Revelation for Business:

So, something came to me this morning and it hit so strongly that I felt I had to do something with it, to create something from it and to invite others in. So, here is a bit of revelation for you. Do you ever get stuck feeling like you are never where your hopes and dreams are for your business? Like you are always behind, always failing, never measuring up? I know I can be super successful with some bits and pieces of my business and yet feel as if I am failing all at the same time, because I always want more for myself. There is a piece of this driven heart and driven spirit that I believe is good, as it continues to drive me forward in achieving new things, however, it is also incredibly detrimental to my mental health and well-being, never being good enough for myself. It all came to me this morning as I read through Psalm 78.

Psalm 78: God Never Being Enough for You:

Vs. 15-16" He split the rocks in the dessert and gave them water as abundant as the seas; he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like the rivers"

vs. 17-18 "But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the dessert against the Most High. They willfully put God to the test, by demanding the food they craved".

vs. 20 "When he struck the rock, water gushed out, and streams flowed abundantly. But can he also give us food? Can he supply meat for his people?

This entire chapter really hit home for me today. How many times has God supplied exactly what I needed for the day, and yet I continue to whine, complain and look down on my circumstances, because I am not getting the food that I am craving, I am not accomplishing the dreams I have for the future right now? God is good and gracious, and yet how many times do I essentially tell God that He is not good enough for me, that He is not providing me with enough or helping me in the ways I want Him to, like a genie in a bottle? I am so guilty of this, and as a result, my business suffers because I continually look at the negative aspects or the what-ifs instead of the thank you and have happened for today. Are you ever with me in this? Anyone else have water gushing out before them, and yet continually seem to focus on the cravings they are lacking? What is it with our culture today that we are so caught up in the future and dreams that we forget to be grateful in the here and the now? Don't get me wrong, dreams are amazing and essential. They are needed in business and life in general, but they should not suck the joy out of the present and blind us from the incredible moments happening daily.

From Inadequate to Grateful:

So, what I have decided, an action step I am going to begin taking is to begin to write down my successes in my business each day. To praise the little things, to be grateful for each step along the way. For that is truly important in and of itself, is it not? Being grateful in the small things allows us to remain humble in the big things. And as I hope that my dreams are fully accomplished and then some, it would all truly be a failure if I get there and yet have an ungrateful, prideful heart once I am there. That is not the life I am wishing to live. I must correct my attitude, my way of thinking now, while I am small in order to have any hope of maintaining joy as I grow.

#GratefulHeartInBus

So, practically how am I going to accomplish this? I have decided that I am simply going to start a hashtag #gratefulheartinbus . This will be a place that I am committing to posting to once a week in order to keep me accountable to remaining grateful in the small things and acknowledging the small accomplishments as well as the large. I would love for you to take part if you would like as to create a community of fellow business entrepreneurs all rejoicing and remaining grateful in the platforms we have been placed in. You can be a photographer, a designer, a florist, a massage therapist, a personal trainer. You name it. Let's create a space to be encouraged by one another and continually able to see the small gains of each other and rejoice and uplift each other.

Changed Minds Change Character

I truly believe that as we change our mindsets, our character changes as well. The outpouring of our hearts change and we can truly be able to live within the hope and freedom we were created for. I don't want to be stuck in the bondage of failure any longer. We each have a very specific and unique purpose, and there is enough business in the world for everyone, so let's strive to walk away from comparison and negative self talk about our own businesses and walk in the freedom to hope and dream, being grateful for one small task at a time, one person at a time, one gift at a time. I truly believe that as we take that next right step, like I talked about in my last post that we will be on our way to greatness. It may look like a lot of tiny failures even, but I know that as we look back we will see the mountains we have climbed. Cheering you guys on!! Cannot wait to see your successes tiny and small alike as well!

To read more about just doing the next best thing, check out my previous post: When you Feel Like you Don't Know the Way

And, don't forget to start tagging some images #GratefulHeartInBus to share some of your successes each week!! (Or more! ;) Post as often as you would like!)

~Let's do this together friends,

Laura

Coming in Like a Rushing Wind

A few months ago I began praying for a new vision, a new perspective for this photography journey that I am on. I knew my style was shifting and I was gaining ground towards producing the beautiful work I had always dreamed of getting to. However, I still had incredible fear in my heart and did not feel a clear purpose behind my work. But one evening in the quiet of my bedroom, digging through scriptures, trying to pull something, anything out for me, it came to me like a rushing wind.

Matthew 17:20- He [Jesus] replied, 'Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Overcoming Doubt and Rising to Faith

As I have spoken about many times before, one of my biggest struggles is anxiety and depression and within that come fears, doubts, worry. You name it. So, naturally that will occasional feed over into my hopes and visions of my business as I feel all people are inclined to experience at different points within their lives. This verse spoke so clearly to me. The disciples could not perform the miracle they were trying to perform, not because of anything bad, but simply because they did not have the faith. They did not truly believe that God could do it. And what lies within anxiety, depression, fears? Lack of faith that you measure up or compare to others. I need more faith, deeper and deeper faith. Faith to step out into more courageous decisions and actions. More faith that the dreams and aspirations the Lord have laid on my heart are possible. More faith that as I begin taking baby steps of obedience, eventually I can have enough faith to move mountains, to do things and touch people and expand the love of Christ further than I ever thought possible simply on the basis of faith. Faith is powerful stuff my friends. And digging deeper is talks about the faith of a mustard seed. A mustard seed is one of the easiest to grow, produces a beautiful yellow flower, and is edible. So not only is is pleasing to look at, it is full of nourishment as well. And, it can self-sow if you all it to!! I just think of this with faith. If we simply step out into the small things God is calling us to, imagine what God can do with it? If we simply hand it over to Him, then He can make us not only more pleasant to be around, but change us from the inside out, changing our levels of kindness and goodness. And, in continuing to have faith, to step into the small things, there can be a self-sowing result. Our actions can have a ripple effect across the entire world. Astounding!! And then we can tell our mountains, our obstacles to move! For once we have experienced the miracles of God within our own lives, we become more courageous to step into the fearful places again and again knowing that God will show up, He will provide and protect and cover us in the places He has called us into.

Logo designed by my beautiful friend Emily Karwoski of www.joyfulpapery.com

Would be honored for you to check out my new website here:

www.lauradugglebyphotography.com

So, in this, I know that one of my small steps of obedience the Lord has called me into this year is to be more genuinely myself in my photography business and to be more willing and open to new ideas as they come as well as continuing to dive into the harder places for me. And as I have taken these steps I only see the grace of the Lord falling on me in new and beautiful ways. I know now that my main goal in photographing my clients is to document them in powerful, connected ways that brings forth exploration and freedom. I want to pull out the quiet strength within the beautiful mothers I encounter and remind them that the messy, hard and dirty work is worth it. They are so valuable and treasured and more than that, they are seen, they are heard. And to document women entering into marriage, and showing them how beloved they truly are, for their radiance is glowing brightly for all to see around them. I want my clients to hang my work on their walls, not for any fame or honor for me, but rather that they might be able to see their own families, marriages and loved ones in the beautiful light that their story is portrayed to the world. To remind them, that sacrifice is worth it and from the dirt where the seeds were planted, there is a beautiful flower that has rooted, and is now in full bloom. May that truth resound for all to hear!!

So, with all of this is mind, I have decided to offer a few new things this year. I will now be offering "Mountain Sessions" which is an all-day session with me, where I will be able to document more of the overall story for you and your family. For this I would come document the getting ready process as well as maybe a morning outing or adventure. And then in the evening we could shoot a more typical sunset session to close the evening. I am really excited to step into this and offer this for the beautiful stories I encounter.

I am also now serving elopement clients. I love the idea of keeping things simple, so if this is you, I would love to get in touch and discuss your vision and dreams! I am happy to travel!

I will also continue serving my amazing families in my normal sunrise and sunset sessions that are now called "Mustard Seed Sessions" as well as my beautiful wedding clients. You guys know that I am obsessed with love and everything wedding!

I am so looking forward to this year and all the new and beautiful things the Lord carries me through!! I look forward to the amazing and brilliant clients I come in contact with this year! Let's create something wildly beautiful together!

Please checkout my newly redesigned website here! www.lauradugglebyphotography.com

Other places where you can connect and find my work:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LDugglebyPhoto

Instagram: www.instagram.com/LDugglebyPhoto

Email: LDugglebyPhoto@gmail.com

~Laura

Website designed by: Casey Sjogren

Gallery Block

This is an example. To display your Instagram posts, double-click here to add an account or select an existing connected account. Learn more