Tag: inspire

Don’t Just Water Your Soul When You Begin To Wilt

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Just like a plant needs regular watering, so does our soul. Each plant has its own rhythm—some need water every day, others less often. When we keep up with its needs, we see it thrive. But if we forget, the plant will wilt, quietly signaling, “I need care.” If ignored long enough, it might wither completely.

Now think of the plant as your soul.

What’s the “water” for your soul? Are you nurturing yourself consistently, or only tending to your spirit when you’re already drained? Caring for yourself shouldn’t only happen when you feel like you’re wilting. Make soul care a priority, a habit. And remember, plants thrive in community—one wilting plant can affect the whole garden around it. Similarly, when we neglect ourselves, it impacts others too. Positive ripples start with self-care, but negative ripples spread when we overlook it. In caring for yourself, you’re caring for everyone connected to you. So water your soul often, and let yourself flourish.

You Can’t Please Everyone

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“

You’ll loose your mind trying to be for everyone. Your souls coated in honey. Some don’t like the taste of sugar and that’s fine.

“

billy chapata

We can’t please everyone, and that’s actually one of the beautiful parts of our existence. What we’re unable to give or fill for one person, someone else can. There’s someone and something for everyone. We never need to feel alone or diminished just because we don’t meet someone else’s expectations. What one person may not appreciate, someone else will absolutely love.

This quote is a reminder to stay true to ourselves and accept that we aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay. For each person who doesn’t resonate with us, there’s someone else who will. So let’s focus our energy on being who we truly are and find peace in knowing we’re exactly enough for the ones who matter.

We can relax into being ourselves, knowing we don’t need to force connections or try to satisfy everyone. Instead, we can find our own rhythm and let others find theirs. Trust that the right people—the ones who appreciate you as you are—will naturally be drawn to your unique “honey.”

Allow God To Catch You When You Fall

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When your child is just learning to stand or take those first wobbly steps, you’re always right there—either holding them or standing close by, ready to catch them if they stumble. As parents, we want to shield our children from pain and falls, so we stay close, providing security as they explore their newfound abilities. In this walk of life, we’re that child, and God is our loving, heavenly parent. Yet, just like little ones, we can be stubborn. We want to do it ourselves, to prove our strength and independence. And often, with this mentality, we fall, we get hurt, and we struggle through challenges alone. But God stands by patiently, waiting for us to call on Him, ready to help when we’re willing to ask.

It’s not that He hasn’t reached out to help us already; it’s that we often push Him away, thinking, “I can handle this myself.” So He watches, hoping we’ll one day welcome His guidance, because He knows that while life can be done alone, it doesn’t have to be a hard, lonely walk. God is always there, eager to catch us so we don’t grow weary from the falls. He wants us to find confidence, to walk and even run through life without fear. When we trust Him to catch us, we allow ourselves to take more risks, knowing there’s always a safety net waiting to support us.

I think of my own little one, crawling to the edge of the bed, knowing I’m right there to catch her. If she could talk, I imagine her saying, “Mom, I got this.” And while I’d give her space, I’d still be close, ready to protect her from any fall. If we trust God like that—like a child who knows they’re loved and watched over—we could face anything without fear. Letting Him catch us changes everything, allowing us to walk the path of life with courage, knowing we’re always in safe hands.

Each Day Is A Day Worth Celebrating

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From the moment we are born, the aging process begins. It’s a bit like a piece of fruit, picked from the tree. Once detached from its life source, the fruit starts to age. You can try to preserve it, slow it down, but the end result will be the same. Similarly, once we’re cut from the umbilical cord, we’re on our own journey.

I actually had this thought one day while washing dishes, just staring at our orange tree through the window. It hit me: we’re not all that different from a piece of fruit!

We age every day, knowing the final destination but often shying away from thinking about it. Instead, we distract ourselves, sometimes missing what it means to be truly alive.

But this knowledge is actually a gift. Knowing that life is finite is what gives each day its value. Rather than letting distractions or dark times pull us away from fully experiencing it, let’s see each day for what it is—an opportunity, a miracle in itself. Celebrate in some way, every day. Notice the small wonders around you. And by embracing this outlook, we can help others find the freedom to enjoy their lives too.

Distract Yourself Less

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Something I’ve noticed is that we humans are in a constant search for distractions. It’s not just that we “need” them; we’re almost addicted to them, each for our own reasons. Distractions aren’t inherently bad, but when we feel a constant need for them, we can become disconnected from ourselves and our surroundings. Often, this craving for distraction arises from fear. Fear is powerful, and instead of trying to understand it, we turn to distractions as a defense mechanism—to alleviate its weight. But distractions can only take us so far; fear will continue to re-emerge until it’s faced.

In a way, fear is there to “protect” us. Yet, ironically, it’s also what holds us back from fully living. Take time to look within and understand your fears. Ask yourself: where is this coming from? Your soul, your spirit, isn’t what’s afraid; it’s your mind and body.

Take moments to put down the distractions and face your inner world, as challenging as it may feel. Gently explore what lies beneath the surface—your fears, your worries, even your dreams. When you stop running from your fears and start understanding them, you’ll find yourself becoming more present, more aware, and more connected to your true self. It’s a journey we can all take, step by step, allowing ourselves to truly live without constantly seeking an escape.

A Tree Doesn’t Grow Tall Overnight

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A few years ago, I became fixated on our front yard and started landscaping little by little, doing what I could. I remember transporting rocks from one area to the next—it was tedious, to say the least. As I was shoveling, a thought came to me: “A tree doesn’t grow tall overnight.” We have to be patient with whatever we’re building or growing.

In this fast-paced world, we often get frustrated if we don’t see results right away. But what I’m learning is that there’s a unique beauty in each stage of the process that no other stage can offer. So, instead of focusing solely on the final outcome, I’ve started to pause and recognize what’s in front of me. Because once this stage is complete, it’s gone.

Enjoy the process. Be grateful for the struggle. Push through, knowing that the fruits of your labor will be that much sweeter. While there’s wisdom in “keeping your eye on the prize,” I’ve come to realize that if my mind is always on “the reward,” I might miss some really beautiful moments and unexpected opportunities along the way.

As we move through each stage, let’s all try to take a moment to appreciate where we are, even if it’s not where we ultimately want to be. We all can pause, breathe, and remind ourselves that growth takes time. If we can look for the small victories, the lessons, and the beauty in each step, then no part of the journey will feel wasted. So let’s trust the process and, together, enjoy the journey to wherever we’re headed.

Who You See on the Outside Is Only a Fragment of Who They Are Inside

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One of my favorite quotes from The Little Prince is, “…what is essential is invisible to the eye.” It reminds me how easy it is to assume we know someone’s story based on what we see, but in reality, we often know so little about the depths within them.

Each of us is like a book, with chapters that remain unread until someone curious enough comes along to open our pages. There’s no space for judgment when we truly think about it. Every appearance, lifestyle, and action holds a story, and we see only the surface.

Before we categorize or make assumptions, let’s try to understand. Let’s give grace where it’s needed. Remember, others know only fragments of you, just as you see only fragments of them.

Don’t Lock Up Your Inner Child

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Sometimes “becoming a grown-up” makes us a little too serious. We tend to overthink things, replay unnecessary scenarios, and censor ourselves. I look at my children—they say what’s on their minds, do what they feel, wear what they want, and laugh every day with little concern for what the rest of the world thinks. There’s a freedom in their joy that reminds me of what it feels like to be fully present and unburdened.

When we get too caught up in the grown-up lifestyle, that inner child can get lost, often without us even realizing we’ve locked that part of ourselves away. But it’s important to keep that side alive, to let it out and have fun. So ask yourself: what did you enjoy as a child? Let those answers guide you in reconnecting with that playful, authentic part of you.

Today, give yourself permission to embrace a little bit of that freedom. Laugh at something silly, try something new, or revisit a simple joy from when you were young. Releasing your inner child can bring a lightness that balances the weight of adulthood, reminding you that fun and spontaneity are just as important as responsibility.

Love Is A Choice – Choose To Love

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Try this: whatever in your life brings up fear or anxiety, choose to love it. Anything that stirs anger? Choose love. Love isn’t just a feeling; it’s an action, and it’s a choice we have the power to make every day. The ability to love more deeply is a seed within us, and it’s one that needs nurturing.

When something frustrates or upsets you, pause, take a breath, and say, “I love you.” Don’t let stress or anger have power over you. Every person and every experience around us could use a little more love.

Instead of pushing away “it”, whatever it may be (we all have things, situations, or even people that we find challenging to love) because of the negative emotions it brings, challenge yourself to love it.

For example, imagine you just stubbed your toe on the door. (We all know how much that hurts!) Instead of cursing the door, acknowledge it with a twist: “That hurt, but I still love you, door, because you keep my family safe and give us privacy.” It may seem small, but this practice strengthens the habit of choosing love in frustrating moments. If you can learn to love something as simple as a door that caused you pain, think of how far that love can extend to the bigger challenges in life.

Some days, you’ll succeed; other days, you’ll struggle. But don’t give up, love really is the answer. I know, because I have my own struggles with this practice.

There have been moments when my children have sparked this kind of anger I didn’t even know I had, and I have to literally step back to figure out where it’s coming from.

I had to choose love.

Over time, we evolve and improve, and for that, we can be grateful for.

Love is more than a feeling, it’s a choice. Imagine a world of choose to love.

Notice The Good Signs

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Many of us are always watching for bad signs, or at least those are what we focus on. They’re the ones that seem to stick in our minds, weighing us down and becoming tough to shake.

Constantly looking for the bad can leave the good in the shadows. When we do this, it’s like planting more bad seeds than good ones in our minds.

But there are so many good things—moments of light, glimmers—that deserve way more of our attention.

Glimmers are those tiny, positive signs that often slip by, little reminders that good things are happening, too.

Though our brains are wired to spot danger, trained for survival, we can work to build faith that’s stronger than this tendency.

This shift isn’t easy. It’s a muscle we must work on every day.

Over time, with intention and patience, noticing the good can become as natural as looking for the bad once was.