THE DAY my mentor TOLD ME I WOULD FAIL

A few years ago due to a couple major road bumps and pot holes I had to make a pretty big pivot.

I had been picturing myself a certain way, how life would go, how we would spend our future. Goals and aspirations CLEAR.

I was not open to other possibilities because I was thrilled with where my path was headed.

Then in a moment (looking back it was a series of red flags and moments, but I ignored most of those) I saw that the path I was on was not headed where I thought it was headed. I also saw a new path I had never considered before...picture a highway vs a small opening into the jungle (a deer trail).

For lack of a better way to describe it, it felt as if life threw me from the highway to the jungle path, and I was disoriented, lost, grieving the old path, grieving the known and scared to enter the jungle.

I had a choice.

throw a tantrum, declare defeat, stop moving altogether OR

get up, take a step forward, learn something new, be open to the possibility of a different vision, a new vision, a BETTER vision.

I’m not sure how long I lay on that new path… exhausted and defeated but a small, quiet voice kept telling me to “get up”

and then it happened…

Someone I looked up to told me I would fail if I tried to walk the new path…

Specifically: “follow me or you will fail”

WANT TO KNOW HOW TO MOTIVATE A JENNIE?

TELL HER SHE’LL FAIL

TELL HER SHE CAN’T MAKE IT

TELL HER ITS IMPOSSIBLE

Something shifted in me. Lifted me. Changed in me.

All that personal growth kicked in and got me moving

All those hours, praying and leaning into God supported me

All those hours affirming success, favour and self worth got me back up again when I thought I was down for good.

Best of all I realized with a sinking heart; I had not been seeking God first but rather following something/someone else first.

Major PIVOT. Seek God first.

Do NOT decide you are defeated because something changed

Do NOT let anyone tell you where your path will lead

Do NOT discount the power of daily affirmations, prayer, personal growth, action, favour etc

YOU and God decide what path to take… and take it from me;

Sometimes a different path is just a WAY better fit, even if you don’t feel equipped, sometimes it just looks like a deer trail but it gets easier not harder, sometimes your tribe is waiting for you just inside the jungle, ready to link arms, grow, affirm, cheer, be abundant and conquer dreams together. Sometimes God knows exactly what he’s doing, and sometimes he’s just gonna pick you up and put you at the opening of the unknown because you failed to heed the signs and head there on your own.

He doesn’t put you anywhere you can’t handle.

And He will use trials for your good.

He will answer your prayers in ways you have never dreamed, in exponential ways.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).

Where ever you are you must know, you have not failed. You are in the exact perfect place. Keep fighting the good fight, if you need to, dust yourself off and peek into the jungle, take a deep breath and tell yourself, this is gonna be good. you are blessed, favoured and have a whole lotta life to live.