Put Your Big Girl Panties On!

Originally written 2017 / Updated & Edited 2023

Lately, I have been struggling with a sense of limbo. It feels like my head is in the clouds and I am lacking direction and motivation. I am a big dreamer, but sometimes life's hardships and people's negative opinions can test my determination. I find myself yearning to feel closer to God, questioning if I am on the right path and making Him proud. It would be nice if God could just tap me on the shoulder and let me know if I am doing a good job or if there are areas I need to improve on. But sometimes, this feeling of abandonment is not what it seems.

Dealing with people's unsolicited negative opinions or naysayers is inevitable in life. These are the kind of people who deny, oppose, or are skeptical and cynical about things. I have encountered them throughout my entire life. I had to fight for everything that I have achieved today. During high school, my guidance counselors and teachers criticized me and told me that I wouldn't be successful in life if I couldn't conform to their standards of what a good student was.

I have also had boyfriends who told me that I wasn't good enough and that I couldn't meet their expectations. Someone I held close to my heart once told me that my lifelong dream of being an attorney was pointless. They believed that I would be terrible at it and that my inability to separate my feelings from my own personal case would be my ultimate downfall. Furthermore, I had a boss who told me that "one day I would make a great manager," even though I had already started and run his company for two years and made him a lot of money.

I read somewhere that when people question your abilities is not necessarily a reflection of what you aren't capable of but rather their own insecurities of what they feel they aren't capable of. Mmmm... that's GOOD!

It's a nice thought to believe that we should not listen to negative things or not allow them to affect us, but the reality is that we are human beings. Eventually, these words, opinions, and circumstances can get to us. Sometimes, the biggest naysayers in our lives are those who are closest to us.

It's important to understand that it's okay to cry and get your feelings hurt. It's okay to feel sad for a moment, a day, or even a week. However, there comes a time when you need to stop feeling sorry for yourself. You must stop using your shortcomings as an excuse and take responsibility for your life. Stand up, shake off the hurt, and put on your big girl panties!

It's essential to remember that God has given you the dream, and the naysayers cannot see what God has already equipped you with to fulfill your dream. Therefore, don't ever give up on your dream or something you feel called to do just because someone tells you that you can't do it.

Many people come to me seeking advice on their dreams and goals. They tell me what their dream is, and I help them figure out what they need to do to get there. I won't say it's going to be easy, and I won't do it for them, but I can certainly help them visualize it. However, I often encounter resistance, such as "I can't do that" or "That's just more work than I'm willing to put in right now." My response to that is, "You don't want it bad enough." Of course, we all have situations in our lives that may hinder our ability to take a big leap. But nothing can stop us from crawling, walking, or running towards our dream unless we allow it to stop us.

So when you are feeling down, and you are feeling low, remember people like…

Bethany Hamilton, her arm was bit off by a shark and two years later she won first place in the Women's National Surfing Championships.

Walt Disney was fired as a newspaper editor because "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas."

Oprah Winfrey was fired from her position as a television reporter because she was said to be "unfit for TV."

Lucille Ball was told by her drama instructors that she should try another profession.

Steven Kings first book "Carrie" was rejected 30 times before it was published, he is now one of the best-selling authors of all time.

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

All of these people have one thing in common - determination. They never gave up!

Ask yourself, "What have I given up on?" "What have I pushed to the side because someone didn't believe in me?"

It's time to put your big girl panties on and go out there to live your dreams!