Hello, Friend!
I’m Em. I’m a wife, mom of 4, disciple of Christ, recovering perfectionist, and Certified Professional Life Coach.
I believe that we create our lives with our minds. And that most of us waste a ton of energy trying to control things outside of us, while forfeiting the power we DO have within us.
But are you actually feeling…
…Overwhelmed by all the un-done to-dos in your life?
(and then guilty for feeling overwhelmed because you should feel grateful?)
…Frustrated and resentful in your relationships?
…Weighed down by all the stress and negativity that churns around in your mind all day?
I told myself all day long:
“I don't have enough time.”
“I don't have enough money.”
“My clothes aren’t cute enough.”
“My house isn’t clean enough.”
“I’m not teaching my kids enough.”
“I’m not serving other people enough.”
Maybe you can relate.
You say yes to more things than you can realistically accomplish.
But you figure if you make lots of lists, get really organized, stay up a little later, and push yourself just a little harder, you’re sure you can squeeze it all in.
And if you keep trying harder, and always just do as much as you possibly can, maybe you will finally silence that voice that always seems to taunt you:
“You’re falling short. You’re not enough.”
That’s the solution, right?
But what happens when you CAN’T DO MORE than you’re doing???
I felt the *smack* of hitting that wall when I was pregnant with my 4th baby, juggling more demands and responsibilities than ever before, yet with less physical capacity than I’d ever had. I couldn’t possibly try any harder in ANY category of my life than I already was, but there was so much that was left completely undone.
I was collapsing under the pressure of feeling completely inadequate. I knew something had to change.
Pregnant, on bedrest, with a herniated disc in my back, I couldn't do more. I couldn’t try harder.
I felt useless. (Dare I say…worthless? I didn’t know how to feel a sense of worth without being able to accomplish a lot of things. I didn’t know how to feel better without making a list and checking off as many things as I could)
My body was limited in capacity—which turned out to be an amazing blessing to help me begin to understand the power of my mind.
So instead of trying to “do” my way out of my situation, I started looking for ways to change my mind about it.
I learned that my feelings are created by my mind, not by my circumstances.
I learned that I can choose the thoughts I want to think, no matter what I am facing.
I learned that I can exchange thoughts that create feelings of inadequacy and overwhelm for thoughts that fill me with gratitude and faith—anytime I want to!
I don’t have to wait for things to get perfect so I can feel joy…I can choose to feel joy, even in the middle of real life—while I’m learning, while my house is messy, while people I love are struggling, while I’m making mistakes—by choosing to think joyful thoughts.
Once you start to really understand the power you have within you to think thoughts on purpose, you’ll be able to accomplish things that once seemed impossible.
You’ll know how to take your relationships, your family life, your work, your EVERYTHING to a whole new level of joy.
I have found that incorporating life coaching tools with my faith has allowed me to love my family more deeply, connect with God more intimately, and serve others with more energy and enthusiasm than I ever have before.
What do you want to feel less overwhelmed, and more excited about?
What challenges do you want to face with more courage?
Who do you want to start loving and leading, instead of resenting?
Listen here, or say “Alexa, play Find the Joy by Emily Ricks” when you want to remind your brain to Find the Joy. :)
