Psssst...guess what? You matter!

Thump-Thump....thump-thump....thump-thump!

That is my lame attempt to mimic the sound of a beating heart. I won't try to "onomatopoeia" the sound of a fetal heart beat on the heart rate monitor...which is still my favorite sound in the world!

I was in bed getting ready to fall asleep. I was thinking about all the dreams and goals I have for myself. I was getting bummed because it doesn't seem like I am any closer to any of them. Yet they are forever in my mind. Innocently, I cuddled up to "the hubs" and laid my head on his chest...thinking...wondering do I matter in this world. As I was pondering this question for the millionth time in my life, my mind went quiet and all I heard was my husbands heart beat.

Thump-thump....thump thump...thump-thump... 

Of course, I matter in this world. The problem we may face is trying to define the scope of our world. Somewhere along the line we began falsely believing that in order to "matter" we had to do or be something or someone "big". That we had to be famous, prosperous, or formally honored.

So this goes out to the overlooked. The underestimated, the insecure, the overachiever...you matter. Why? because you have a beating heart...which means you are alive!

I know there are so many people secretly wondering if their best is good enough. "Isn't there more to life than just...this?"  People in various stages of life, socioeconomic status, and education levels all wondering...do I matter? People who have nether access or means to a computer to even read this and be encouraged wondering; do I matter? People who by many societal definitions are successful; wondering do I matter?

Perhaps you changed poop all day today, or you closed the big deal you've been working on for months. Perhaps nothing particularly noteworthy happened in your day at all. That doesn't mean you don't matter. You matter to others and most importantly, you matter to God.

So the BRAVE moment for me wasn't realizing that I matter, but telling others that they do. I am putting an end to that question for myself and opening up to let you know that you matter to me and whole heck of a lot more people!

I have BIG, BRAVE dreams. I truly believe my life's mission is to help people have a better relationship, with God, themselves, and others.  Figuring out what that looks like is a challenge, I'll admit. In addition to my mission I have this creative side that is untapped...which is why I write, dance, and teach zumba. I also have this entrepreneurial side. I want to be in the position to employ people one day.

Sometimes I have so much in my head I think where do I start? Who is going to give me my big break? Who is going to chance on me, or back me? I was always looking for permission before attempting a venture.

Well bump that! I am going to take a chance on me. I am going to have to forge my open door.

I have always loved this quote from Marianne Williamson, made famous by Nelson Mandela

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Your playing small does not serve the world. Now let's get something straight here. When I see the words "playing small", it is not a reflection on the size, profitability, or "renown-ness" of your output. Focusing on size, flash, and money has landed too many of us in "woe-is-me-dom". We say I'll never be as big as... (fill in the blank) and don't even attempt to try something.

Do I want you to be a starving artist? Absolutely not. But just because you don't have a book deal shouldn't keep you from finishing your book. Don't be afraid to start small. Audition for that play or gig. Invite the supervisor to dinner. Eat on the good dishes. Sign up for the 5k. Ask her out on a date. Work on the business plan. Go back to school. You'll be surprised at how liberated you will feel. While I don't encourage reckless abandon of all responsibilities for the sake of your dreams, I do encourage focused, purposeful pursuit of them.

And while you are now thinking about pursuing them, consider your own heartbeat. When you think of that thing, goal, passion, desire, vision....notice your heartbeat. It skips when you think of it. It sings when you think of it. It pumps faster and faster and faster. It is your internal cheerleader saying, "Do it! Do it! Do it!"

Some of you may go on to become the next household name. Most of us, will not. Don't let that be the measuring stick of your success. Yes, it is scary but in the words of Joyce Meyer, "Do it afraid"! You will have set back, figure out how you'll stay motivated in the face of adversity. What is your plan to keep going? Maybe its reading the business section, magazine, tweets, or blog post before going to bed once a week to learn how to be a successful business owner of a business you don't yet have.

Take a step... and then another one, and another one, and another....and notice how your own heartbeat will be cheering you on saying "See, you matter!"

Let me know what steps you are going to take and I'll do the same!

Wholeheartedly me,

Julia