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DAY 13.
Learning to Listen
I’m shifting. Although it really started a few years back, it happened again a few months ago. What exactly does “shifting” mean? When deep inside you feel a stirring that isn’t a concise movement, but a realization that something needs to change, and that something new is waiting.
But what, I haven’t a clue.
So, I’ve embarked on some personal experiments in the past few weeks and realized that it’s become a sort of self-challenge before my 50th birthday. Officially, it’s 50 Days to 50! Each week, and several days in between, I’ll share my experiences on a particular day of the journey and what life area I’m working on, what realization I’ve discovered, or what life lesson I’m learning. And then I’ll ask a thought-provoking question for you, hoping it helps on your personal journey, whatever it is and wherever it may be headed.
I’m a little nervous and excited, but anticipating a meaningful experience!
Although it’s officially Day 13 today (due to my book launch last week), I’ll catch you up a bit in the next few days. Right now, I’m learning to LISTEN. Not just with my ears but with my soul.
A few weeks ago this shifting thing moved me in a specific way. Interestingly, I started meeting, talking with, and connecting to women who ended up using the exact same verbage as myself—“I feel a shift, and I don’t know why.” We would get together for breakfast, kids in tow, and before you know it, we were discovering pieces of the shifting puzzle together.
After a few of these encounters, we women left with the awareness of not do more, but dig deeper, gain better focus, and make a clear difference in our own way. And, to help each other achieve these good desires while keeping family first.
Ultimately, some of these women and others attended a women’s retreat, a think tank for Women of Influence. When I was first invited, I have to say it wasn’t a deep draw for me—who has time for a retreat?! But ironically, as soon as I was invited, prayed about it, and felt to move forward, I couldn’t stop TALKING about it to certain people. In random conversations, I would feel to bring it up, and ask, Is this something you’re interested in? For example, I went to lunch with a friend and felt to ask that question, and then apologized for bringing it up. But she stopped me and said, “Do you know I just talked with my husband three days ago and asked him these exact words—how I could be more of a woman of influence?” That kind of weird happened repeatedly.
For me, it’s beena testing ground of, Am I crazy? What is this feeling of wanting to make more of a difference in the lives of women and families? And why this urgency? And why are so many other women feeling the same way?
I still don’t know for sure, but I have a few ideas. And after attending the retreat, I have a few answers. That two-day experience with incredible, down-to-earth, spiritually solid women of various ages and stages and life were all part of the gifts He’s given me—the energy, joy, peace, motivation, and creative push—to keep finding the rest of my answers.
Next time I’ll share with you some of the specific steps I took after that retreat to act on some of the thoughts that I gained.
Meanwhile, my thought-provoking questions for you today are:
What are your body and soul telling you that you need to start listening to? (Consider physical or emotional signals).
What would happen if you were peaceful for five minutes, and listened to what you feel, and what the Spirit might be trying to communicate to you? Write down what comes.
What would happen if you acted on ONE of those thoughts to see what it meant for you?
Happy journey,
Connie
