U: Use What You Have
Gather all your grit, learned lessons, supporters, and tools. Discount nothing.
I: Imagine the Life You Dream Of
Decide what you want to make happen and make a plan for it.
L: Love Your People (and All People) Well
Be a good human. Create legacy, not work. Contribute positively to the kingdom.
D: Do What Matters; Forget the Rest
Clear the clutter. Cultivate clarity. Do hard work, and don’t forget to feed your soul.
Building a life you love requires action. Sometimes this looks like hustle and hard work, sweat and late nights. Sometimes this looks like rest and reflection, stilling our hands and quieting our hearts to tune in to God’s whisperings in our life, allowing Him to refuel our souls.
Don’t ever doubt that you have a seat at the table. You belong even before you believe you belong. You have the right and the power to build a life you love— one that is whole, meaningful, and authentically yours. You have the power to propel that business. To cultivate your home. To grow your family. To release that vice. To make that change. To create that book or art or recipe or ministry. To come back. To rebuild. To thrive.
You also have the power to blame circumstance for your stagnation. To give up when things get too real or too frightening. You can let all those things keep you stuck on the couch. The choice is yours. You can build a life you love . . . if you dare to do the work.
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Taken from Growing Boldly by Emily Ley. Copyright © 2021 by Emily Ley. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com.
Emily Ley is the founder of Simplified, a brand of planners and organizational tools for busy women. Her newest book, Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love empowers women to think big, plan well and find the courage to go and do. She has been featured in Forbes, Family Circle, Better Homes and Gardens, Glamour and Good Housekeeping. Now, as an author, entrepreneur, wife and mother to three, Emily lives in Pensacola, Florida, with her husband, Bryan, their son Brady, and twins, Tyler and Caroline.
