It was evening.
Why does everything seem to get more difficult in the evening?
We were stuck focusing on something that hadn’t happened the way we wanted it to. Our intentions were right. We felt that what we offered what fair. But we didn’t get the booking, and we couldn’t move past it. Discouragement set in and doubting started to show it’s ugly face. And that whole thing about comparing that we blogged about earlier – you can bet that was going on too.
It felt awful.
We were stuck in a negative place, but truthfully we didn’t want to feel negative.
We were focused on what wasn’t, and it was painful.
It literally disabled us.
The content we set out to write that evening wasn’t coming naturally. The tasks we needed to complete seemed insurmountable. We honestly didn’t feel like doing a dang thing.
The problem was that our perspective was completely in the wrong place.
We’ve done our best to surround ourselves with people in our lives that will speak life into us. It may be people who have gone before us as successful photographers, other accomplished business owners, or even an encouraging and godly family member or friend. In moments like the one we were experiencing, those types of people have always seemed to have a word of wisdom that has spoken into the moment. We couldn’t encourage you more to do the same. You can’t do this thing alone – and in our case even together – without some life support when you need it!
Jon was driving home from North Phoenix when he had the random idea to stream the sermon from a few weeks prior at our church, from a Sunday we had missed. The message was a yearly recap of the amazing things that had happened through our church, so while he was expecting to be encouraged by the amazing things our church had done in the community, he definitely didn’t see such a transformational word coming.
One point that our pastor touched on was the power of looking back. You see, sometimes it is SO easy to have your perspective messed up like ours was in that moment. We were focused on what wasn’t, instead of being focused on what was and had been.
Let us explain.
That evening we had been focused on goals that had not yet been reached. We were focused on an opportunity that didn’t come together. We were busy doubting ourselves and our abilities because of something that didn’t work out. It was all we could see – and everything in the future – all of the dreams and ambitions we have – were filtered through that negativity.
But when Jon listened to the encouragement from our Pastor about the power of looking back, he couldn’t wait to get home and share it with Erica. We sat and looked back at all of the amazing things God had worked in our lives in the previous 6 months. First, we realized that 6 months really wasn’t that long and maybe we had some expectations for ourselves that needed to be adjusted. But we also began to reflect on the things that HAD happened during that 6 months that we never saw coming. The amazing brides and grooms we’ve been able to work with. The branding sessions we’ve been able to shoot for a local restaurant that we never saw coming. The ability to shoot content for Chris and Heidi Powell. All of these were things that had come together within those short 6 months!
So why couldn’t we see them in that moment? Because we were focused to much on what wasn’t, and not what was and had been.
Changing our focus put things into perspective. There is encouragement in remembering the things that have been. The opportunities God has blessed us with. The lives we have been able to positively impact with our business.
We wanted to share this because it is so real. Sometimes it can be hard to see past the present. Hard to see through the difficult situation you’re in or discouraging news you have received. But perspective does a whole lot to change your outlook on a situation. Maybe what’s in front of you looks difficult, but what might be there that you can’t see yet?
Today’s ‘no’ might just be making way for tomorrow’s ‘yes’.
Comments +