Stay The Course

Fun fact: I get distracted easily. I have a hard time staying focused on something for a long period of time, especially if I see clutter, or I see something shiny or of interest. You can't take me in to a Target for 5 minutes. I will be there for HOURS looking at all of the pretty things. It is even worse during Christmas time.

I make no apologies for this. Ha. I try my best and there are still things I will work on, but for the most part, I am who I am. Easily distracted and entertained.

However, for someone who does get distracted quite a bit, I can actually be hyper focused on things that I believe in. These last three years, if anything, have taught me to truly persevere and stay on course toward what I am trying to achieve in my life and for my family. This isn't easy for anybody, really, but for some reason, when you are a single parent it feels ten times harder than necessary. I cannot even tell you how many doors I have had slammed in my face because of things I literally could not control, but they were the rules and there was no bending of the rules for anyone. So, you make do. You adjust. You improvise. You regroup. You think outside of the box. You grab your people and you plan together. I had to do that over and over again because of this mindset:

To stay the course.

In complete honesty, there were a few times I wanted to quit. I consider myself a relatively tough individual mentally. I can push through most objections. But, if I hear rejection over and over again, there comes a point where I do quit trying. Who in their right mind really wants to hear "no" or be rejected by the same thing over and over again? Not me. I know not for you either. We all have our limits.

But, instead of throwing in the towel, let’s think of ways that we can stay focused on the road ahead. Staying in our lane and doing the important things that matter in order to ensure that where we want to go is where we are actually headed, and removing anything in our path that tries to steer us off course. Even if it means removing good things temporarily.

Stay the course.

You have to decide what that course is. Not your mama. Not your significant other. Not your friends. Not your pastor. You. Ultimately, it will be YOU who will achieve what you want to achieve. If I sound like a broken record, it is because I believe it is worthy of repeating: Only YOU are responsible for your dreams and your goals. You want to create a life you love? A life that you have always dreamed of? That is on you.

Before any of you get on me about trusting God or He is the one who creates life and makes our dreams come true….let me stop you there. You are talking to someone who has seen the goodness of God shine through the darkest of moments in my life. God has provided not just in finances (although he certainly has) but in opportunities. Provided in terms of community and connection. He has also gifted me with skills and talents and abilities He has given no one else. And I am determined to use them. God provides a way and doors. It is up to US to OBEY and walk through them. He may not make money or success grow on trees, but He certainly created us with brains, limbs, ideas and skill…..so that we could go out and fulfill kingdom work and heck, even dreams to come true!

The world that is designed in my head came from Him to begin with.

The life I am choosing to work for equals:

*Adventure and financial security for myself and my children.

*A relationship With a man who will love me, love my kids, and live this life with me.

*Work that I am increasingly proud of and that makes a positive impact in this world.

*Writing a book and speaking on stages and platforms in order to empower, equip and encourage individuals all over the world.

*Point men and women back to Jesus.

And much more. That is what I envision. That is why I choose to stay the course. My dreams are so much bigger than me, which is why it is crucial that when you experience any setback, and you will, that you keep going. I cannot tell you how many doors have been slammed shut in my face or how often I have been told that I am too needy, too much, too aggressive or not educated enough to achieve anything of significance. That is all BS. I know it. You know it. Don’t listen to it. Words have power.

Every morning I wake up and I tell myself that I am worth every effort. My kids are worth every effort. I am not too much. I will achieve what I want in this life because what I want is worth working for and worth having.

No matter what disappointment you may experience in the coming days, although I pray that you are currently experiencing more wins than losses, you got this. Stay The course. Don’t quit. Speak positively over and in to yourself. It is not stupid or new age. In fact, we know words have power because the Bible states this:

“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy — dwell on these things.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

We don’t focus on these things so we can just get what we want. God is not our genie. But He is a good father, and He knows us and He knows our hearts. I can’t imagine that our heavenly Father, who loves us and sent His only Son to die for us, would desire that we would tear ourselves down into little bits and pieces. Being humble does not mean we are hyper critical of ourselves. We certainly do not want to tear apart those we love. Why the heck do we do it to ourselves, all in the name of humility?

Miss me with that.

You know what is honorable to me? Being a mother my kids can count on and look up to. What is lovely? Being a woman who loves deeply. True? Being the best kind of friend I can be and being in community with amazing individuals who spur one another on in goodness And faith. Being honest. Being trustworthy. Choosing joy and expelling it to others at all cost, and not expecting it always in return.

So stay on course. Keep moving in the direction you believe you are called in. And change your mindset. You got this.

Proud of you.

Rooting you on from my side of the Internet,

Tiffany Rhea