Purpose over Pressure

In this episode of You Have a Dream: Living with Purpose.  We discuss pressure is a sign of growth.  As we continue to live with purpose and make our dreams reality we need to know how to handle the pressure so we are on this journey of growth.  

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Hi, Coach Brandy here. Somewhere inside you, there is a dream that refuses to let go. A quiet whisper from God reminding you that your life has purpose. This is You Have a Dream Living with Purpose Podcast. Welcome back. I'm Coach Brandy, and this is You Have a Dream Living with Purpose Podcast. Today's message is for anyone stretched thin. Purpose under pressure. Even in your hardest seasons, purpose doesn't disappear, it deepens. So how to stay focused and faithful and purpose-driven when life feels heavy and uncertain. Sometimes it can be hard. So pressure doesn't mean you're failing. It doesn't. It doesn't mean you're failing. It often means you're being refined. The same pressure that crushes you can create diamonds. So understand that pressure is something that we kind of put on ourselves sometimes. Or maybe it's just doing so much that we cannot handle it. And so we feel like we're under pressure and forget, you know, we think we've forgotten our purpose, but we haven't. So purpose over pressure is a mindset. It shifts prioritizing intentionality, peace, faith, and your long-term calling. And that it's long-term calling of consistent intentionality. I had to think how I wanted to phrase that. Sorry. So it's being consistent, consistent with your intentionality. So and your long-term calling needs to be over stress, anxiety, and external expectations of consistent productivity. I've said this before. Quit comparing yourself to everybody else. It's your life, it's your journey, it's not theirs. They're on their own journey. So don't pressure yourself in that way either. So it involves replacing. You need to replace the need to succeed externally. Because, like I said, this is your life, not theirs. Don't compare yourself to others because that's they're not on your journey. And you need to have internal alignment with your boundaries, your values, allowing you to focus yourself on your meaningful growth rather than just mere movement. Like I said, God loves movement. Okay. But we need to do it intentionally and with faith. So pressure is often a sign that something great is forming. Okay, so there you're under pressure, you're feeling stressed, you're under pressure, pressure. Think of it, okay. Look at this, look at this. Think of it as like a seed in the ground. There's pressure on top of it. But it's fixing to break fruit through the surface and become a beautiful flower. So pressure often is showing you that you're growing. So, but when we resist, we miss that transformation. Your purpose isn't proven in comfort. It's it's not you have to work for what you want, right? So when you're growing, it's not comfortable. Because if it was comfortable, that means we're not growing. We're not growing as a person, we're not growing in our journey, and we're not growing as you know, building up the skills that we need to succeed. So, like, I just said so like so. When you are trying to get a promotion at work, what do you do? You look at that promotion, you look at those skills that you need to hone in on, right? So you are putting pressure on yourself to grow. It's not going to be comfortable, it's to help you grow. So growing is sometimes not comfortable if you're not growing as a person or in your spirituality, spirituality, or in your faith. That sometimes can be pressure, and it's not comfortable when you're growing in your faith because you're learning to have conversations with God, you're learning how to pray, you're learning the Bible. So when your faith grows, it's kind of uncomfortable, but you know in the end it'll be beautiful, right? So your purpose isn't again comfortable, it's refined as like a challenge. Like, so I would like to compete in a 5k. Like ten years ago, I was in really good shape. I Zumba'd, I did I did Zumba um every day, sometimes twice a day. And my shoulders were so pretty, they were just well defined. My legs were muscular, and I've never been an athletic person, okay? So um I love to watch, and I know enough to be dangerous, but I could never play. I mean football. Basketball, I'm short, so I wouldn't basketball's not a thing. I can't even hit but I know how your shot's supposed to look to get that arch to get into the basket, so I know enough to be dangerous. So how are we going to stay aligned under pressure? How we do that? When you're under pressure, simplify it. Go back to your why. Remember that's your anchor. Your anchor is your why. So purpose brings perspective. When you remember who you're serving and why it matters, pressure turns into focus. So, and rest is not quitting, because even God took a rest on the seventh day. It's calibrating or recalibrating, I should say. So even Jesus paused in purpose, taking time for breaths to pray and reset. It keeps you in alignment and it keeps you steady when life weighs heavy, it feels heavy. So the key aspects for choosing purpose over pressure, it you redefine success, like I said previously, quit comparing yourself to other people, they're on their own journeys, and this is your journey, not theirs. So when you shift that from seeking external applauses, wealth, to focusing on contentment, then it becomes it's you're more focused when you're not comparing to outside, and you don't need applause from other people because really they're on their own journey, you're on yours. I mean, I will tell you good job, or I will tell you I'm proud of you, but you have to have it in here to say, wow, I am really growing, I am really changing. Then I want you to be authentic. Know your why. Anchor yourself in that why and remind yourself of your why. Why did God put that on my heart? Why have I always dreamed of this? And I can tell you mine. So I've told you my why. It's for my grandkids, but I also, even if I don't reach millions, I want to know that I'm making a difference in at least one person's life. If you're listening, I want to make a difference in your life. I want to be your cheerleader and your one that you come to when you're struggling, because I will try to help you in any way, shape, or form to help you know that you're doing and aligning with your purpose. So, and then I want you to manage your energy. So recognize burnout is not a badge of honor, it's not, but it's a signal to slow down, set boundaries, and protect your mental space. Burnout causes health problems. Sometimes it causes people to eat or whatever their addiction is, or whatever they go to when they're feeling down or burnt out. Like, I tend to like milk duds and Oreos, but I've given those up for Lent right now, and I seem to be doing alright. Some days it's hard, it's harder than others, but again, when Jesus gave up everything for our sins, I think it's okay that I give up milk duds and Oreos during Lent. I see it as a sign of appreciation and respect for all that Jesus did in his 33 years. He did nothing but show love, unconditional love, grace, and peace and knowledge. So burnout is not an award. Okay, and then embrace patience, trusting in a plan larger than the present moment. Rather than rushing to satisfy society and societal pressure to have everything figured out. Patience, patience is a virtue, right? So be patient with yourself. So, you know, because not everything is not a genie, right? We have to put in the work to align with our purpose, and it like I said, it's not gonna happen in a snap of a finger. You have um, and I know we're not supposed to compare ourselves, but I know to have a successful business, you have to put in hours upon hours and give yourself totally into that business. This right now, this is my business. I want to make a difference in people's lives. I want to be the positive, the positive of all the negative that's out in the world. I want to be somebody that when you listen to me, you are taking deep breaths and know that everything's gonna be okay. Again, you're on your own journey, not everybody else's. Before we continue, it's time to take a dream moment. Take a breath for just a second. Think about your dream that's been placed in your heart. Maybe it's something big, maybe it's something quiet that only you and God know about. But if that dream is still there, it's there for a reason. So keep walking in your faith, keep taking that next step, and trust purpose grows one day at a time. Now, let's get back to the episode. So I'm gonna give you some actionable steps that you can take when you are feeling that pressure. So remember your boundaries, okay? Remember that you we've set those boundaries because you need um to take care of your mental health as well. So set those boundaries, say no, decline tasks that don't align with your purpose and don't align with your core goals. Focus on the presence, being present in the moment rather than just striving for the next achievement. Don't let life pass you by just because you're striving and moving towards your purpose. Enjoy every day and know that you're making those movements to make it a reality, right? Just enjoy your present, be present in the moment. Because here is a little plaque. This is we don't remember days, we remember moments. So make sure you're present in those moments, and then take time for internal reflection. Like I said, you've got to take care of your mental health, but you've also got to make sure that you're moving towards your goal. So check in and reflect, as well as evaluate whether your actions are causing you stress or are they creating an impact. Remember, I love those ripple effects. Make sure it's making an impact. Don't make it cause stress. And this purpose and intentional, you know, if you're working towards your purpose and you're very intentional, that suggests that true progress will happen. Making sure you're staying in alignment in your life with your purpose. So rather than letting outside pressure dictate your direction, make sure that you're not, it's your journey, not anybody else's. It's your journey, and I know you will succeed. I know that if you take care of your mental health and hold on to your boundaries and take that time to reflect and see how you're working towards and aligning towards your purpose, you'll make your dreams a reality. So I'm going to go into your guided reflection from pressure to peace. Alright, so I want you to close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Imagine the pressure you're feeling, the deadlines, the doubts, the expectations. Put them in your hands. Resting all that in your hands. Now slowly release them upward and offering them to God. Feel the weight lift. I did. I just I just felt a weight lifted whenever, you know, whenever you put all that you're holding on to that you should actually be giving to God, and you put it in your hands and you just do that motion. It just feels like a weight's been lifted. So whisper to yourself, I am not crushed. I'm being cultivated. Let peace flow in where pressure once lived. Alright, so we're gonna do our journaling. And we're gonna open our journal and reflect. Save it for later. Save it when you have your you time to reflect and align and journal. Okay, where am I feeling the most pressure right now? What lesson or growth might this pressure be preparing me for? How can I bring peace into this situation today? Remember, progress under pressure is still progress. You're not behind, you're being built. Write a note to yourself, to your future self. This season. Prepared me for the greater purpose. Love that. It's beautiful. So and so our affirmation this week is I am calm under pressure, confident in purpose, and grounded in grace. Thank you for joining us today in purpose under pressure. Or like I have a mouse in my pocket. Thank you for joining me. Remember, your calling can't be crushed by circumstance. Again, I'd love to hear how you're standing strong in this season under pressure. I would love to share your story. Maybe even add you as a guest so you can share your journey. That would be a beautiful thing for us to share your journey and all of us in our tribe be there to support you and cheer you on and be there to lift you up when it's needed. And if you're navigating a heavy season and want personalized support, I'd love to help you turn pressure into purpose. Email me or DM me by to book your um one-on-one coaching session, and let's walk the season together. You're not being crushed, you're being creative. Before we go, remember this. You have a dream, a dream that matters, a purpose that matters, and when you walk in faith and live with courage, that dream becomes a light for the world to see. Until next time, keep living with purpose. Be blessed.