dreamfleur

When you know and are focused on your purpose you are more able to appreciate, help and encourage others living out theirs. When you’re confused about your passion and calling you’re more likely to compare, envy, copy, or compete for attention. You may get frustrated and it can be easy to get distracted, or what I like to call “overly inspired” - so in awe of what others are doing that you are paralyzed into in-action or into reasoning to yourself that what you are to do is unimportant to others.

The important thing to remember is that we’re all unique, and what you have to offer is also unique and important. Get rooted in your purpose and give yourself the time to get grounded in what you were made to do. While your living out your purpose, you’re in a better position to be of benefit to others and to inspire those who may be hesitant of doing what they were meant to do.

Have you ever felt the pressure of molding your actions - yourself - to the expectations of others?

When you’re not in your purpose, you might feel that squeezing, gnawing discomfort inside. The wrangling tension in you may be a signal that you’re not doing what you are meant to.

I’ve been feeling that way lately - the effects of kneading some of my actions to please others, or acting the way I think they expect me to. I’ve reasoned to myself that helping others is the right thing to do, but at the same time am abandoning the tasks God has given me.

One of the things I’ve been learning to do is live above the expectations of others, or the temptation to please and impress. When my actions are motivated by service in love and a desire to please God, not simply catering to man, then living becomes more purposeful:

“…do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:22-24 (New International Version)

There are times when we have to leave our comfort zones to reach higher heights, or months of painful pruning, and these may cause feelings of helplessness or ill feeling that are good and inevitable for our growth. There will be periods when we must become servants to others before our own dreams come to fruition, (as Joseph experienced). Other times when we check with others for approval in our every move, feel down when our work isn’t acknowledged, or measure our efforts against those of others, we are doing nothing but suffocating our own purpose.

There is a reason you and I were made the way we were, and have dreams that may not exactly “fit in.” When God created you, you were made to bring something unique to this world, to live out your purpose. As long as we stay within the realm of His standards, we are worshipping Him when we exercise our unique talents the way He meant for us to.

When we surrender our hearts to God, His dreams for us become the ones we begin to feel passionately about. Follow the God-given beat of your heart, the natural rhythm of personality, ideas, passions and quirks that flowed from within, the rhythm only God could orchestrate. Dream not in self-ambition but for His way which is good and pure. Imagine if your actions only flowed from what God is conducting, the unique purposes and hopes that He shares with us in love, undefiled by expectations and stereotypes - it will be music to His ears.

Don’t to worry about being “normal” or fitting in. Don’t snuff out the nuances that make you unique, but embrace them; the world is waiting for your gift. They may not understand it at first but He does; trust His opinion – it’s the only one that matters. It might be a lonely road, but the times when we’re playing out our purpose only for Him might be the most special of all.

Let’s strive today to start living our lives for an audience of One. There’s a joy in being “different” if you are being you, the way God intended.

In honor of Women’s History Month, here’s a tribute for women everywhere - “Every Woman.” (The poem and graphics below were part of a project I created for a Woman’s History Month celebration I had the opportunity to chair at the University of Miami.)

Every Woman

by Julene Fleurmond

Every woman should learn
To love her imperfections
To nurture the essence of her spirit
To admire her own reflection.

Every woman should live
Never compromising herself
To dream dreams that are impossible
To know when to ask for help.

Every woman should know
That a real man wouldn’t rob her of happiness,
That there is a Love even greater then love
And that she is too blessed to stress.

Every woman should believe
That she is indeed a queen
That she has the right to be herself,
To speak her mind and seek her dreams.

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” - Maya Angelou

The dreams you dream, the ones deeply rooted in you, were placed in you for a reason. Don’t give up striving for them, don’t let discouragement keep you on the ground. Continue to dream brightly and soar boldly, and the momentum of your efforts will take you airborne…

Dare to live your life with resilience and boldness. For who can live the dreams you’ve dreamed more brilliantly than you?

- Dreamfleur

I recently posted about Alyson Stoner on my youth site Dreamer ENT. She is 16-years-old and a talented young actress, dancer and singer whose starred in music videos, Disney movies like Camp Rock and shows like The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Alyson really strives to motivate other young people to make the most of their lives, and I love this post from her blog where shared some relevant inspiration:

“It pains my heart to see my generation lying around, using their teen years as an excusable “transition-phase” so they can avoid taking on responsibilities before it’s necessary. This period is intended to be the launching pad for our futures! Do you think that the less-than-convicted habits you’re forming and apathetic character you’re developing will magically transform into a successful adulthood without any action taken by you? Friends, we’re setting ourselves up for mediocrity…”

“…Dare to dream. We have an imagination for a reason. Write down your wildest dreams and then create an action plan to make it happen. Stay focused on improving your character and skills (instead of nit-packing others’ flaws) so you’ll be prepared to fly when the opportunity arises. You were created to do amazing things, and I’m not going to let you fail. You are strong. You are valued. You are loved, and you are gifted. Do not waste your life…”

That’s some great and powerful advice for even adults! You can read the full blog post on her official website by clicking here.

Here’s a video of Alyson talking about her vision for her music, and how she looks up to artists like India Arie, Stevie Wonder and others who have substance and passion in their music. This motivated young lady is really grounded and inspiring.