What I Learned About Starting Small
I have an Etsy shop ! What?... I know. But I can assure you, this isn’t a ‘clap for me’ post as much as it is going to relate to YOU, and the small voice in your head that whispers from your heart each day.
A few deets before I dive in: I am serious about supporting small businesses (be sure to comment if you have one!) and have used Etsy for years, never thinking I’d create something for it. Well, really, my little shop is slowly creating a little something new in me.
I’m going to share a little lesson my heart had to learn to see this thing go. And I need to remind myself of this truth, in so many different walks of life… Every. Single. Day. And I think it’ll meet you right where you are today.
It’s simple.
Perfectionism is the enemy of purpose.
This little shop of mine is contradictory to what my flesh has been telling me for some time now. This shop of words came from simultaneously facing fear and abandoning expectations. It’s holding onto my gifts and turning them loose into the world at the same time. It’s knowing God delights in me using the gifts He gave me, and knowing that truth alone should be my motivation.
Just gonna talk a wild guess and assume you’ve been in my shoes before, when it comes to something you’re passionate about or care about: You’ve wanted to DO something, you’ve wanted to START something, you feel the itch to FULFILL something from within. So how many times can you recall saying the following to yourself:
“Are you sure you’re even qualified to do this?”
“Aren’t plenty of people doing it already?”
“…Aren’t they more talented?”
“You sure you will have all the inspiration and time you need to keep this up?”
“May as well leave it to someone else.”
…And the list could go on and on…
Learning to grab those thoughts and look them in the eye, was how I realized that paralysis from perfectionism can be the most toxic state for a dreamer.
People tend to think of Satan, the enemy, as a huge, mighty, destructive and disgusting force. Blatant. Ugly. A tornado of destruction. A loud and mighty presence to fight against. And trust, he is. But I’m here to tell you at the same time, he’s so not.
He clothes himself in any and everything unsuspecting. The enemy wants to keep you quiet. He poses as distraction. A subtle, simple, nagging, consistent, tiny voice of doubt. Small, continual flawed thoughts that keep you from committing, and from simply picking up one foot to put in front of the other. If he can keep you still, quiet, undecided, doubtful and from producing; he wins.
I’ve been in this particular battlefield and will be there again. But if I don’t move in spite of the need to just ‘stay put’, then it’s game over.
When I weighed all the doubts; what people would think, am I even being smart, is it worthwhiIe, impostor syndrome – I began to think about the magnitude of that. The magnitude of just not doing anything.
I began to think about the blessings for other people that will never come to fruition because I just stayed silent, and God was unable to use me. Instead of moving, I stayed in a place of ‘Well, I just want to make sure I’m right.’ Or, ‘I just want to make smart decisions.’ And ‘I gotta make sure I’m prepared for all possible situations.’ Nothing wrong with those things – except when they keep you from doing anything.
Now, some encouragement for you in your own dreams, that I’ve realized and relished in as I’ve simply just picked up one foot and put it in front of the other:
Focus on that one step
I know we reeeeally want to know the end results, the outcome, the probabilities, the numbers, and the projections for everything these days – but God doesn’t use a planner or a calculator. He doesn’t worry about analytics or impressions or reach. Just simply go to work, and watch God work. And hang on for the ride, because He’s gonna take you to a destination you never would have reached on your own.
Let God worry about the outcome
I’ve always been a big proponent of this: God is able to do things in ripple effects from our actions without us ever knowing, as long as we are faithful. It’s not our job to worry or even know about what God does with our faith, our gifts, or our outcomes. JUST ACCEPT THAT, and watch the weight of pressure to perform just melt off your shoulders. You don’t have to decide who and how many are blessed or changed or like or dislike your work. You just need to accept your calling, gifts, and go. Let God distribute them as He pleases.
Focus less on influence, more about obedience
OH BOY. THIS. I don’t even need to do a deep dive in the current climate of our digital and social media culture for you to understand. We are measured as humans – literally judged and measured – by numerical statistics. And you may think that’s accurate. Please, for the love of all things, just take that false truth and lay it down. Actually, burn it. Worry less about your influence, and more about your obedience in what God is pressing on your heart! Again, the pressure will melt away – and your heart will thank you. Obedience. Obedience over influence will bring you a peace you haven’t quite experienced before.
The why behind this Etsy shop is the determination to use the gifts God gave me: my love for words, my need for creativity, my desire to share unwavering truth, and to instill hope into hearts.
Love to you all for reading, and if you’d like a custom print from the shop, just get in touch! Thanks for taking a look around & don’t forget to tag me with your purchases so I can thank and share on social media!