The Firegirl Five - Find the Courage & Do Your Work

"Faith is belief in what you cannot see or prove or touch. Faith is walking face-first and full-speed into the dark. If we truly knew all the answers in advance as to the meaning of life and the nature of God and the destiny of our souls, our belief would not be a leap of faith and it would not be a courageous act of humanity; it would just be... a prudent insurance policy.” Firegirl Elizabeth Gilbert. Eat. Pray. Love.

Intermissionary Chamonix was radical. Space available for IM Colorado Sept 16-23rd.

1. First you've got to walk on.

Eight months ago, when I was terrified and whining to God about quitting my perfectly good job to start a new company, I felt Him remind me what it's like to ride a young horse.

Young horses often freeze when someone climbs on them for the first time, and it's impossible to steer a horse who won't move his feet. He'll just turn his head side to side. You have to take a deep breath and drive him forward. Of course, he may buck, you don't really know, but that's part of the deal riding young horses.

Are you sitting there waiting for God to tell you what to do? Maybe you just need to walk on, trusting him to steer as you go. Maybe he's waiting on you to move your feet.

Major (1987-2017) bucked me off many times before we could do this.

2. Stop Tinkering and Choose.

I read a great book last week by Pastor Kevin DeYoung called Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will. DeYoung suggests that many Jesus followers are tinkering with life, career, church and marriage, waiting for some unmistakable direction from God before choosing anything. A flood of life choices unthinkable to earlier generations, plus some flawed theology isn't helping matters. DeYoung's book boils it all back down: Love God, obey him and walk on. If you're afraid to move because you might "miss God's will," this one is a good pick.

3. Waiting on Somebody to Choose You?

Are you reading James Altucher? He's a VC/Entrepreneur/Author/Blogger/Chess Master who has founded 20 companies, 17 of which failed. He's made millions, lost all of it, made it back and thought of killing himself a dozen times. He has some interesting things to say.

He wrote this morning on Medium about American author Charles Bukowski, who worked a day job he hated, writing for decades in obscurity, getting paid nothing for it, because he loved writing.

Love Bukowski or hate him, his body of work is large and impressive and it feels like nobody does it like that anymore.

"Choosing yourself, without expectation, is the formula," Altucher writes.

Waiting to get famous before doing your work, is a great way to never get your work done. I know that's how life in Insta-land works, but my favorite writers and artists are still doing their work first. Quit comparing yourself to flash-in-the-pan Insta-Celebrities and go do your work.

4. Still Stuck?

Steven Pressfield's War of Art and Austin Kleon's Steal Like an Artist will help you get back to your desk, your easel, your computer or wherever you do your work. The world needs your contribution. More importantly, you need it because you were put here to do something only you can do. Do you believe that? At Girl Catch Fire, we do!

5. Say Thank You

Last month in France, I had a gratitude exercise for the Intermissionary Retreat participants that I didn't get to, but it's a cool one. So here it is.

Pair people up.
Set a timer for three minutes.
Each person spends three minutes listing, out loud to their partner, things they are grateful for.
Their partner does not speak, respond, validate etc. They just listen.
After three minutes they switch and repeat.

Watch what happens. It's super cool I promise. Gratitude is powerful.

Have a great weekend.