Two Years ago I had this thought “… what if I tried to sell some handmade signs & chalkboards around the holidays for some extra cash…?”

It really was one of those thoughts that I had entertained a few different times for like 5 seconds & then quickly dismissed it…. similar thoughts followed:

– Do I really even have time?

– What if nobody liked what i made?

-What if no one bought anything?

-What would people think..??? I mean I am not a professional & I don’t really know what i’m doing…

And that train of thinking continued but the underline thought or rather question was this…

“WHAT IF I FAIL!!??”

Fortunately, I have a husband who is a great mix of an Encourager & a Risk Taker… he is not someone who gets stressed easily and tries not to let too many things get to him.  He began encouraging me and asking me one of his standard “life questions”  … “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”

I gave my list of concerns & fears … He listened .. and went on to give me the encouragement, validation & lil’ (or rather large) push that I was needing.

I had been on Instagram looking around and started following something by the name of  the Phx Flea – I wasn’t quite sure what it was all about but I started checking out their posts and saw they were going to launch their first event in downtown phoenix that would be a market for local artists and small businesses.  I thought that sounded amazing .. but again my insecurity was speaking the loudest and I would quickly disregard any thoughts that maybe I would want to inquire to be a part of the market…

But one day I noticed a post that mentioned they were going to be giving away a free booth & to email them with some photographs of your work …. in that moment I gathered together enough courage to put together an email and press >>> S E N D <<<   You know once you press send it is gone… gone … gone. hahaha.

Of course, I immediately allowed a negative thought to rise up that said.. “you know, you probably won’t hear back from them anyway…”

So, I went on with my week … a few days later much to my surprise, I received an email offering me a discounted space for the market!!

So… Ready or not here I went…!

It was crunch time — the market was several days away … and I still had all of those feelings of inadequacy and insecurity but I made a decision at that point to just go for it… to Let Go… that just like my husband asked — “what is the worst thing that could happen.. ?”

Well….. I could make all these signs and set up this booth & maybe nobody would come or no one would buy anything or I might decide that I didn’t enjoy doing this… or people would wonder what in the world I was doing and why I invited them to join some facebook page called Whitehouse Designs…. but then I just really decided —

“O Well, Who Cares… let’s just give it a try!!”  And so I did!

And here we are two years later and have lived to tell the story!! We just completed our third market with the Phx Flea and have had the opportunity to be vendors for Junk in the Trunk & several other shows! We also have the great privilege to have our items in Green Table Gifts! 

So what started as just a “random” thought turned into to so much more.

Originally, I really only thought I would do it for the Christmas season…  but then it just never stopped and today continues on with momentum!

Why am I telling you all this..?

Well, first of all, I love to hear people”s stories … the real stories…Our stories are powerful!

I value authenticity & vulnerability!! Our stories have the potential to inspire, encourage & empower others!

Anyone who has ever decided to try something new … to step out of your box… your comfort zone … can relate to those feelings of insecurity & lies that may come from within or from satan himself!

Sometimes, we self sabotage an idea or an endeavor before we even begin… Why do we do that!!???

I am sure there are many reasons… but I really believe a root issue is Fear… fear of failure… fear of rejection… fear of the unknown…and fear of what others may think.

I love a scripture in the bible that says this: “..Perfect love casts out all fear..” 1 John 4:18

The bible says that God is Love!  So God in His great Love for us helps us to cast off fear!

When I know that I know- that I am deeply loved …not only by others but ultimately by a Living and Active God then I Rest in His Love! I can know that if & when I fail… I will be okay.

My identity does’t have to be tied to what I do or how I perform or someone else’s assessment of me or even something that I made… Come what may… my security and identity lies in God’s unfailing Love and Grace for me!!

That takes off so much pressure!! Do I still have those insecure moments & thoughts?

Definitely!! But the more I learn to “take those thoughts captive unto the obedience of Christ” and replace lies with God’s Truth- the more I can walk in Freedom!

Another major Key-

A Supportive Community! Surround yourself with Encouragers!  People who believe in you – people who know your weaknesses and your strengths and aren’t afraid to call out your potential or be willing to speak the truth in love to you!

This has been such a vital key for me. So thankful for so many of you who have encouraged me along the way!

We never know just how powerful our words can be! The bible talks about the power of our words- our words have the potential to speak life or death.

I want to be someone who encourages and speaks life!

So, I have no idea who might stumble across this post or who will take the time to read it but i want to speak life over YOU and Encourage YOU in your endeavors – however big or small they may feel. Be Brave! Don’t allow insecurity or fear to rule you.  Cast those cares upon God because He cares for you and His love can help you walk in Freedom! Not sure what your next step is but I pray that God would give you the courage to send that email, set up that meeting, write that blog, make that call, share that dream!!

At some point we have all failed at something – failure is part of the process, it is inevitable- but think of how much we learn through those failures.

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert F. Kennedy

“Giving up is the only sure way to fail.” – Gena Showalter

“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill