If you’re feeling stuck in a rut with no way out, could it be that you’re waiting for a way instead of making a way?
What if doing something breaks the deadlock and catapults you into greater than the “blah” you’re in?
Sometimes you feel stuck when seasons change and it’s time to shift into more.
More of God. More love. More joy. More blessings. More life.
And you ask yourself: “Do I have what it takes?”
Can I tell you a secret? There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to wake up out of inaction and seize what you’re yearning for.
It’s to grow into who you long to be and what you desire.
Wake up and seize it. Wake up and walk into it. True growth is never handed to you without stretching your endurance and stamina in the process.
You need grit to get past the surface and mine the gold waiting to be discovered, and just winging it or waiting around for it won’t get you there.
It’s up to you to do the work before you get the results you want, and you do have to work, not wish your way to your Promised Land.
It may be brutal and even seem backbreaking at first, but you’re simply out of practice or learning a brand new skill as you navigate brand new territory.
What got you here won’t get you there.
Did you catch that?
What got you here won’t get you there. What worked last season won’t work this season.
Growing involves destruction because you have to tear down old habits and mindsets of laziness, procrastination, and timidity to make space for diligence, intentional action, and courage.
And none of that happens overnight without you choosing to work it out, not wish it out.
What’re you tired of wishing for instead of working for?
Today’s the day you start walking into it, which is really working it out so it has a chance to exist at all.
Yes, it’s hard and often challenging. I get it, but it’s meant to be that way so you grow deep roots of mastery and grit.
Life isn’t meant to be one long, hard slog every single day, but it’s also not a cakewalk every single day.
You can’t grow or even appreciate your successes if you never lift a finger to excel, create powerful work, or break new ground.
And you can’t live out your full potential unless you exert yourself to activate that potential, because it’s still a maybe until you turn it into a definitely.
Maybe you can write a poem until you sit down and definitely write it.
Maybe you can play the guitar until you buy one and start strumming.
Maybe you can work out more until you actually slot some workouts into your weekly schedule and do them.
The difference between maybe and definitely is taking the next step even when it’s hard, boring, or stressful.
Challenge births champions, but you need to allow that challenge in the first place before you can grow into the champion locked in your potential.
Can I be real for a minute?
I’m talking to myself as much as I’m talking to you.
Case in point: I sit on this post for 25 days because I get distracted and caught up in other stuff.
I want it to be perfect. I think I’m not ready yet and still need something more.
More what exactly? Some stats? Subheadings? Research? I don’t know what I’m waiting for, but I keep waiting anyway.
That means I could’ve published almost a month ago, yet here we are. My point is even writing about this stuff isn’t the same as living it out. And my current challenge is living out what I say I believe, not just talking about it.
Nobody’s perfect. Nobody has it all figured out. We all make mistakes, fumble our shot more often than we’d like, and even waste more time than we need to.
The key is to wake up to where and how we slack off so we come out of that ASAP.
You know what’s really hitting home for me right now?
Showing up is about constant progress and momentum, not stasis because I need to be perfect first.
Going from feeling stuck to no longer being stuck is about being a champion, and champions never dawdle in ruts.
So I’m going with done over perfect. I’m going with posting over procrastinating.
I’m choosing to show up and not hide away in a corner waiting for the perfect words to flow from my fingers before I publish them for all the world to see.
Perfection is a trap. Progress is the name of the game.
Don’t wait to stop feeling stuck. Take a step on what you’ve been stalling on and watch your momentum build.
If not now, when?
Great and inspiring! Thank you so much for this, Otiti! This article was literally a GODSEND! I needed to hear this!! Keep on writing, you are a blessing to us all!
Aly!! Thank you so much! I’m stoked to hear that! Let’s get out there and crush our goals, amen?!
Thank you so much for posting this. Thanks for not waiting for perfection( it looks perfect by the way). I an inspired and charged up to show up consistently
Toyiiiin! Hey girl! So good to read that you’re “charged up to show up consistently”! That’s what I like to hear! Let me know how it goes and holler at your girl if you need a hype woman! 😀
You’re welcome! And thank you for the compliment! I was like I’m putting this thing out no matter what, haha. I’m so glad it’s being well-received! Oo! 😀
Otiti, thank you for this powerful and motivational piece.
After reading it, I checked my draft folder and to my horror found numerous posts. Some were actually completed but never published because so much stuff was happening,
They’re sadly time irrelevant now but things are gonna be different now.
I am saying no to distractions from now on.
No to distractions that drown and snuff out creativity. No to distractions that eat up my time, emotions and resources.
Perfection? Am done with that too. Thank you for this wake-up call.
Hugs
Hiii, momma! 😀 You’re welcome! Thank you for reading!
The battle is real with distractions but we’re not having it anymore! Here’s to us showing up, writing our posts and stories, living our lives and taking no prisoners. Can I get a witness?!
We’re fully awake now with eyes wide open. Let’s do this! 😀
Hi Otiti! So good to be reading the blog of someone I actually know! Thank you for this very inspiring and practical piece. Your transparency and humility demonstrate the integrity with which you share this. Keep sharing what God is laying on your heart to help others reach their full potential.
Hi Annita! Thanks so much for commenting! You’re welcome!
Ahh, thank you for your kind words. I put my heart into my writing, so it’s wonderful to see it touch you. 😀 I’ll definitely be writing more and I hope to see you here again! 😉 Shalom!
Thank you Otiti,
I have to say, prophetically, this message is spot on for the time and season.
Many in this season are feeling not only stuck, but also like they missed their mark, were left behind, which leaves the feelings of defeat. This is exactly how the enemy works. Trying to stop us before we get started. Hoping we will give up before we see just how powerful the calling on our lives are. The enemy is a defeated foe and the father of lies.
Your encouraging words are going to set many back on the track and finish their race. They will pass their baton on to multiple people along the way causing a ripple effect that becomes a tsunami…… all because of the encouraging words of fire in someone’s blog. Keep up the good work!!
Donna!!! Thank you so much! This is incredible!
I pray this galvanises people into action so they stop sleeping on their potential! There’s no time like the present to wake up, lay hold of the Word, and stride into a brighter day every single day!
Discouragement is a lie we don’t have to believe anymore because we have new life now, amen?! Sometimes we get so caught up in how things used to be that we miss how they could be right now if we just get up and act on the promises given to us. Blessings and promises aren’t always instant, and I think maybe we need to buckle down and work while things cook slowly, not try to rush, rush, rush our results all the time. Maybe that’s another post in the making! 😉
Thank you again and I hope to see more of you! And you’re welcome! 😀
Thank you very much dear Otiti, I really enjoyed it. This is exactly what I’m involved with and trying to make it better. Thanks for sharing your feelings and thoughts😊🌹
Niaaaaz! Hey, girlfriend! You’re most welcome! Thanks so much for reading and commenting!!! 😀
I hear you, transitions can be tough. Heck, challenges can be tough no matter how strong or talented or gifted we think we are, but maybe, just maybe they can be rocket fuel to launch us into something bigger and brighter than we ever imagined.
Here’s to us making it to the other side!! 😀
Very nicely worded reminders to just keep showing up. The message hit home harder when you expressed your vulnerability even with publishing this article. Right there I was again reminded of how I could be more of a blessing to myself and others by choosing to make progress!
Thanks Jasmine!
Manyo! Hiiiii! 😀 Thanks so much for joining the conversation!
I’m so glad my being real helped. I guess it has more of an impact when I talk about what I’ve already done as opposed to what I plan to do, LOL.
Yes, please, show up. We need you bringing your gifts and talents to the table! Progress only happens in motion, never in stasis. 🙂 Yes, I speak from experience, LOL.