions