I began 2019 with a renewed sense of hope. As I watched the fireworks light up the night sky, I did not heave a sigh of relief the way I had at the beginning of 2018. I did not participate in the “good riddance” rants or focus on the woes of the past year that were now behind me. I smiled because I made it. I smiled because I survived. I smiled because I had already begun steps to a brighter tomorrow…and even if tomorrow was not brighter, a day just like today was fine with me.
I smiled because for the first time in almost 10 years, I started to dream bigger. My dreams were finally bigger than my doubts.
I spent a large portion of 2018 recovering. I looked around, and I saw all these people choosing their words for the year. I envied people making resolutions and plans, and I thought to myself, “That used to be me.” I used to have big dreams so I tried to find that girl I used to be. I tried to find the girl who chose the word “balance” when she became a mother of two. I tried to find the woman that chose to “declutter” her 2016. But every time I sat down to pick my word, I remembered the hurt. I looked at the scars, and my heart filled with discouragement…until one day it did not.
One day, I decided to be positive in a negative environment. One day I stopped running to the window for every loud noise and car ignition sound to make sure my car was still sitting in my driveway. One day I decided that the David within me was larger than the Goliath in front of me. One day I stopped focusing on what could go wrong and decided that I was still blessed, and I was still living the life. One day, I decided to dream bigger.
For anyone trying to find their way out of doubt and discouragement, this is for you.
Go back to basics
Think back to that place where you were before you life treated you unkindly. Think of times when you wanted time to stand still, when you wanted to live in that moment forever. Think of a time when you believed you had accomplished the impossible. Remember who you were then. What did you do to make that moment happen? What did you do to keep it?
I think of my track career, when I broke the school record and the Southland Conference record. I think of when I stood on the podium as an NCAA All-American. I wholeheartedly believed it would happen. I fed myself positive thoughts and Bible verses. I worked hard even when I did not immediately see results…
I think of the day I married the love of my life. I spent so much time trying to impress him, so many days building him up. We spent hours together in conversation, on dates, learning who he was, who I was, and who we were. I just knew that this time, maybe life would smile in my favor.
I took a chance…knowing that even if I failed, I had given track everything I had to offer. I had given my relationship all I had to give. I gave life every bit of me.
Take a break
Sadly, life does not always work out as planned. I was never a national champion. I had boyfriends who came with babies and diseases WHILE we were together.
Sometimes you give life all you have, and you come up short. At those times, recovery is absolutely essential. And recovery only comes when you take a break. Without a break, you cannot heal. Some things, you cannot just power through.
Some of you are wondering how you can take a break. You are IN your situation. There is no break. You are a single mom. You are in the hospital. You are out of work and hustling to make ends meet. There is no time for a break. There are no opportunities for breaks.
Find a way to take a break anyway. Hide from your kids in a closet (*smile*…but really though). Open a window and empty your mind for a moment. Take a walk outside. Sometimes your greatest victories come when you stand still. Stop hustling and breathe.
The only way out is through.
You are tempted to give up right in the middle. Doubt and discouragement are all around you, and you would like to turn around and return to where you were safe. You took a turn, and you are tempted to cut your losses because you are unsure that what is ahead is better. Maybe it is better where you were. Maybe you like what is familiar even knowing what is familiar has long outlasted its purpose. You are wrong. Your destiny is right on the OTHER side of THROUGH. You dreams are not behind you. Getting there is never easy. Obstacles are the only way. Challenges are the only way. The only way out is through.
Dream bigger
For me, doubt ties directly to hope. The higher the hopelessness, the higher the discouragement. At one point, I had no dreams left…not big ones. Do not get me wrong. I had “regular” dreams. I dreamed for well-rounded kids with big faith. I dreamed of a forever happily ever with my husband. I dreamed of a career filled with purpose that allowed enough money for me to live comfortably.
That is where the dreams ended. I did not think I deserved more. Too many people were hurting. Too many people did not have as much as I already had. Too many people needed their dreams fulfilled more. So I stopped praying for more.
Somewhere on the way through, I changed my mind. I got an idea that gave me life. I decided to dream bigger. My prayers got bigger. My faith got bigger. Right there in the middle of my bigger faith, bigger prayers, and bigger dreams, my doubt, discouragement, and fear looked so small…so insignificant.
So for those searching for something more than their current situation…for those who cannot see past right now, keep going. Keep hoping. Keep believing, and keep dreaming. And should you happen to get stuck in the middle and feel the urge to give up …
Should you happen to come across doubt and discouragement that try to deter you from continuing the journey…
DREAM BIGGER!!
***
What are some of your hopes and dreams for 2019?
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This is such a wonderful piece of writing, Brittany! So inspirational! Praising the Lord with you for this breakthrough!
Love this:
“Your destiny is right on the OTHER side of THROUGH.”
So true!
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Thank you Ruth. I’m really concentrating on changing my perspective. I have to believe bigger. I just have to. I cannot love my life in fear of the worst which is how I have been living for a little while now. God is bigger than that. Happy New Year 🎉🎉🎉
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Amen, Brittany! Isn’t it amazing how freeing it is to let go of fear and embrace trust in the one who holds the whole world in His hands!?
It calms me to think about how He holds and sustains all of nature without my help and also about how He loves me so incredibly. I just have to realize when my mind is walking down a negative path and purposely get back on the right track.
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It definitely has to be purposeful.
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Amen! 😊
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When I delivered my mother’s eulogy two years ago, the phrase I intentionally repeated (because it was her essence) was: …”because she found a way.” You are beautifully grounded. Thank you for sharing these thoughts and words.
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I love that phrase. I am working on finding a way. Everything is a work in progress, but I’m hopeful. Even now, I wanted to type that I hope people have the same thing to say about me…but fear overtook me as I thought of God taking people we love.Life has been chipping away at my mental state and I’m determined to take it back. Thank you 💕
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Great Post!
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Thank you my love 💕
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Love this post. Thank you for being you and for your continued inspiration. Here’s to dreaming big and never settling for less. xoxo
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Thank YOU for YEARS of support. I truly appreciate our friendship that has developed over time 💛😘
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Likewise my dear!!! xoxoxo
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Dream bigger!
I love this!
Thanks for being an encourager in my life.
Sure do appreciate you~
Melanie
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I appreciate you too Melanie. May you continue to dream big and watch God work!
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This is absolutely wonderful! 🙂 So beautiful. Life has a way of knocking us down and keeping us there for the count, doesn’t it? Good for you for dreaming big. I hear you on feeling like you don’t “deserve” to dream big. There are so many others out there with less, why do I deserve anything more? But God wants to hear our dreams. He wants to hear what we have to say. Thank you for the continued inspiration. Some of my hopes and dreams this year are to find a way to make a little bit of an income (and eventually grow it) to help my husband out. The poor man is stressed out and needs a break! Life (there it is again!) has handed us kind of an interesting hand. I hesitate to say bad because it could be worse and we are making the best of it, but really, he needs to be able to take a break and there is just no way he can at the moment. So that is one of my dreams this year. Not sure it will become a reality, but I am trying to take steps to at least attempt it. Here’s to praying for a step forward towards those hopes and dreams. God Bless!
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Yes. Keep dreaming and keep believing. I love what you said that “God wants to hear our dreams.” I had never thought of it that way before!!
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very nice post and s test comment by HE
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Thank you so much!
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I love this encouragement, thank you so much! ☺ 🌹
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Thank you so much Ula!
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This peice was absolutely needed and so uplifting. Thank you for sharing this.
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Thank you Chaila!! I truly hope you continue to follow your dreams, and we can follow our dreams together this year!!
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I needed this, especially on today. It’s crazy how we can begin to doubt overselves before we even try. Keep on dreaming big Britt, and you’ll have everything God has in store for you!
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Yes we do. We doubt we can do it, or try and half do it then tell ourselves, “I told you so,” when it does not work. I have to start believing it can and will happen for me. Thank you for taking the time to read love 💕😘
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Yes, we owe that to ourselves. And of course, anytime! ❤️
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You’re speaking truth to my heart, Brittany. Truth I needed to hear.
Love you, friend.
Blessings on you as you believe bigger.
Marva | SunSparkleShine
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Thank you so much Marva!! I am so glad I was able to deliver a message that spoke to you. Our little blogging community means so much to me. You have no idea!
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Yep, I completely understand. I appreciate you, girlfriend. Keep shining!
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Great blog post Brittany!
Keep dreaming big and blogging from your heart and soul.
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Thanks so much Dave! You do the same. Your blogs always bring out good vibes and great words to live by.
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Thanks Brittany! You’re an inspiration 🙂
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Beautiful
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Thank you madre!!!
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Love your post. This spoke to me — “Think of a time when you believed you had accomplished the impossible.” “What did you do to make that moment happen?” — I remembered finding out I was cancer-free. It was a hard-won battle. I put my life in God’s hands. I prayed and asked everyone I knew to pray. I had the elders pray over me. I trusted God. I never lost hope. This post is such a good reminder! I need to return to praying and trusting God for this new year and my One Word — “relationships”.
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Relationships is a great word. Relationships get lost in the hustle and bustle so often. I love it!
Thank you so much for saying such sweet thing. You are right. At times, I leaned on God and I was certain He would come through and He did. Life has a way of taking that away, but I am truly focused on getting back there. So glad you are taking a similar journey.
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This fits so perfectly with my quiet time today, Brittany. I was reading about how Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes–taking the small and making it more than enough for the need of the moment. And that’s exactly where I believe big prayers start–trusting God with my small offered in big faith. Love this post and your challenge, my friend. I’ll be sharing!
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Thank you Beth! I love the comparison. God takes our little and makes it much.
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Very inspiring
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Thank you so much honey!
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Inspiring and encouraging!! Your post is a ray of sunshine on an overcast day! Blessings!!
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Thank you Lureta! I truly appreciate that from you. You are so inspiring yourself.
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“Dream bigger than your doubts” I like this. It is the best way to begin the new year. Thank you.
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Thank you so much Beverly. Happy New Year!
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that’s the way to do it. otherwise you get complacent and that sucks.
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Yes I do. It’s the only war to really see growth.
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Thank you for the encouragement! Just now, I paused to ask God for something bigger. I had forgotten how readily He answers those prayers!
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Yes He does. Over and over again.
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Girl, I can read this over and over again. This is such a great piece! I’ve been feeling that also. Thank you for this very encouraging piece!
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Thank you so much! I am working on self-improvement in pieces.
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I haven’t shared my Word of the Year with anyone because I don’t want to be under a hundred microscope. But, for you, yes… “Positive” And I love, “One day, I decided to be positive in a negative environment.” It can be a choice, can’t it?
Thanks.
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What an awesome word. I have to choose what I allow to come out of my mouth when I’m upset, angry, or venting. May 2019 bring you all the “positive” life has to offer.
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