The recent transition I have been going through has not been one without its pressures. Pressure to know exactly that my future holds, which career I will go into, where I will go to grad school, or will I even go to grad school? There is also a pressure surrounding what I do now, and a feeling like being a nanny right out of college is somewhat "unacceptable", because I should be doing "bigger and better" things at this point in my life. In reality though, these pressures are just the worst. Not fun for someone with anxiety, not fun for someone who has no idea what they really want to do with their life, and not fun for someone who doesn't have the answers to the questions everyone wants to know the answers to-- what the heck are you going to do with your life?
Recently, I walked the bridge with a friend who helped me put into words what I know in my heart to be true. The truth is, I will probably change careers many times in my life. I may not ever directly use what I got my college degree in. God is going to call me to many different things in my life, and the one 'calling' that remains through all of these different seasons in my life is to follow the Lord wholeheartedly and unashamedly. This is my one true calling, wherever I am and whatever I am doing.
My friend asked me questions like: in the past few months, what has brought you the most joy? What do you feel like your gifts and talents are? I was surprised by how hard some of these questions were to answer out loud, even though I knew the answers in my heart. From this conversation came a new sense of direction for my life in my current circumstances. What came forth was a sort of "mission statement". And yes, this mission statement will change in different times in my life. But for now, it is something I have to hold on to and to reference when I feel like I am lost with no sense of direction.
I challenge any of you reading to do an exercise like this, because it will change your heart, your thoughts, and ultimately your daily life. It will bring focus and peace. At least that is what it did for me.
I also wanted to share a bible verse that came to mind while I was writing this post. When we become overwhelmed by the pressures of this world, we can hold on to the fact that Christ has overcome the world. No ifs, ands, or buts!!
