This week in Chapters 7, 8, and 9 of Girl Stop Apologizing Book Study, I'm talking about my own personal comparison trap and how I almost let it keep me from launching this podcast and finishing my book. Here is an excerpt from the book that I read on the episode today:

"Wait! Someone else has already done this. Someone else has already written the book I’ve dreamt of writing my entire life. Someone else has already created a movement for women everywhere to be inspired to live bigger lives, dream more, make an impact. Someone else has already, in the most brutally honest and lovingly compassionate way possible, told women to quit making their freaking excuses and live their best lives! Someone else has not only stepped into this space, but she IS this space. There’s not a woman I know that doesn’t know about this book, rock a Made for More hat, watch her FB lives. She has a movie for goodness sakes! She’s done it: Bigger, better, and most importantly, Before me. Well, that’s great! This is just about as good as that time I started doing yoga on the kid’s swim mat in the lake as a means of multi-tasking while the kids played, only to find out that “Boga” has since turned into the newest and greatest thing since slice bread. I totally invented that. And, I totally had these words and this vision before she ever told me to wash my face. Oh yeah, and I was washing my face and telling others to do so first also. She beat me. While I had sat back thinking about finishing my book and launching my podcast, she had written my book. Now what? I kept watching, I kept listening, and I kept sharing. “It’s not important who wrote the book anyway,” I thought. “It’s just important that the message is out there, and I will fully and completely support it in any way possible! But, dang! Just think, if I would have gotten my book out first.”







In Chapter 8, WHAT WILL THEY THINK, I talk about God's call being greater than anyone else's opinion.
What will God think if you don’t answer that call? Have you ever thought that you’re more worried about other’s opinions of you than you are God’s? Have you been concerned that not answering his call is a form of disobedience? Would you rather keep Seventh Grade Sally Happy than the Supreme Creator of the Universe? Are you more worried about getting an invite to the annual block party than you are a seat in Heaven? Seriously, who are you listening to? Who are you in relationship with? I can promise you that when you get so laser focused on your purpose and your relationship with Jesus, you find yourself caring less and of what people think and more about the people you can reach. When you know that you are on your own unique journey of following your purpose in life, others' opinions become trivial. Do you want to make an impact? You're going to have to make waves.

In the discussion over Chapter 9, GOOD GIRLS DON’T HUSTLE, I share how my hustle has been an innate characteristic and I never stopped to think about whether or not I should. I had a natural born desire to strive for greatness. I share stories from my childhood when hustling came natural, what my dad taught me about going after my dreams and hustling hard, and also how that natural drive is placed in your heart by your creator. Hustle for Jesus.

Matt 10:27
“What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”