I choose Joy

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imagesI wasn’t even 19 when I got my first job as a hairdresser. Being the new girl with a zeal for my blossoming career I was often asked by my more experienced colleagues to finish their clients with a fancy braid before sending them off to the beach. I did a lot of weddings, proms and formal events. My friends called me the “braid queen.” I loved being creative with any head of hair I could get my hands on-except my own. Every professional knew not to do her own hair. Physics do not allow for proper angles to do a good job when reaching up to your own head, so in my youthful brilliance I knew not to even try giving myself even a simple braid.

One day I had a new client come in with a nice, tight braid. As I unweaved her golden locks to prepare her for a haircut I asked her who did her beautiful piece of art. I was stunned when she told me she had braided her own hair.  Her matter-of-fact statement rocked my belief system. I began to consider if I had fallen for a twisted-Truth. Was it physics, opinion or maybe someone else’s excuse that said I couldn’t do a good job braiding hair I couldn’t see or reach?

The next day at work I was sporting a beautiful braid of my own. It took me one attempt to do it myself.

Some things in life simply take a decision.

As I consider what I will do with a new year’s arrival, I find myself challenged by this memory. How many other things in life do I assume I cannot or should not do?

I am feeling especially challenged to take charge of my own attitude. Depression is something I struggle with and when I am feeling down I find myself expecting disappointments that haven’t even happened, or feeling self-contempt for things I did or said that I feel may have come across wrong even when they didn’t. Yea, it’s another confidence issue, I know. My passion to help others with their confidence is rooted in my own struggle with it, but that’s how life is. The things that are hardest for us to learn are the things we most likely should be teaching. After all how can anyone be very effective helping another with their struggle if they found that topic easy to learn?

Anyway, as most of you know the holidays can take a toll on our emotions if we let them. This week I found myself dwelling on some disappointments and discouragements in the midst of a beautiful celebration of my Lord’s birth when suddenly I felt a change in my spirit. Kind of like when my client told me she did her own braid. “That’s it! I’m taking charge! Who says I can’t do this?” This time the change in my spirit is saying, “no more! I am no longer giving this much mental energy to that which is not real, or not present. I am going to live in the moment. And when the moments I am in are really unpleasant or challenging I will deal with it accordingly with righteousness and integrity and I will not wallow on the pain it may cause me. Who says the holidays make our pain harder? The joy of the Lord is my strength, I will focus on Him who is able to do exceedingly more than I could ever imagine. I will no longer focus on that which discourages and depresses me.”

How about you, is there anything in your life you wish you could do but have never even tried?

*****

Catrina Welch is an image- and life-coach whose message is not as much “what not to wear” as it is, “Know Who You Are,” which is the title of her book of guidelines for your personal image identity. Catrina has also written a Bible study to help women overcome their confidence conflicts; it is titled Supreme MakeOver: a Rich and Refreshing Devotional Experience. Her other books include Footprints Through the Sand: a Consolidation of Life-altering stories about Loving and Losing a Trisomy-18 Baby and Confident Beauty: Reflecting the One Who Made You with the Images in Your Mirror and Your Soul, which will be available in book stores this spring. All of these books are available now at www.CatrinaWelch.com

If you are interested in having Catrina come speak to your friends, colleagues or ministry you can contact her on facebook or by email at catrina@catrinawelch.com.


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