A common hangup I see when people want to make a change in their life is failure to start because they don’t know each and every step. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we need to have everything all figured out in order to get going.
I know that this has been true in my own life in more areas than one. For example, I didn’t have everything for my business figured out before my last day at work. However, I knew if I got in the game, more clarity would come.
I love this quotation by W.H. Murray, a Scottish mountain climber and writer.
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creativity there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:
That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
‘Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it; boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.’”
No, this doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to jump into something with reckless abandon. It simply means that we’re never going to have it all figured out and new ideas and opportunities will present themselves along the way.
It sure would be nice if we could have a crystal clear set of plans laid out before us and then just follow them step by step. However, that never happens. If that’s what you are waiting for, you are going to be waiting a long time.
Question: Have you ever took a leap of faith in your own life? What was it and how did it go?
Michael I love that quotation! I’d say getting married, buying our first house and then building this one, having our children – were all a leap of faith! Starting my business was definitely a leap of faith. I always go back to that scripture that says God’s Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path – He always seems to only enlighten one step at a time – maybe because we can only take one step at a time!
Ann,
I love how that verse applies to this. I think that’s so true, one step at a time, then we’ll see more.
I can definitely relate to having kids. I was really dragging my feet on this one. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to have kids, it was that I was scared because I didn’t know how everything would look.
But, what do you know? We’re figuring it out as we go and loving it! I definitely don’t regret the decision!
I often look back to what it took for my husband and I just to get married. The events of 911 making it more difficult to bring even our neighbor to the north across the border. It wasn’t just fall in love, spend quality time together, and decide to live happily ever after.
Dan is a Canadian citizen and the mounds of immigration paperwork needed just for a visa to bring him here was amazing in itself. It required a huge leap of faith not even mentioning the expense to do it. One incorrect piece of information could have delayed the process for months. That was only stage one, with two other processes to follow which do not include become a US citizen. I am thankful for the wonderful immigration attorney we had at the time. His expertise made taking that risk a little less daunting.
Cindy, you had a lot of hurdles to jump over! So, not only did you have to “jump” into the commitment of marriage, you had to trust that all the logistics would workout as well. Well done.
Thanks for the comment!
I took a huge leap of faith when I chose not to continue with a previous employer.
Hours would have been longer, I would have had to compromise on an important priority, and the drive would have been huge(compared to what it was). I chose to take the layoff instead.
It was a mixed blessing. Income was sparse but I had tons of time. Unfortunately I squandered most of that time wallowing in self pity.
But through it all my wife and I were never in need. Our bank account never dipped. A net appeared.
And then it led to my current position more than doubling my previous income. It took awhile but, in the end, it worked out in a great way.
Wow, that’s great, Joe. It neat to hear that you were committed to the priorities you set out. And, in the end, it really paid off. Doubling your income without a longer commute, that sounds like a great deal!
Michael, I love how both yours and Claudia’s posts “prod” the reader – to both examine and take action. I think the biggest leap I could take is to venture into the unknown of Free Agency. When I figure the amount we spend each year on health expenses WITH insurance, it makes it appear impossible. However, it could be that the net of healing arrives at just the right time. We’ve had lots of leaps concerning healing possiblities for my wife, spending thousands on experimental therapies only to find them lacking in the end. In fact, just this week we have started another route for healing that we never heard of before, but seems so promising. Another leap for us, but we know if we just sit in the nest and never look for the answers, we’ll never find it either!
Michael,
I think it great that you’re continuing to try new things concerning your wife’s health. I know it must be frustrating to have dealt with that for so long and to see so few results. But your’re so right. If you stop looking for answers, you’re never going to find one.
I can see how health insurance can be a daunting consideration with self-employment. One of the things that made that a little easier for us is we had our own insurance for a while now so that didn’t change at all when I quit my job. And, it wasn’t as pricey as we thought when we first got it. I’m on a pretty basic plan but Claudia is on a more robust plan that includes maternity.
Love this post! One of my favorite Mark Twain quotes says “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Thanks, Rob. That’s now of my favorites too! For me, it really helps me put things in perspective.
Same here buddy! Sometimes we just need to jump…
Same here buddy! Sometimes we just need to jump…
Michael, thanks for this. I have been experiencing the movement and greatness of God as my ministry and life have been moving rapidly lately. I described it as riding on a bike on peer and with each peddle the peer gets longer and longer and seems to never stop. It stps expanding when we stop peddling. Thanks, Rob
[…] most people who have done this before will tell you doors of opportunity open after we decide to make a change, not before. When we are hesitant, we can’t think straight. When we commit to change, no […]