"One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering."

Ida Scott Taylor


Saturday, May 15, 2010

Failure Isn't A Bad Word


I'm so sorry that I haven't posted all week until now.  Life has just been busier than usual lately and there were other things that I had to attend to first.

Lately, God has been speaking to my heart
quite loudly about not being so hard on myself
when  I've failed at something.
Whether it be in the past, presently or in the future.
I imagine,
there are others of you out there 
who are sometimes hard on yourselves too. 
I thought I'd share some encouraging things
today that God has been showing
me and hope it will encourage YOU also.


I think we are often much like this bird with the
parachute on his back.  
We carry around extra baggage,
that we think is 
going to save us incase we fail. 
Actually, the bird without the parachute
knows the only way to really soar
is to 
take the chance even if afraid.



To me this saying said: quit procrastinating Lee Ann! 
Challenge yourself.



I don't procrastinate as much as I did last year.
I have made progress in that area
and I think it's because
I have made myself continue to take
some sort of ACTION on a daily basis,
and most of the time it's a very small step, such as
spending 10 minutes on some painting project instead of
none at all that day, or 
going up to the wonderful woman speaker
that touched my heart today with her story
 and asking her if we could meet and 
talk more in the near future over lunch.
I do feel that God wants me to step out and
do some speaking, 
but I've been afraid
to take the steps to make it happen-so this
was a biggy for me to approach her
and ask this....and you know
what she said?  She said she would love to meet
and she thanked me and said that in every 
audience she  finds someone who
encourages her while she is speaking. 
She told me thank you
and that I was the one that did that for her today 
in the crowd.
That blessed my heart and I believe that
 God was blessing me through her,
for going ahead and approaching her
even though I was afraid!

I've been reading the book "Failing Forward"
by John Maxwell.
Wow!  It's a great book and I am learning 
that I have some stinkin thinkin
that I'm going to change about failing.
some of his quotes:
    
""There is no achievement without failure."

"The difference between average people and
achieving people is their perception of and
response to failure."

"Get up, get over it, get going!"



So tell me, what are you afraid of, or what has helped
you look at failing as a positive?



15 comments:

DJ said...

I am still learning this, too, my beautiful friend! Some days, it's so hard...but...
Like the song says,
"I got a couple dents in my fender; got a couple rips in my jeans. Trying to fit the pieces together, but Perfection is my enemy.
On my own I'm so clumsy, but on Your shoulders I can see: I'm free to be me..."
Jesus loves YOU, LeeAnn...
just the way you are.

Butterfly Works said...

AMEN AMEN AMEN...Girl...you said it all...what an encouragment your post has been to me today.....
Hugs and Blessings

Rachel said...

Oh Leann! God really used you this morning to speak directly to my heart. I needed to hear this more than you can imagine. As I sit hear crying tears of a grateful heart I am thanking Him for YOU! God has been tugging and nudging me to step out on a limb - not knowing where it may lead but stepping out in faith. I want to live (really live!) a life worthy of his purpose and the gifts he's blessed me with. I have been wanting to start an etsy shop of my photographs (and hopefully other creations in the future). I am SO afraid, but God is helping affirm this decision as I take baby steps towards a goal he has laid on my heart. It has felt affirming and positive despite the fear. Then, you posted your sweet words and it was one more blessing of encouragement. Amazing!

I've gotten a bit wordy in this comment, but what can I say? When God touches you in such a sweet way your heart just bursts! Thank you a million times! You are such a bright light. I'm proud of you for going up to the speaker and being a blessing for both of you. God is so good!

Love, Rachel

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

Oh my goodness! You girls and your comments all made me cry!! I'm so glad that God used what He is speaking to me about to help you also. He is so AWESOME!!!!!!! ....and I thank God for each of you and the blessing you are to me.

You've got me pumped up to keep on keepin on!!!!!

Lee Ann

DJ said...

After you visited my blog, I had to return to read more comments. Now, I'm in tears~ :-)
You are such a special, talented, caring person, LeeAnn, and God KNEW when He made you, that you would touch people with your tender heart for Him through your art, actions, and words.
Thank you for sharing Jesus with me.

emily freeman said...

I think about this a lot as well. The fear of failure has kept me from a lot of living. Not as much anymore, but I know in the past, that fear was a big motivator in a bad way.

Mary said...

First I want to say that I do believe you are an encourager!!!! Do you maybe have the gift of encouragement??? You sure do encourage me often!!!

I love the quote "There is no achievement without failure." Fear has kept me from trying new things. But how will we ever learn if we don't try. That is slowly changing in me, for I am seeing that there is not really much to be afraid of in failing, it's part of the journey.

Have a wonderful day LeeAnn!!

Big hugs,
Mary

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

Thank you Mary! Whenever I take those gift tests, and I've taken them many times, it always comes out as encouragement being my largest score...but I've always thought passing on encouragement was what everyone does, since I've had so many in my lifetime give me wings through their encouragement.

Hugs back to you Mary!
Lee Ann

Jennifer Richardson said...

I failed a little bit today; what a giddy feeling after I got over myself....kind of takes the pressure off that wasn't meant to come along for the ride anyway. I love coming across your beautiful encouragement. Helped me slide the flip flops back off of my heart and have another go at just being vulnerable and trusting the One who is more than enough to care for me:) Thanks! -Jennifer

Bren Graham Thebeau said...

This wonderful LeeAnn so happy to hear you are taking more steps towards your dreams. Read most of Maxwells books too including this one :-) You will love Martha's post I quotes,
http://marthalever.blogspot.com/

"Start by doing what is necessary then what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

Frances said...

Hi Leann ... Thank you so much for visiting and following my GentleTouches blog. Encouragement is such a beautiful thing ... both for the giver and the receiver. In today's busy world, it's easy to let the encouraging word stay unspoken. Thank you for speaking it ... may you know His tender touch throughout the coming moments.

Deborah Ann said...

Thank you for the encouragement! That bird cartoon will stay with me for some time. I so need to just fly without the baggage! I'm going to read that book - I have a feeling it's no accident I came here today.

Big bear hugs!

Mary said...

You live in an old house too!!
There are so many similarities between us!!! :)

My home was built in 1847. I want to see pics of your!!!

Hugs!!

Unknown said...

Leann, Not everyone encourages. Nope... not everyone has the gift of lifting others up no matter how they are feeling on the inside. No matter what!!! I know this, each and every time I have visited I have been encouraged. And that is the truth, I have been procrastinating on taking my art to a local shop,They ask me to bring it in. My fear nothing will sell. Thanks for the push...Many Blessings Deborah

Tonya said...

LeeAnn,
As I sit here with tears in my eyes, I have to respond to this timely and beautiful post. Go forward with your public speaking and may God bless you!
This post as well as many others on your blog is so touching. Truly you have the gift of communication.
You are beautiful inside and out.
Blessings to you and I hope one day we meet up at one of your speaking engagements!:-)