What Motivates Me?

The reason I'm motivated to help others experience God more deeply is because he's been an ever-constant presence, albeit sometimes smaller and sometimes greater, in my life.  He's given me a passion, a purpose and a vision for who I want to be and things I want to do.  

I get into so many conversations with friends and realize how much our insecurities and fears hold us back from living a life of fullness and purpose.  Most people, Christians included, are just floating through life; day after day, week after week, chasing after goals like "get through the summer, get everyone ready for back to school, looking forward to Fall Break, oh my gosh it's already almost Christmas, etc, etc..." 

Everyone has some dreams in the back of their mind that they'd love to do "one day", or topics they're passionate about (like maybe helping trafficked women, or ministering to orphans, or opening a coffee shop, or running a bookstore, etc), but life crushes out the reality of doing very much of it.  

When I was in college I had an idea that one day I wanted to open an orphanage that was fully staffed by trained child-development experts who would be focused on meeting ALL the needs of the orphans; including social-emotional, spiritual and even career development so that EVEN IF these kids never got adopted, they'd age out of the system and be prepared to get a job and function normally in society.  

Later that dream shifted a bit into wanting to run a Bed and Breakfast that could be used as an Event Center- thinking of doing seasonal things like hayrides and fall festivals; Christmas-themed gatherings; Spring festivals and farmers markets, etc, etc.  Even offering themed weekends like "Murder Mystery Dinners" or "Girls Spa Retreat" or stuff like that.  And having it be staffed by young adults who had aged out of foster care.  Having management who could pour into them, help with developing job skills; have space on the property where they could live while they worked for 1-2 years in order to get some savings together and plan for how to move on to their next place.  

Those dreams are still there, but as I coast into middle-age I'm acutely aware that they will most likely not happen.  Different dreams are emerging- like maybe opening a European-themed coffee shop that's more like a community center, where people come together for various events, or just to gather with friends and talk for hours. 

I'm realizing at the core of all of them, is an innate passion to help people.  I want to invest into people, help them move out of a difficult season and prepare them for a better season yet to come.  

For the moment, the realization of that dream is coming together with Life Coaching.  I want 

to work with women who feel stuck in daily life and want to break through into a more meaningful life.  As a Christian, I believe that the Holy Spirit equips each believer with what we need to hear and follow God's voice.  However, the busyness of life and also the influx of social media brings with it a lot of really bad advice- and far too many of us are listening to people we either barely know or don't know at all. 

We all go through seasons where it's just really hard to connect with God.  I'm over here "preaching" this stuff, but I can't tell you how many days end with thinking, "ugh, I really meant to spend time with God today, but..."  Without a strategy and a plan- It won't happen.  Even with a plan- things we don't even understand, tucked deep in our thoughts can make us hold God at arm's length.  Generally those thoughts are rooted in fears, doubts and insecurities.  I could fill a book with stories of how God spoke into my fears, doubts and insecurities over the past 30 years.  But each person will have their own journey.  The way He spoke to me will differ than how another person receives God's leading.  

As a Life Coach, I want to be part of that journey with you.  I can lean into things I've learned through the years, asking questions to help other women uncover those "Aha!" moments where suddenly it becomes super clear what God is doing in your life.  These are real conversations; "face-to-face" (or screen-to-screen, live conversations) where I can get to know people, listen to their story, help them discern the patterns that keep them paralyzed with indecision and encourage them as they put their faith ahead of their fears.  My favorite part of any journey is seeing another person exuberantly talking about all that God is teaching them and doing in their lives- with that contagious passion lighting up their eyes. One can't help but be inspired by friends who live out their faith. If I can help even one person put that passion into their conversations, I believe the ripple effect of all God will do with that is beyond what I could even imagine!