To all of you out there who are struggling. To all of my fellow mothers who are failing to balance it all. To all of my fellow creatives who carry fear as they try and make a living at doing what they love. To all of those who feel stuck, but have big dreams in their heart.

Courage.

We each simply need courage. The courage to continue through the struggle until the timing is right. The courage to admit that we can’t do it all. The courage to walk away from something that no longer fulfills us. The courage to embrace our gifts and share them with the world. The courage to allow our dreams to come to fruition. Heck! The courage to make big change and say no to the everyday mundane. The courage to truly embrace the time we have here and fill it with so much living.

Courage, dear heart. 

These three words from C.S. Lewis have been a personal mantra for me for the last 42 days as I have embraced this huge change and jumped into the deep end, holding my breath. Do I have everything figured out? No. Do I know what next year brings? Not even close. And sometimes I go to bed at night with fear and worry because all of the unknown and the stuff in between. However, when I think back to just some time ago and how dark my world had become, how much I glorified being busy and everything I was missing out on for my family and for myself, I simply have to repeat those three words, take a deep breath, and remember to keep a prayer with me as I embrace all that came with this change.

Fear will be there. We’re human and doubting our abilities and second guessing our decisions are all part of it. However, it’s what you do in the face of fear. Do you stand still? Or do you accept it and journey with it? I can honestly say from my short experience thus far, journeying forward with fear is far sweeter. I will continue to embrace the days that I go to bed with worry because it simply means that I have something to lose and that tomorrow is a day to take more steps forward. To find the joy in the journey. And that is a blessing. That is a blessing for each of us.

Courage, dear heart.