Continuing through the fog

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Continuing through the fog:

Maybe you’re not clear on exactly what you want or a purpose out of one of the things you love doing? I’m going to be honest, it’s how I feel about this very podcast. I can feel a knock on my heart to continue on, to serve, to talk to women, to encourage, to talk about hard topics and have conversations about finances and business- but I’m not sure even now where it could bring me. But in my quietness, I know it’s where I should be Before you say “what?!” In your head, I’m not going anywhere, I know it’s what I need to be doing, I just have NO idea where it’s going

Right now, I’m not selling any courses or offers, I’m simply serving- and during some quiet time this week I sat with that, but this tug at my heart told me I need to spend even more time on the podcast, give it more energy and it was one of those very clear voices to keep going and I’m trusting it even without seeing the next step. We don’t always need to see every step to take the first little one- that’s part of faith, that’s part of following what’s on our hearts. It might lead you down a path that has absolutely NOTHING to do with what you think, but it could be a stepping stone or the right path to where you’re meant to be. So I’m listening, without seeing. And I’m telling you that, because I want to give you permission though you don’t need mine- but permission to tell yourself it’s okay not to see the next step. You can continue doing the thing you love being unsure where it could take you.

Sometimes you have to move forward so you can see what’s just ahead- because no matter how hard we squint in the fog - we won’t be able to see further until we move ahead. And that’s what a lot of our paths look like. There has to be some faith to continue and just keep moving. What’s ahead might move us another direction and eventually lead us to where we’re supposed to be, but along the way, get rid of the noise and just listen to what your gut is telling you.

Do I believe in having systems in place for goals and setting up for success in the future? Absolutely, I’m not saying do everything blindly and it’ll come to you, I’m saying take the next step even without seeing the whole staircase. Calculated risk. If you know me, you know I’m a planner, in fact I keep two and I write down tasks per day for each week to accomplish, and it helps me accomplish tasks and goals and dreams slowly- but over the past how many years has life thrown me a curve ball when it came to what I thought it would look like? More than I can count from relationships, career, where I’m living, and even adding this podcast. I’m a planner who uses a pencil- so things can be changed. Or as I’m sure a lot of you have heard to be stubborn in your goals but flexible in the way you accomplish it. We aren’t meant to always see the whole path when we step into something new, it just takes those steps in front of us to continue, make the plans but be flexible in execution.


However I feel I should touch a bit on fear. We all have a healthy fear that helps us during times where we should run, or go a different direction if it’s not the right path but often the first sign of something makes us quit or think yup this is the sign I shouldn’t continue, when it’s just one of the step to take, to make you better, to challenge you- no matter what you choose- there’s going to be challenges. In fact, when you’re doing the right things too- there’s going to be challenges and it’ll just make you better. Not all challenges are signs to stop, it’s just something to step over and figure out along the way.

I heard someone talk about whatever business you start and part of continuing is being nieve. Hear me out, they said it’s part of the process something GOOD because if we knew exactly what was ahead or how much improvement we need in our field, we might quit. But the vary nieve and inflated ego about how great we are when we first start (before the crash of.. oh my gosh I’m terrible.. I think most artists and creative entrepreneurs feel) is why we continue, why we want to do it full time. And that is definitely not being able to see the whole staircase. It’s something I think is instilled in us so we desperately fight for the thing we love. But most of us like I mentioned we have a coming to Jesus moment when we hit the wall of everything we do is crap, and honestly- when we hit that wall… that’s how you know you’re onto something GREAT if you continue, fixing and educating yourself in every way and finally open to improvement to dig deeper.

I remember fresh out of college- moving to las vegas which moving from Minnesota to live in las vegas was QUITE the change and my first big girl job out of school in my field was working at the number one chapel in las vegas as a wedding photographer and BOY did I think I was amazing. Until… I got told every single day how awful I was (usually in a nice way) but I couldn’t see it. I thought I was pretty dang great, and not until a few years after and I started to grow creatively did I realize just how right they were and how thankful I was to continue and believe in myself when mayyyybee I shouldn’t have. Ha

but it didn’t stop me from knowing I wanted to just have my own photography business. Working day in and out with that many people in my field was awesome (not a I want to be there forever kind of awesome) but you see how people work, what gear works, you can ask every setting and see differences and style and posing and lighting and oh my gosh the things I learned. And then as I moved ON from the chapel, the things I learned with the foundation was immeasurable.

But the point is 1- if you’re on the other side and you’re seeing someone new come into the field, they might have that same sense of false- confidence that they’re work could be compared to someone who’s world renown but undiscovered, be honest but be helpful. It’s also not a threat, it’s an opportunity for them to learn and there’s seriously space for all of us. 2- if you’re in that spot, it’s okay. The first 10,000 photos will be your worst, which maybe sounds unhelpful, but the practice and shifts and growth in your craft will be huge if you really want it. Some might quit- but not you. It’s why it’s okay to share tips, secrets, locations, and just encourage one another- you’ll both go further faster and who knows where the path will lead for them.

So it might not be clear on exactly what you want from the things you love doing as a creative, but that’s okay. Take action anyway. Stumbling, unsure, mistake filled action because that’s where you’ll learn and grow the most.

Failure is never really failure when you continue, it’s only lessons and I truly believe that, over the last 14 years of me being a photographer- I’ve made MANY mistakes, but I have learned and with the help of others in my field, education, conferences, courses, starting my business over in 5 states and practicing my craft while growing a business - failures, ones I get back up from- helped me the most.

I’ve spent a LOT of time in quietness in the last month or so, listening to what’s next for me, and as a planner of life being completely happy in continuing without always knowing the few steps ahead I can’t see. But something I’ve found is when I check in, check my heart, my head and my gut- am I doing the things that I feel called to do? Am I willing to continue through the fog ahead and being unsure of the final destination? Am I trusting and putting faith while taking steps? If I’m doing what I know and taking steps of action, I can’t go wrong. As I step forward I see more and more of where it’s leading, when you can feel something is close so you keep going. If you’re on the right path and listening as you step, it won’t ever be the wrong decision when it’s calculated risks, and peace in decisions.

The fog in your life might be thick and you might not even be able to see past that one step ahead, that’s okay- make the best step you can forward and make that step in confidence.