"In your inner soul, you will know if these things are your best "yes". Your best yeses come from things that light you up, that you cannot wait to go and do, that bring fire to you, or that you are truly being called to do." - Michelle Hagen
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With the holidays coming up soon, it can be extra tempting to always feel like you have to say "yes" to everything, but friend, let me remind you that you don't! It is so important that you take the time to stop and ask yourself, "What is most important in this season?" Are the yeses you are saying and the things you are committing to your best yeses?
A bit ago I read a book by Jen Hatmaker called, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards. (Check it out HERE!) In her book, she shares an analogy of walking on a balance beam. While we walk across the balance beam, we are carrying a plate on each hand. We have to choose what we will carefully stack on those plates because if we stack to much on top, they will topple over and crash to the floor.
Just like in this balance beam analogy, in life we have to choose what things are of most importance to us and what we will allow to be stacked on our plates.
More often than not, our society tells us that being "busy" is good and to stack more and more on our plates until we are completely burnt out! This is not healthy and truthfully who does this even benefit? Our plates are in our control and we have the power to decide what to put on them.
If you are feeling like your plates are full, ask yourself:
"Is this request something I need to respond to right now?"
"Can this task wait awhile?"
"Is this responsibility something I can add to my plate?"
"Is this the best 'yes' for me in my current season?"
Trust me, it can really stink to have to say "no" sometimes, but there is so much freedom and peace that can come from knowing when and how to say "no" when you need to. Saying "no" does not necessarily mean never, it just means not right now. Next time you are faced with an invitation to do something when the timing is not right, try saying something like this: "You know what, in this season, I am really busy, but after the new year will you please reach out to me again? I would love to reevaluate at that point and see if I can work that into my schedule."
While it may not be the best time right then, it's still wise to keep those doors of opportunity open. Perhaps it's not the right time for that door to open quite yet, but maybe God is working on you and helping you start thinking about what could happen if that door did open. Pay attention to your heart to see if something starts stirring there that may be preparing you for future opportunities.
What are 1 or 2 things on your plate that are taking up your time and energy? Are they truly serving you right now in this season of life? Are they something that you could take off your plate? It does not necessarily have to be something big that you are taking off your plate, but think of anything that is taking your time and energy without adding fulfillment, joy, and purpose to your life. Even small adjustments can drastically open up your time and mental capacity to do those things of greatest importance.
Don't be afraid to pray to God and ask Him for direction on what should stay on your plate and what needs to be set aside for this season of your life.
Your best yeses are things that light you up, that you cannot wait to do, that burn like a fire in you, and that you are truly called to do. Ponder and pray to know what those things are then hold tight to them and let the rest go. Learn to only say "yes" to the best, most important, and joyous things in life.
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- You can do this mama, in the middle of motherhood no matter how busy the years get! -
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