Why doing hard things is beautiful

When you look backwards, does it seem like you've owned your business for forever?
Or does it feel like just yesterday that you signed that lease or moved into your space or made a new beginning?
For me, it simultaneously feels like yesterday that we got our own space for our music school and at the same time, like FOREVER ago. 
It was 8 years ago but I swear we've always been there.

The last 3 years have been extra crazy. That's when we got really serious about adding new streams of income to our business. I challenged Chris to quit his job and that's when the rubber hit the road. We were "all in" and had to ensure the security of our family's future.

We cut coupons. 
We cut spending.
We doubled down on our time and streamlined our homeschooling.
We hired new business coaches to assist us and I delved into learning from dozens of new classes and trainings.
We knew this was our moment. We had to get serious. We had to do whatever it takes so we could make a difference for our kids and for our lives.

With two of us focused on the business, we moved much faster than I could all by myself.
We had two parents to help with the kids and the meals and the schooling.
We had two vastly different skill sets to draw from so we could get out there in a bigger way and offer new services to clients around us.

It was not easy.

But I've never taken the easy road. I've always been up for a challenge. 
I want to do hard things, dream big dreams and accomplish great things.
I've never been content with floating through life or sticking with the status quo.
I don't follow the crowd. I lead it.

This journey has been flat out hard. But it has brought Chris and I so much closer and developed personal growth and character in both of us that we would not have gained if we had stayed where we were.

Most people remark: "I could never work with my spouse." Sometimes I wonder how we do it, too!
It forces us to face our differences and understand one another. 
It takes a lot of work and a lot of intentional conversations.

Many people tell me "I could NEVER homeschool my kids" but they don't realize how much time you gain when you keep your kids out of the crazy schedule of school. Our kids are happier and more pleasant to be around because we are crafting their education around their strengths and their sleep schedule. 

Is this life easy? No way. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

Challenges make you strong.
Fear makes me fall on my knees and turn to God for strength.
Anxiety makes me dig deep for answers.
The hard stuff brings out the beautiful.

​Around the holidays, some businesses are crazy-busy and others have sales flatline. It can be worrisome. It can feel scary. It can be tempting to ruin the season by worrying and wringing your hands.

I found myself brainstorming my fears the other day and instead, I chose to be proactive. I remembered that I thrive on a challenge.
I can do hard things.
I can climb this mountain like I've climbed all the others in the past.

I turned on some worship music on Pandora (I love the Lauren Daigle station) and then I listened to a few sermons by Steven Furtick (he always pumps me up and encourages me). Once I regained some sanity and got my anxiety under my feet, I grabbed a piece of paper and started brainstorming what I could do to make money or save money. The ideas started flowing. The worry disappeared.
​Watch this week's video and tell me if this method works for you, too.

Here's my challenge: You can sit and wallow in the hard or you can face it head-on.

You can decide this is all too much and back down from the challenge or you can brainstorm ways to do things differently.

You can give up or you can press on.

You can keep trying to do it the way that isn't working or you can ask God for wisdom on how to change the plan.
​
It's your choice. But I believe in you. You can do this.
You've made it this far.
You can do the next right thing.