Hi there. I'm Jill Allen and this is find your fierce, the show designed for women to discover your fierce, unlock and unstoppable mindset. Build unbreakable courage and completely transform how you show up every single day. Each week I will bring ideas, methods and strategies that will inspire you to step into your greatness and live life on purpose. Let's be fit, fierce and unstoppable.
(00:35): Hey there, gang. Welcome to find your fear. So glad you're here. Today's chat. We are continuing a series called strength in hard places, and I love where this journey is taking us as I'm pretty fired up about it. Because like I mentioned, last week, I have not met a person who doesn't feel like they're on a rollercoaster ride filled with all these ups and downs and twists and turns. And instead of moving forward with peace and purpose, our lives spin out of control and life is hard. And we find ourselves in some hard places where the chaos and the uncertainty threatened us to make us feel helpless. So we're going to discover what to do about it. And we are flipping the script that our problems do not define us, but they actually refine us. But before going any further today, I have to say that I love that you are here listening in and spending time with us.
(01:19): So honored that I get to be a part of your day and that you are a part of mine. You ladies are also amazing. And I have to thank you for your love and support as always. And I appreciate your feedback, your reviews, and love that you share this podcast and the set free message with your friends and family. So if you can keep on doing that, that would be so wonderful because you are helping this movement, as it all helps reach more women and it impacts more lives. And that is certainly what life is all about. So thank you again for being here with us each week. So let's get started. We are going to reflect on our perspective today and the power that it has. So let me ask you, how do you see your life? Do you see your glass as half empty or half full?
(02:01): I heard once that, how we see that is similar to the concept of fate versus destiny. So let me explain that a little bit. That fate is the product of our circumstances. That fate is the hand that we've been dealt with yet. Destiny on the other hand is, is a matter of choice. You can choose to change your circumstances if you are willing to see your glass half full. And if you can do that and are determined to fulfill your destiny in spite of your background or your current circumstances, you will learn, or you will have to learn the art of perspective. So let's take what Abraham Lincoln said about perspective. I actually shared this in the just brief sisterhood a few weeks ago. He said, we can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or we can rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. So either way, it is a matter of choice and perspective, depending on what you choose to see that you're either going to have a Rose Bush or you're going to have a thorn Bush, which would you prefer?
(03:07): Let me tell you if you want to prosper in life, you're going to need to learn the power of perspective. And so I want to do a little perspective, prep work. We need to be transparent. We need to be vulnerable. We need to be authentic as we keep a clear, unbiased perspective and the way we view life. I know that is the tough part. As we all have had experiences and people who have influenced all the things, basically we need to make up our mind about how we will choose to live, to see all the goodness, to walk with integrity, to be open and free about who you are, what it is that you stand for in the midst of chaos that are true, that are interior. You know, everything that we have within who we are at our core remains unchanged. And are we wearing a mask or be double-minded?
(04:02): Are we being honest? Or are we hiding how true or truthful you are with yourself will determine how you will see other people. And of course, how they are going to see you, like, think about this, like the Rose Bush, or thorn, a glass half empty, or a glass half full, but that perspective or changing your perspective will add value to the clarity of our life. So let's think about this problems, all the adversities, all the challenges, the loss, the opposition, the distractions, they're all inevitable. They're all certainties that we are going to have. And it's pretty much useless and counterproductive to spend our life running from those things. Because, you know, as a matter of fact, I believe that joy in life doesn't come from living a problem free or uneventful existence, right? Cause if there were not any obstacles, then there would be no triumphs.
(04:58): There'd be no wins. There'd be no story to tell. There'd be no testimony to share. Remember, last week we talked about how problems are opportunities and disguise, the opportunities that we can grow through, conquering them. The purpose of problems is a call to action, to use any unused energy or our gifts to discover any hidden potential that we have to help create ideas. It helps reveal the truth or the true nature of our souls. Here's another thing. They actually problems. They usher us into these realms of greater responsibility, leadership, accountability. They make life. So dynamic thrilling guys. I'm so fired up about it because we can flip the script here today. Problems are so rewarding and challenging all at the same time. So I want to encourage us today that we need to answer that call and we can do that by always flipping the script and to check our perspective problems can be viewed these doors of opportunity, and we need to step through that door.
(06:01): Let's think about that problem. Call us to this place of our greatest personal power. Every challenge or problem can actually lead us closer to what God placed us on earth to accomplish answering the call. It's not going to be easy. It's not going to be comfortable and that we're going to have to go against the odds. We need to push the envelope. We probably need to defy the status quo, go against the grain. And it's going to take this conviction and courage to emerge out of our greatest challenges for us to be innovators or trailblazers or overcomers, these problems. These can be defining moments for each and every one of us. And I get it. We all want to make sense of our life. All the wins, all the losses, all the triumphs, all the tragedies let's take James and the apostle Paul. I mean, he said, count it all joy.
(06:49): When you fall into various trials for it is through the trials and tests that we grow and create change. God is always in the process of maturity. Us guys, you know, completing the good work. He began in you the day that you were conceived and we need to trust in that. Learn to trust, to lean on him, to rely on him, that he is our constant, that he's never going to let us down. He's never going to push us past our limit and that he's always going to be there to help you come through it. Do you see yourself finishing strong? You are what you repeatedly do. You are where you are today. And you have what you have today based on your habits and taking that personal responsibility for where you are. But you know, is not an easy thing to do, right? We as humans, I don't know about you, but you know, sometimes we like to point fingers.
(07:43): We cry. We play victim. No one's going to help me. Life is unfair. You know, we play that card when problems and challenges arise. When you meet a challenge rather than conquering it and gaining strength through the experience, do you let it conquer you? And here's the good news. Your past a fee has no bearing on your future success. Other than propelling you closer to it. We're flipping that script again, taking a problem right now, identify it unless adjust your perspective. Let's flip the script, take that problem and make it, turn it into an opportunity. Will you embrace the opportunity to, to grow through or shrink back and do nothing but complain could things again, be the way they are because you are the way you are. Are you willing to change your mind? Are you willing to change your attitude the way you think the way you talk about your life right now, are you willing to shift perspectives?
(08:38): Are you willing to make a choice, a choice to respond, to choice, to have a plan for this unexpected before it happens to respond and conviction rather than emotion, a choice to not lose sight of what they value the most, right? A choice to readjust a choice to live this empowered life, or you making a choice to live a stagnant life. And do you believe that you have that power? At least a little bit of power? I mean, I think we do, but many of us, we like to give it away to things or circumstances. People claiming that we have no control over our own choices. That life just happens to us. But I want to tell you today that we do have power. We have the power and the freedom to choose how we will respond. You have the ability to change fate by activating your faith.
(09:26): Not only in God, but also in the person that he created you to be. You have been created in this image of God and like him, you have the power to make choices. He created you to be, are you willing to step out of that comfort zone to be that world changer, God intended you to become, and yes, there's going to be battles like there is this war on drugs. There's a war with terrorism, corruption, homelessness, global warming, domestic violence, poverty, human trafficking, racism, there's religious persecution. And I get it. It can all be overwhelming. All of these problems that is weighing heavy on your heart. Is it possible that the things that are weighing on your heart that is on your heart for a reason, for a time such as this, right, is God stirring you up for greatness. Are you willing to step out and be this world changer?
(10:20): God intended you to become a while back. I heard that problems. I love this analogy. I love it. I got to share it with you. They are like revolving doors. You can stay in that circular moment, going around and around in a state of confusion. You can exit in the same spot that you entered, or you can exit on the other side in an entirely new place, which do you choose? Go for the door of opportunity, hidden with problems for your own growth, change, evolution, progress, whatever you want to call it. Problems are a call. This is where we're flipping it again. Problems are a call to the next level and it's time to level up. So when it comes to choices, I don't want you to cave under pressure. Do not quit. Do not play victim, do not pass the buck or buck, wander pressure and accept this defeat.
(11:13): I want you to take responsibility and do not play the blame game, allowing all these external factors to determine whether or not you succeed or fail. And I also don't want you to conform, basically. In other words, you doing what everyone else is doing. If you look around and everyone is sticking their head in the sand, I don't want you to stick your head in the sand. Both of those will keep you from growing, but here's the thing. There is another option. When it comes to choices, here it is. We can create your way out of it. We can create solutions rather than avoiding the problems. We can tap into the strength, giving catalysts of faith, love and hope. That's going to empower you to persevere. All of those things will help you overcome, and we will then get to experience the peace, the joy, the happiness, all these incredible things will happen.
(12:04): So circumstances, yes, they do happen. Bad things do exist. Totally get it. I agree with that hands down. But our challenge is in how we face those realities and we adjust our mindset, our thoughts and our perspective so that we can learn new strategies for creating solutions. All those hidden resources must be awakened. We need to wake up and in good times or bad, we will be challenged to find the strength, to pray, to trust God and to believe. And that takes discipline, which will make us powerful. And in not he of the trial and the pressure to respond. It exposes all these seeds of greatness within you. And as we move forward, even in the midst of the pain, probably coming out of the hard, you know, out of hardships and misfortunes, we get, we get, we get to discover our true self and it can take us on a path that leads us back to the meaning and the fulfillment and the purpose that God intended it to be.
(13:06): And when we respond with this, with the tunnel in mind, rather than what the world expects and how instant gratification is given, we will continue to plant these seeds of success and all our setbacks will be comebacks. So reflect back, gather up all your painful situations, all the lessons you've learned, all your current difficulties. And let's go ask the Lord to give us his perspective on each situation, open up your heart, humble yourself, before God listen for his voice, follow his direction. And I tell you what guys he is going to lift you up. When we call upon him and allow him to show you the way. And when we begin to see things from heaven's perspective, the difficulties will feel less overwhelming. And the way through will become more clear, it be become more evident and change will take place. We will all experience change.
(14:01): I know we all talk about change, but do you welcome it could things again, be the way they are for you because you are the way you are. What one thing can you change about yourself that will change everything? Will you change your mind? What about changing your perspective? What about your thoughts about your life? Change your mind about being disappointed or being mistreated or being unloved? Self-pity the victim mentality to flipping it to how wonderful God is. Can you shift perspectives? When it comes to every doubt to every insecurity, every emotional struggle, any financial hardships, God can turn everything into good and change at this level starts from within. It starts with you at the level of your soul. And when you heal your soul, let me tell you, you can heal the world. It's a tool to transform society. It can transform your family, your environment.
(14:53): So let's go back to where we started. How do you see your life? Do you see your glass is half empty or half full? Do you see a thorn Bush or do you see a Rose Bush, man? There's lots to reflect on this week. So glad to be a part of your day and that you are a part of mine. If you have not grabbed a copy of my books at free, please do so. It's a woman's guide to freedom from confusion, control, worry, fear, and stress by letting go and saying yes to God's endless love. So check it out on Amazon as well. Heads up on the next episode, we're going to continue the strength in hard places and talking about the power of purpose. So be sure to listen to next week. Thanks so much for joining us today. Please subscribe, share this episode, link on your social media. If you felt encouraged or inspired, as we all know someone that can benefit. And I would love it. If you would give some feedback and a review as well, talk to you next time, be fit, be fierce, be unstoppable.
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