Sometimes trying new things freaks me out. It can be a
new GOOD thing, but because it's something I've never done before, there's a
'fear of the unknown' element involved. But I've decided that fear of the
unknown doesn't get to have the final say in forging ahead in my calling. And
it doesn't have to have the last word in your calling either.
I know I am supposed to be an encourager to my students.
But the longer I teach, the more I realize, my fellow teachers also need
encouragement. I want to help those that have lost the joy they once had in
teaching to find it again and embrace renewal. It's
been my dream to consult with teachers and collaborate with them on how to
develop a positive mindset for about a year now. A positive mindset is one that
overcomes having a victim mentality that can slowly infiltrate our head space
and takes over our spirit unaware, and instead embraces growth and passion for
each person's vision for teaching.
After some reaching out and taking a step of faith to make
this concept a reality, the opportunity to equip others with a positive mindset
has presented itself on a larger scale than I'm used to, and now, less
than two weeks away, I find myself tempted to doubt. The questioning thoughts
start to creep in. It's like someone is whispering in my ear, "You are
sooooo NOT the perfect teacher. Why would anyone listen to what you have to
say?"
I read an interesting quote that has breathed a huge
amount of affirmation into my spirit to press onward in this new venture of
reconciling imperfection with fulfilling my calling:
"If you wait until you’re “perfect” before you share
your stories, ideas, talents, and gifts with the world, no one will ever hear
from you."(Marc Chernoff)
How freeing! I may not be perfect, but has God given me a
story to share to encourage others? Yes! So I silence the doubt by remembering
this: it's just my job to share and it's up to God to do the rest. How others
receive the message is on them. But my story will never be received by anyone
if I allow the safety of the old and familiar to overshadow the new and
unknown.
You see, "The draw of comfort is the biggest dream
killer. In the end, you can be comfortable or courageous, but not both at
once." (Marc Chernoff)
This is just the sort of tough love I have to show myself
if I want to fulfill my dream of being an encourager to teachers on the edge of
burnout. It's going to take courage to learn new presentation techniques, to
persevere through my nervousness about public speaking in front of peers, and
to be honest about my own negative thinking and bad attitudes that have
crippled my spirit and limited my effectiveness in the past. I have to be brave
in baring my weakness to show where true strength begins. And so I have made
the decision to be courageous over comfortable because courage allows me to
make a difference. Comfort does not.
As we approach 2017, I'm willing to bet many of you that
are reading this are craving a breakthrough in some area of your life. Something
new and better awaits on the other side! Another great piece of advice
from Marc Chernoff, "If you want something new, you have to stop doing
something old. If you want something you’ve never had, then you’ve got to
do something you’ve never done. The bottom line is that you’ll never
leave where you are until you decide where you’d rather be." Personally,
I'd rather be living in the calling for which I was created, than be left
stagnant and unfulfilled because I let fear be greater than my courage.
The year 2017 is a chance for you to try something
new so you CAN be where you've decided you WANT to be and where God has CALLED
you to be. My prayer is that you would open up your heart and mind to take
risks, believing that the joy you experience as a result of acting on your
calling and the growth of the kingdom will be worth the price of your courage.
You've got this, my friend. God is for you. He would like
nothing better than to use your imperfect stories, ideas, talents, and gifts to
bring Him glory this year. Adapt, execute, and enjoy....for "The One who
calls you is faithful, and He will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV
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