Playing Big

Dear friend,
You are amazing. Do you know that? You’ve taken some pretty big risk because you had a vision for your life. You had a conviction that you could do this better or you could make a difference in the lives of others. That’s pretty stunning.

It can be absolutely amazing to be a risk-taker. And then it can also be devastating. When the crowd wants you safe, they tell you, “Get down from there! You could get hurt!” or loving family members chide you, “I think you’re working too much. I’m worried about you.” It’s tempting to get down from your high-wire where you so beautifully walk the tightrope of risk. You climb down the ladder to make everyone else breathe easier. But you weren’t created for the ground. You were created for tricks and flips and taking risk and flying above the crowd.

Do you know that feeling of being “in the flow?” Where your work feels almost effortless? It’s almost magical because everything you touch turns to gold.  That’s your sweet spot. That’s the moment when you KNOW you’re doing what you were created to do. Ride that flow as long as possible. Put in ear plugs and don’t listen to the well-meaning critics that long to keep you safe. Do your thing. Be who you are.

But after you’ve used up your risky juice, you’ll feel the need for safety and security (we all do). Take some time to hide under your covers and binge-watch Netflix. Stay away from the comparison-game on social media. Connect with a best friend or spouse. Curl up with a really fuzzy blanket. We all need self care and you are no different.

Humans all have a need for both variety and certainty, so you, my dear, are doing such good work in the world and probably have all kinds of variety around you! So don’t forget to lean into certainty once in a while. It will fill up your love tank in a different way.

If you’re hating your life, and feel like you’re stuck on the “ground,” take a risk. Climb that ladder. You were made to do more. You conquered great adversity to get where you are today, but it’s not enough. It’s time for the next level. Allow yourself to dream what that could look like. If no one got hurt, if money didn’t matter, if no one could judge you—what would you do? Go ahead. Close your eyes. Imagine.

God has put big dreams in your heart. HE gave you those visions. Frankly, it’s not your right to squash them. Who knows the people who could be impacted if you would step out in faith and have that hard conversation? Make that connection? Ask the hard questions? Dare to dream bigger?

I’m dreaming big right now, my friends. It’s exhilarating and terrifying at the exact same time. I imagine that I’m a gymnast on the balance beam. Focused. Zoning out the crowd. I’ve trained for this. I can do this. Turns and splits and flips and cartwheels on a four-inch beam. This is who I’m meant to be. Daring and focused and calculated. Doing what others cannot do. This is what I was made for.

Dream big. Then dream bigger. Allow your creative juices to flow. Who knows what you could accomplish?
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You were made for this.