The Soft Power Journal

Category: Well Being

  • Surrendering the Plan: Learning to Trust God in Real Time

    Surrendering the Plan: Learning to Trust God in Real Time

    Let me be honest—

    I love a good plan. A five-step strategy. A mapped-out vision with bullet points and backup routes.

    I love knowing what’s coming.

    It makes me feel safe.

    But lately?

    God hasn’t been giving me a plan.

    He’s been giving me moments.

    Moments that stretch me, quiet me, reroute me, and ask me to trust without clarity.

    And trusting God in real time?

    It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to learn.

    Real-time trust doesn’t come with a roadmap.

    It comes with a whisper: “Are you willing to move before it all makes sense?”

    It comes with blank pages, canceled plans, and doors you thought were yours slamming shut.

    It comes with you looking around, asking:

    “God, I thought I was ready. Why does this feel like falling apart instead of falling into place?”

    But what I’m learning is this:

    Trust isn’t built when everything is going right. It’s built in the silence between what you prayed for and what hasn’t shown up yet.

    I had to learn that surrender doesn’t mean giving up—it means letting go of my way.

    Letting go of the fantasy timeline.

    Letting go of the need to control the outcome.

    Letting go of my obsession with being “prepared enough.”

    Because sometimes, God doesn’t want your preparation—He wants your presence.

    He wants your obedience in the uncertainty.

    He wants your yes even when you’re trembling.

    Here’s what learning to trust God in real time has looked like for me:

    Saying yes to opportunities I didn’t feel fully ready for

    Leaving spaces I prayed to enter, because I no longer belonged there

    Pausing projects that used to bring me life, because they were now draining me

    Listening more, striving less

    Being okay with not being “on fire” but still being faithful

    I’ve had to stop asking for a five-year vision and start asking for today’s instructions.

    If you’re in this space—where nothing looks clear but you know you’re being called to trust—try this:

    1. Start your day with surrender.

    Before the to-do list. Before the scroll.

    Say: “God, interrupt my plan if You need to. I trust You more than I trust my own control.”

    2. Accept that clarity often comes in hindsight.

    Don’t wait for the whole staircase—just take the next step you do see.

    3. Stop needing to “feel ready.”

    Obedience won’t always feel comfortable.

    Move anyway. Speak anyway. Begin anyway.

    4. Pay attention to peace.

    God’s plan often sounds like stillness, not pressure.

    If the plan is stressing your soul, it might be time to let it go.

    You don’t need to figure everything out. You just need to stay open.

    Let this be your reminder:

    You’re not falling behind when the plan shifts—you’re being aligned in real time.

    What feels like delay might actually be divine protection.

    What feels like loss might actually be redirection.

    And what looks like confusion might actually be the start of your clearest season yet.

    If you’re learning to walk with God moment by moment,

    If you’re trying to surrender the plan without collapsing in fear,

    If you’re trusting without the full picture—

    You’re doing sacred work.

    You’re walking by faith.

    And that… is more than enough.

  • The Sacred Work of Resting Without Guilt, Surrendering the Plan, and Learning to Trust God in Real Time

    The Sacred Work of Resting Without Guilt, Surrendering the Plan, and Learning to Trust God in Real Time

    There was a moment—recently, actually—when I sat in my room surrounded by half-finished ideas, unopened emails, and a heart that felt too tired to keep performing.

    I looked around and realized…

    I had no plan. No next step. No fire left to fake it.

    And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t want to push through it.

    I just wanted to rest.

    But that scared me.

    Because rest, for women like us—women who have survived off strength—can feel like failure.

    Like letting the world move without you.

    Like being lazy. Or falling behind.

    But what if I told you that rest isn’t weakness?

    That surrender doesn’t mean defeat—

    It means devotion.

    It means trust.

    Nobody teaches you how to trust God in real time.

    Not when everything’s going right.

    I mean when the plan falls apart.

    When the vision board starts to feel like a lie.

    When you’re in the hallway between what you prayed for and what hasn’t shown up yet.

    It’s one thing to trust God with hindsight.

    But to trust Him right here—in the pause, in the unraveling, in the silence?

    That’s sacred work.

    Resting without guilt requires reparenting yourself.

    I had to sit with the part of me that only felt valuable when I was producing something.

    The part that confused hustle for healing.

    The part that believed if I wasn’t pushing, striving, creating—I wasn’t enough.

    That voice? It wasn’t mine.

    It was inherited.

    It was survival.

    It was my old blueprint.

    But I’m building a new one now.

    One where rest is not earned—it’s honored.

    One where I don’t need a reason to pause.

    One where I can lay my plans down without thinking I’m letting God down too.

    This season has taught me something I’ll never forget:

    When you stop trying to control every outcome,

    When you stop begging for clarity before you take a step,

    When you stop asking “God, just give me the full picture” before you move…

    You finally start to live from trust instead of fear.

    Not because you know what’s coming.

    But because you know Who is with you in the unknown.

    Here’s how I’m learning to rest, surrender, and trust right now:

    1. I no longer ask for signs. I ask for stillness.

    Because sometimes the sign is in the pause.

    Sometimes God is saying, “You don’t need confirmation. You just need to breathe.”

    2. I give myself permission to not be “on.”

    Not every season is meant for output.

    Some seasons are meant to restore what burnout tried to steal.

    3. I lay the plan down every morning.

    Literally. I write my to-do list and then I whisper:

    “But God, if You need to interrupt this—I trust You.”

    That’s not easy. But it’s freedom.

    4. I remember that provision is not limited by my performance.

    Even when I rest, He works.

    Even when I pause, I’m still held.

    Even when I don’t feel productive, I am still protected.

    So if you’re tired—really tired—this post is your permission slip.

    To stop forcing.

    To stop pretending.

    To stop proving.

    Lay it all down.

    The timeline.

    The expectation.

    The weight.

    And pick up something lighter:

    Peace.

    Presence.

    God’s promise.

    You don’t need to have it all figured out.

    You just need to trust that you’re not being forgotten in the stillness.

    This is sacred.

    This is holy.

    This… is real-time trust.

    And if all you can do today is breathe, whisper a prayer, and believe that rest is also part of the work—

    then baby, you are right on time.

  • Celebrating Your Growth: How Far Have You Come?

    Celebrating Your Growth: How Far Have You Come?

    Disappointment is something we all face at some point in our lives. Whether it’s missing an opportunity, facing a setback, or having expectations that don’t align with reality, it’s a feeling that can leave us heartbroken, frustrated, and uncertain about the future. But what if we embraced disappointment as an opportunity for growth, learning, and self-discovery? What if we could see the beauty in letting go and allowing life to unfold as it’s meant to, even when things don’t go as planned?

    Acknowledging the Small Wins:

    It’s so easy to brush off the small wins. We tend to focus on the big accomplishments, the massive goals, but what about the quiet victories that pave the way to those big moments? The small wins matter just as much. Whether it’s waking up 10 minutes earlier, sticking to a new habit, or simply speaking up when you usually stay quiet, these moments of growth should be celebrated.

    For example, I remember when I started setting boundaries with ease—a simple “no” was a victory in itself. I didn’t realize how empowering it was at the time, but looking back, I can see how that small act changed the way I show up for myself. It wasn’t a huge leap, but it was a step in the right direction. Every small victory is proof of how far you’ve come, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

    Ways to Celebrate Your Small Wins:

    You don’t have to wait for a big event or success to celebrate your growth. Here are a few ways you can start acknowledging and celebrating your small wins every day:

    1. Journal Your Progress: Write down one thing you accomplished today, no matter how small. Acknowledge the effort and celebrate it in your own way. 🌸

    2. Treat Yourself to Something You Love: Whether it’s a favorite meal, a relaxing bath, or taking time for a hobby, treat yourself as a reward for your growth. 💖

    3. Give Yourself a Compliment: Take a moment to look in the mirror and acknowledge your strength, progress, and resilience. Speak words of love and empowerment to yourself. 🌟

    4. Share Your Wins with Others: Sometimes, sharing your progress with a friend or loved one can amplify your joy and give you a sense of community and support. 🙌

    5. Take a Moment to Pause and Reflect: Stop for a moment during your day and acknowledge the small victories you’ve achieved. Savor that feeling of accomplishment. 🌿

    Reflecting on the Challenges You’ve Overcome:

    The road to growth is never smooth. It’s filled with challenges, obstacles, and setbacks that can sometimes feel overwhelming. But if we take a moment to reflect, we can see how those tough times shaped us, how they built our resilience and wisdom.

    There was a time when I was overwhelmed by challenges, and each setback felt like a failure. But as I grew, I realized that every challenge was a lesson in disguise. I learned to trust my strength, to be patient with myself, and to approach each obstacle with an open heart. The challenges that once seemed so difficult are now the experiences that I hold most dear because they’ve shaped who I am today. 💪

    Celebrating the Journey, Not Just the Destination:

    It’s easy to focus solely on the end goal—the destination we’re striving toward. But the truth is, the journey is where the magic happens. Growth isn’t just about checking off a to-do list or reaching a milestone. It’s about the lessons learned, the inner transformation, and the self-discovery that takes place along the way.

    Reflecting on my own journey, I can see how my goals and values have shifted over time. At one point, I was focused on external achievements—things like success, recognition, and approval. But as time passed, I realized that true growth was about nurturing my inner self, embracing the process, and finding joy in the present moment. The destination became less important than the person I was becoming along the way. ✨

    Being Proud of How Far You’ve Come:

    When was the last time you celebrated yourself for how far you’ve come? Most of us are quick to celebrate the successes of others, but we often fail to acknowledge our own progress. It’s time to change that.

    Think about all you’ve accomplished in the past year, month, or even week. Every small victory, every decision to show up for yourself, every lesson learned, deserves to be celebrated. You’ve made it this far, and that’s something to be proud of. You’ve faced your fears, pushed through challenges, and continued moving forward, even when it was hard. You are stronger than you know, and that strength is worth celebrating. 🦋

    I want to take this moment to say: you are doing amazing. Celebrate how far you’ve come and give yourself the credit you deserve. The journey isn’t easy, but every step forward is a triumph.

    Moving Forward with Confidence:

    Now, it’s time to look ahead. There’s so much more waiting for you, so many more lessons to be learned, and so much growth yet to come. The key is to keep moving forward with confidence, even if the path ahead seems uncertain.

    As you continue on your journey, know that growth doesn’t have to happen all at once. Small, consistent steps will eventually lead to big transformations. Trust the process, and trust that every step you take is bringing you closer to your highest self. 🌻

    Call to Action:

    I’d love to hear from you. Take a moment to reflect on your own journey—what are you proud of? What small victories have you celebrated along the way? Share your thoughts with me in the comments, and let’s continue to support and uplift each other as we celebrate our growth. 💬

    Growth isn’t always about reaching a destination—it’s about the journey, the lessons, and the person you become along the way. You are worthy of celebration for every step forward, no matter how small. Keep embracing the process, keep trusting yourself, and keep moving forward with confidence.

    You’ve come so far, and there’s so much more ahead. Celebrate yourself, because you deserve it. 🌸