As many of you know from following me on social media, the last couple of weeks have been insanely busy for me. I have been creating and spending so much time in the studio. I have also been busy with live paintings at different events. I never use to do live painting. In fact, it scared me so much it made me sick to my stomach thinking about it.
On March 25th, I got asked to do my first live painting at The Grove church in Chandler, Arizona. It was just two days before the event and they really needed another artist to complete the Pastor’s vision for that service. I went in to talk to the Pastor directly and I remember thinking to myself there is no way I am going to do this. I had so much fear around the idea of live painting. Most of the fear coming from my ego that the finished work would not be good enough. That the painting would turn out ugly and people would be disappointed.
As I went in and met with the woman organizing the services for the artists to come and paint, I heard what the sermon was about and what they were looking for. I politely listened with every intention of telling her no that I wouldn’t be able to do it. It was too last minute and I wouldn’t have enough time to prepare. But as she was speaking, an image popped into my mind of what I would paint based off of the sermon she was describing. I dismissed it quickly and reminded myself that I did not want to do this live painting.
She then went on to introduce me to another artist that was doing the live painting at the three services. I remember talking with him and discussing my fears and reservations. He told me sometimes you just need to say yes and let everything else fall into place. At that moment, I knew he was right.
I felt it deep in my heart that this is exactly what God was calling me to do. He wanted to push me past my comfort zone so He could bless me in new and wild ways. So I said yes. All the fear rushed in, but in addition to that all of this excitement flooded in too. I knew that feeling all too well. I had the same exact response when I chose to pursue being a professional artist full-time.
Saying yes is magical. It is the answer to the divine calling you forward. It is a response to God taking you out of your comfort zone and placing you on a new unpaved path ready for you to make way. Saying yes to God and His unimaginable plan is trusting in the universe that everything you need will be provided and more. It is knowing that you are in the right place at the right time and the divine is ready to reward you. Saying yes to the unknown and the frightening experience before you is opening the door to a beautiful life filled with passion and purpose.
Saying yes is the key to a meaningful life filled with crazy adventures and wild stories. This doesn’t mean that every opportunity or experience that comes you way you need to say yes to in order to fulfill your purpose or please the people in your life. On the contrary, it means strategically saying yes to the things that scare you. The things that once you do, you know that your heart will ignite with passion. The things that have the ability to push you into something new- something that has been waiting for you all your life. Saying yes actually does mean saying no to a lot of other experiences, people, or ways of life. It is saying no to comfort, to stability, and to the easy way out. Saying no to things that don’t serve you whether it be people, places, or jobs.
Saying yes is something that should be selective. Sometimes reflected upon and sometimes impulsive. The important part of learning how to say yes is trusting your heart, listening to the Divine and seeing where He or She is leading you to go.
The moment I started saying yes to God when He called me forward and into the unknown is the moment everything else in my life started to fall into place. Saying yes to my heart and to God has taken me on this unbelievable path that has lead me to joy, peace, and success. My hope for you is that you learn how to say yes to the universe, yes to your heart, and yes to God. Because everyone deserves a life filled with passion, purpose, success, joy, and fulfillment. Life is meant to full of belly laughter, crazy ah-ha moments, fearful and uncomfortable situations that lead you into something much more magnificent.
You deserve to say yes. Let your heart lead the way. And be sure to pass along this message of inspiration. Saying yes is a magical chain reaction.
