When Someone Believes in You

My husband came home for lunch today, and I was telling him all about what Saren and I are doing with The Power of Moms.  Our book is coming together (oh, the editing is quite a process, but it IS coming!), our videographer did an amazing job capturing the essence of our April Power of Moms Retreat, which we're now putting into an online multi-media program for the site, our second "Entitlement Trap" webinar is on Tuesday with the Eyres, we've got great podcasts scheduled, our board members are doing amazing things (providing quality content, helping us develop a Power of Moms store, reaching out to bloggers, and running the everyday needs of the site), and we have a Couples' Retreat coming up in September--plus lots of other exciting developments and activities I can't list.

Then we started talking about the "big" stuff--our Australian tour we're planning for March, the PR efforts Saren and I are working on, and our goals to reach the millions of moms who need to be a part of this organization. 

That's when I start to shrink.

It all starts to feel so big, and although I want this organization to grow into what it needs to be, I have this innate tendency to want to keep my life small and controlled.

I'm getting outside of that mentality, though, because when someone believes in you, you feel like you can do anything.

My husband is definitely my biggest cheerleader.  Earlier this week, I said, "I have a little meeting tonight to discuss PR with one of our new board members."

He challenged me.  "A little meeting?  There's nothing little about what you're doing here.  Are you going to have a powerful meeting where you're going to design an effective program to take The Power of Moms to the world, or are you not?"

I wanted to get angry with him, but he was absolutely right.  And so I did (okay, I did my best--I'm still not great at this).  With the help of our wonderful board, and all the moms in our community, this organization is going to grow.

Today at lunch, he said, "April, you're shaping the world.  Why is it so hard for you to believe in yourself?  You and Saren are teaching true principles about the power of motherhood--and you're working with a power that is greater than you.  What holds you back?"

I sat on the stairs, put my head in my hands, and said, "I don't feel like a world leader.  I feel like the mom who hasn't showered yet today."

"Have you showered yet today?"  (Honestly, could he not tell?)

"No," I smiled.

"Well, then, you are the mom who hasn't showered yet today.  But most of the time, you do shower, and sometimes you're the mom who's all dressed and ready to go, speaking to women at Retreats, helping them see how powerful they are.  Right?  Don't underestimate who you are."

How can I not be strong after hearing all that?

And then there's my children.  They are my next biggest cheerleaders.

Alia and Grace have been working on their blogs, and they wanted to be sure to have our Power of Moms button on their sidebars.

Click here for Alia's Ideas, and click here for Grace's Place.

They even made me special jewelry to wear to the Power of Moms Retreats:

I feel so blessed to have their support.

And, of course, there's my own mom and dad, my siblings, and Eric's family--plus my website partner Saren and her whole family, who have been extremely supportive and involved from the beginning.

The reason I'm posting all this is because (1) I want to explain that none of this comes easy to me, but I do it because the people I love believe that I can do this.  And (2) I want you to know that I believe in YOU.  I have absolute confidence that those who want to create strong families, live up to their full potential, and make a difference in the world have the power within them to do it.

And even if you don't feel like you have anyone who encourages you to accomplish what you were made to do, all of us have God.  And He believes in every one of His creations. 

Dreaming big and going after those dreams is a scary thing.  But scary is good.  Just join with me as we step outside our comfort zones--and believe.