Joy with Jordan

I got a confession. I am flat out tired. This year has been about pursuing, chasing, longing, working and planning to take my life to a new season, and although it has been incredible to see the changes that are already starting to come to fruition, I know there are many others that I still desire to make happen. Oh and also, change is hard. Even the good kind. To be real with you, I am writing this with some super swollen eyelids from a big ole cry session with God, because like I said... change is hard! The thing is, I still feel that God is at work in my life, as he always is, and I am on the brink of something even better than I can imagine - but in the midst of this persual and wait, there are three words that I desperately need to hear. You are enough. Whew. When I accept those 3 simple words and allow them to sink deep into my being, I feel rest, contentment, and joy. As women I believe that we are always trying to do it all and exhausting ourselves because our culture ha

CC: CestChristine Today I am aching for some sunshine and salt water. Right now though, it is 24 degrees and post-blizzard in New York City.  Lately, I've been finding myself not being able to be present for the current season of life I am living. My present circumstances look a little like this: I am balancing several streams of income, going after at least three different creative projects, and also itching for something brand new and totally different. I am in a constant state of planning, creating, and dreaming about the next season. Although it can be a positive thing to dream, create, and plan for the future, the downfall is that you miss out on the life that is happening right now! That is where I have had to learn about being present and grateful in the now. If I am going to talk to you about joyful living and optimal living - well the most important thing I think we can all learn is how to live in the present, even if your current present circumstances are not your

"Great stories go to those who don't give in to fear." -Donald Miller I have always enjoyed seeking out and telling great stories. Maybe that is why we love going to the movies? We escape our boring, mundane lives for 90 minutes and get to feel like we are a part of an epic life story. We feel energized and alive while watching it, because our souls are beginning to experience what living should feel like. We watch characters in the story want something in their life, be put in a situation where they have to go for it, take the jump to be uncomfortable, face conflict, overcome it, and step into a greater version of themselves. I don't know about you, but I love these epic stories and I want one for my own life. But when it comes to the action we have to take in order to live an epic story in our own life - we freak out. Why? Because living a greater story is going to cost us. We are going to have to get uncomfortable. A part of us is going to have

"You must witness your behavior if you want to truly change it. You must look at your fear head-on to recognize that believing its lies was a choice you made." - Gabrielle Bernstein, May Cause Miracles I love making lists. I have always found it is the easiest way to get all the chaos in my mind out in the most simple form. My typical lists are to-do lists for the day, maybe some goals I have for the upcoming week or month, or some errands I need to run - but a few weeks ago I tried out a practice of listing out my fears. Yep. May sound strange, but the reason for writing out these fears of mine is so that I can get clear and honest with myself about what might be holding me back in moving forward in several areas of my life. Until I become self-aware of my fear, looked at it straight on (or down on my paper) I knew it would continue to take residence within areas of my life -without me even being consciously aware of it! After listing these fears out, I took t