Choose To Be You

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

It’s a simple question, yet often we have such a hard time answering it, pinpointing that passion and dream defined as our “why.”

In 2007, as a junior in high school, I pushed publish on my first blog post. Little did I know that my blog would transform into a beautiful resource and community for thousands of people around the world. I was just tapping into what I love and what helps me personally on my becoming journey—writing!

In 2014, I called my warrior friend Amy and asked, “Hey! What would you think about coming over to my apartment and us filming your story, how you’re becoming who God made you to be, and then sharing that on my blog?” She said yes, we filmed her story, and Becoming Stories were born. Did I know in 2014 that just seven years later, we would have filmed and shared over 100 Becoming Stories? Nope. I just knew I saw women becoming who God made them to be all around me—women who are strong, who are beautiful, and whose stories are so very important—and I wanted to share those stories.

I think we discover our “why” in the seemingly insignificant moments where we say “yes,” trusting God with the next step in front of us. Pushing publish on a blog? Interviewing a friend? Pretty simple moments. However, they’ve changed my life, and they’re changing the lives of countless people on their own becoming journeys too.

In the moment, becoming who God made you to be just seems like hard work, life, steps. However, looking back, I can see how each step I’ve taken on my becoming journey has led me to where I am today, discovering more and more of my why, my purpose, my driving force. It would be easy to define my purpose as being a writer or communicator or storyteller; but, my purpose, my why, goes so much deeper than something I do. My why drills down to the core of who I am: a woman becoming who God made her to be with all she’s got, and who wakes up every day to help people become who God made them to be, too. That’s it, that’s my answer, that’s why I get out of bed every day.

I didn’t discover my why in one big moment, but rather in many little moments over time. But I know with everything in me this is who I was created to be, what I was created to do.

Warrior friend, what gets you out of bed in the morning? Looking back on your journey so far, what handful of seemingly insignificant moments have made the most profound impact on your story? Dissect those moments—what made them stand out to you? I believe you’ll begin to discover your why there. And when you do, your heart will skip a beat as you see with fresh eyes who God has created you to be and this grand purpose He has birthed in and through your life.

Run after your why. Run after becoming who God made you to be with every fiber in your being… I’m here running with you.

Warrior friend, it’s time to choose to be you!

Respond:

Pray and journal your answers to the following questions:

• What gets you out of bed in the morning?
• What seemingly insignificant moments have made the most profound impact on your story?
• What makes these moments stand out to you?
• What’s your why, your purpose?
• How will you choose to be you?

Feeling stuck?

First, pray! Talk to God and ask Him to reveal to you who He has made you to be! Pause and listen to what He is saying—as one of our verses today says in Jeremiah 29:11-13, God has a purpose for your life and when we seek Him, we will find Him!

Second, talk with a trusted friend or mentor, someone who knows you well. Ask them to help you discover your why!