Dear friend,

I see that area of your life where you feel stuck right now. But, I want to let you know this: you might feel stuck, but you are not.

I know you feel so overwhelmed or like things feel fixed, and even final. You are close to throwing your hands up and deeming this area of your life a lost cause.

But, what if you’re really not stuck?

What if this area of your life has just been so untouched or unmoved for so long that the tight and stiff feeling makes movement feel unfathomable? What if it is not fixed? What if growth and change are possible in this area?

Focus on the small step

I know this feeling of being stuck is there due to a whole list of things that have happened to you in the past. I don’t doubt the feelings those events surface for you because I was there with you. I feel it too, and I want more for you. I know you want it too; it just seems impossible right now.

You have two choices: 1) stay where you are (which I know you don’t want) or 2) start moving and taking small steps to work on this area. Yes, I said small steps, which is what I want you to focus on to start.

It is time to move

I want you to visualize this: you are walking up a very steep side of a mountain to allow you to see a beautiful horizon. You have been traveling for a while and you are tired and sore. You have just reached the halfway point and have decided to stop because you are tired and annoyed with all the parts of the terrain you tripped over to get here (your past).

So, as you sit, you start lamenting over the stumble that led to each bruise you acquired along the way. After a while, you convince yourself that you can’t go further and it was not destined for you to see the beautiful horizon. So, you set up camp in that area. You have decided to stop yourself, but you are not stuck here.

Well, here I am, your better self, to tell you it is time to move.

You are halfway there so why not keep moving forward? Here is the beautiful part: you now understand the terrain better and know how to maneuver going forward. The past steps taught you something.

You are stronger at this point than you were when you started, and now I want you to use that to help you go forward.

There is more life to live

Take the next step.

Then, take the next one after that.

And, if you get tired along the way, it is OK to pause to catch your breath. It is OK to take small breaks to rest up, patch up, and heal. Just don’t stay in the small place for too long.

With every step forward, you gain strength and get one step closer to your goal.

So, will I see you further up the path?

[Related post: How to Deal With Setbacks]

#notestoyou is a series of blog posts for when you need to hear an encouraging wordfrom a friend. It is a little something to lift you up on the journey. I pray you find a spark of energy, a healing word, or a gentle reminder of the awesomeness inside you from these words.