Written by: Jenn Taylor, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
I was a Christian woman who felt at a loss about my purpose and direction in life. I struggled with the balance between work, relationships, purpose, and my God-given gifts, and I felt that – although I chose my life – I didn’t think it would be “like this”.
I wanted to develop more self-confidence, courage, and self-esteem and was so ready to tackle areas of my life that were causing stress, overwhelm, feelings of judgment, and I wanted a stronger connection to my faith.
I lost a sense of myself – lost in serving other important purposes (work, kids, husband), and I felt stuck, numb, and uncertain of what to do although I knew I wanted a change.
I knew I had a Heavenly Father and all my answers were in the Bible, but I felt overwhelmed trying to figure out how to maintain who I was in all the business of life. I felt lost and alone.
Once upon a time...
…maybe earlier today – you daydreamed about what your life would be like.
Perhaps you’ve made brave attempts to use your God-given gifts and now you feel like you have gotten it wrong over and over again.
Life continues to change leaving you questioning what you want anymore.
Your beautiful, authentic talent-rich soul aches to break free and shine, but perhaps you are skeptical or afraid to let her out in fear you may fail.
You crave connection, collaboration, and a group of friends that understands you.
I see you because I was you.
There was a time….
I wanted to turn my life around.
To change the way I thought and acted and achieve my goals.
To stop being a victim of circumstance, put excuses aside and take full responsibility for my life!
Once I did that – decided what I wanted in life, accepted I could achieve anything I’d ever wanted, and made every day count. Everything changed.
I know there are people out there like I was… stuck, lost, drowning.
At my turning point, I decided if what I was doing wasn’t working, I would need to change it.
I used 3 main things to help in the areas that were the most difficult: Time, Health, and Spirituality
Use a calendar. I started scheduling EVERYTHING so that I could really see my day, where I had time, where I needed it, what could go and what should stay the same. I was exhaustive in managing my time.
Join a workout program. I paid for a program on a running team. I had the support and accountability I wanted, and many workout options available to be able to exercise before kids were up and later at night. I could also bring them with me to some activities. I found a way to improve and maintain my physical health WITH my family. Even as a working single mom.
I found a church to attend and signed up for a class. I needed support spiritually, so I found something that made me feel connected again. Branching out into networking groups was also helpful in making connections in my local area.
If there’s anything I learned, stop doing what others expect you to do and do what you feel you need to do. I learned that meant being open and clear about my Faith in Jesus Christ. It meant sharing ALL of who I am, not just the raw and authentic bits I was comfortable showing. It was me being completely and authentically ME.
Stepping into who you are can be tough. Doing that with an audience is daunting, from networking groups, social media, new fitness, or church groups. It’s also an exhilarating, wonderful, and breathtaking experience filled with deep connection and healing. Take charge of your life again, step into your God-given gifts, purpose, and learn to live the life God meant you to live!
Jenn Taylor, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jenn Taylor is a mom of 18 (yes, 18 kids!), a Transformational Coach for Christian Women, and the host of At A Crossroads with The Naked Podcaster – a 4-year podcast to uplift others in their struggles. Her goal is to help others get through life’s struggles faster, easier, and with more support (and joy!). Jenn is also a motivational speaker, has written the blog "Mom’s Running It" for over 9 years, and is a published author of a self-help memoir "Hello, My Name Is... Warrior Princess" – which she will email to you as a pdf for free. She is also married to an amazing man in Reno, NV, is a runner, minimalist, and healthy lifestyle enthusiast. If you’ve attended events or heard speakers in the past and gotten excited about making changes only to return home and have felt frustrated at not knowing how to implement the information, you’ll love working with Jenn!
