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.
(00:34): Hey there, gang. Welcome to find your fear so glad that you are here with me as we wrap up the series beyond. Great, this is part six. So if you haven't had a chance to listen to episodes one through five, go back, do that. They're so powerful. They're short, they're sweet. And it'll be perfect to start or end your day with this series because we are diving into a bunch of things that the Lord has placed on my heart. For me to share with you in hopes to propel you into what God is asking you to do, calling you, to do and to become come and kind of help unleash all the untapped potential that you have been holding back from the world. And to help you peel back some layers as you reflect and take on your own faith journey, I can't wait.
(01:12): It's gonna be so super good. But before we go any further, I have to say that I love that you are here, you know, listening in and spending time with us. And I'm honored to that. I get to be a part of your day. You're just so amazing. And I have to thank you for your love and support, and I appreciate your feedback, your reviews. And I love that you share this podcast and the set free message with your friends and family. So if you could keep on doing that, that would be incredible because you are helping this movement as it helps reach more women and it impacts more lives. And that is certainly what life is all about. So I cannot thank you enough. Okay. So let's dive in here. I have a, a story that I wanna share with you that I think ties in to what we are talking about today.
(01:52): I was getting some blood work done one early morning. I was fasted and I was ready to go. I brought my order papers and the insurance cards. And when I got there, there was a pretty big, long line in front of me. The computer systems were down and it was going to take a little bit longer than normal, but because I learned what I am going to share with you today, there was peace within my heart, even when there was an inconvenience. And so what I did is I sat there and I just observed everyone entering after me. And I, I love people watching. I just, I love how, how people respond and show up daily. And so that's, there was no big deal to me. So for me to just kind of sit there, but I was watching them enter through the doors and how they responded to the receptionist when she owed them that their computers were down.
(02:46): And if they didn't have their papers, right, there was no possible way for them to get that blood work or whatever they had to have done that day because they weren't able to access that. Okay. So let me tell you, it was quite obvious who has practiced the pivot and who has not. And some took it in stride, showed love, kindness, patience, others, not so much. They screamed at the receptionist. They got agitated. They stormed out, they even played the victim or the blame game. And so what I wanna ask you here today, can you be content right where you are right now? Contentment is not a feeling guys. It is a focus and you may feel restless. You may feel dissatisfied. You may even feel anxious, but what is your focus? Contentment is an intentional pivot of your heart and mind towards a peaceful happiness.
(03:40): And maybe your circumstances won't be changing today. But with a little practice of the pivot or practice of flipping the script, you can find contentment. Now, Paul was the follower of Jesus, right? Who spent a lot of time in prison, a whole lot of time. And he knew hardship. He knew unfair treatment. He knew all about having everything stripped from him. He knew about being beat. He knew disappointment. He knew discouragement and he knew contentment. He learned the secret of choosing to be content in all circumstances, guys, that's pretty powerful. And don't, you wanna know the secret don't you wanna know how you can be peacefully happy right here in the middle of this, whatever this is. Don't you wanna know how you can go through times where the whole world is flipped upside down without getting flipped upside down yourself. I know I did.
(04:34): Okay. And so this is how, or this is the secret. Paul says in Philippians full versus 11 through 13, it states I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances, I know what it is to be a need. And I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty want, and I can do all things through him who gives me strength. Paul learned to be content. He had to practice this. It didn't it come natural in the beginning. And maybe that's where you are. Naturally. You're all stirred up when things go wrong or naturally you're reactive to the interruption of your plans. Naturally you're dissatisfied by and things. Aren't right. And it would be totally unnatural for you to stay calm in the middle of a storm.
(05:27): It would be unnatural for you to not worry, or it would be unnatural for you to be happy in today's reality. But with practice, what is unnatural to you now can become natural to you in the future. Because I think about when we were little, we were trying to walk, right? It was unnatural for us to walk. And then we began learning to walk, right? And it took a few months. We would fall down and then have to crawl. But eventually we learned because we practiced. And as we continued, right, walking went from unnatural to natural. Now walking is so natural that we don't even think about it. We stand up and we balance and our feet just move. We learned this new ability and it became natural to all of us. That's what Paul was saying. He learned to be content and it wasn't natural.
(06:14): In the beginning. He too got all upset and for flipped out, he too allowed the thoughts to run through his mind, like crazy kids, creating havoc. He too, through the occasional pity party and maybe licked his wounds. But with practice, he learned to be content, whatever the circumstances, whatever guys, that's a key word in this scripture, whatever here I will be content, whatever doesn't happen here, I will be content. Whatever may come, I will be content. Whatever never comes. I will still be content. And contentment is not tied to circumstantial conditions. It's a whatever commitment. Now that's tough. Think about that. If that soak in, that's why practice is required. And today we just practice with whatever. So whatever we woke up to this morning, this is our practice field. Whatever comes our way today. This is our practice play. We're practicing contentment of focus on peaceful, happiness, not a feel lane focus.
(07:20): And there are some things that you just can't be happy with, right? Some things are not good, no matter how hard you twist them, you know, you're not expected to be happy with all those things, right? You're learning to tap into your peaceful happiness in those things. There is a difference. You're not how happy with divorce, but you can find happiness in divorce. You're not happy with financial hardship, but you can still find contentment in financial hardship. You're not happy with middle school drama, teenage attitude, right in the mouths, but you can find peace in it. All right, right here in the middle of what you didn't ask for what you didn't want. What, what you're heard over, even what you're angry about can use fine contentment, peaceful happiness right here in this moment, guys. Yes. I hope you're getting fired up about this. Yes, you can.
(08:11): It is not a feeling. It's a focus and it's not natural. It's learned. Paul learned meant in whenever his circumstances were including prison. By practicing the pivot, he was flipping the script. He practiced the pivot of his thoughts in the hardship. He didn't wait until things changed to be at peace. He didn't restrain his happiness for the day. He was free. Again, he weighed his flag of contentment, right? In that prison, Sal and declared his circumstances would not invade his mind. What was he practicing? Exactly what he taught in the same chapter, right? In Philippians four in verse six through eight, do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ. Jesus. Finally, whatever is true.
(09:12): Whatever is noble, whatever is right. Whatever is, or whatever is lovely. Whatever is admirable. If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. This is what Paul learned to do. And remember it wasn't natural at first. But with practice, it did, it did become natural. He learned to pray about everything. You know, what's more natural to me, worrying, worrying about everything is more natural complaining about everything is more natural playing out. Worst case scenarios in our head is more natural. I mean, we're humans, but practice praying about it. First. This is the first step toward contentment. And then after we've prayed, after you've prayed, what do you do? You pivot your thoughts like I've mentioned before, contentment is not a feeling. It is a focus. This is a focused thought pattern toward what is good and right. What is lovely? What is excellent? What is worthy of being praised?
(10:11): It's an intentional pivot from the continual stream of negativity and a overwhelm that is everywhere around us to what is positive and to what is possible. And let me tell you that feels really unnatural. And it is until you've practiced it. It's like walking. Once you get it, it's natural. You can practice this pivot of your thoughts until you two master the secret of contentment. And then whatever is hap you just naturally pivot mentally to a place of seeing what God may do or what he may be doing despite the circumstances. So today let's encourage each other. We practice, we practice the pivot. We flip the script. We learn contentment in whatever my peaceful happiness does not have to, to be sacrificed here. My mind does not have to be overtaken by the attack of my wild, crazy thoughts and destructive tendencies. And I know I'm learning to do better here.
(11:06): And maybe you just say, you can't do this. You've tried before. You've tried to be more positive. You've tried to change your thoughts now because of failed attempts. You're convinced you can't, I'm gonna call you out here. It's wrong. It's a lie. And you can do all things through him who strengthens you have you asked God to give you strength in the pivot, the strength to flip the script. Have you asked him to strengthen you and your focus over your feelings, ask him to help you take your whatever and find contentment in it. If Paul can be content in prison with no food, you be content where you are right now today. It doesn't mean it will be this way forever. It doesn't mean you're settling here. It means you found peace in it and your focus, overpowers your feelings. Again, I know I'm fired up about today.
(11:52): It's so good. We can learn so much from the stories in the Bible because they all still apply today. And if you're wanting more fire in your day, follow me on Instagram or join us for the just brief small group, or you can even join us in glacier. In June. We have been all over the place on epic adventures that allow us to step outside our comfort zone. So be sure to go to Jill Allen, coaching.com for all updates or join the just brief Facebook group, we would love to have you join us heads up on the next episode, we are kicking off a brand new series that you know, for that, you know, new, fresh start that we always talk about. So be sure to pop back in next week. Thanks so much for joining us today. And I pray that we filled your heart with joy. And if you could let us know before hopping off here today, that would be incredible. Sip. 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 with you next time, be fit, be fierce, be unstoppable. See ya.
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