The Secret Life of a Woman in Ministry

If this were completely realistic I would be wearing leggings, I wouldn’t have cropped out the crooked picture on my gallery wall that is too high for me to reach, and my posture would be terrible. But this is the internet, and I don’t make the rules. 😜

I was a pastor for over 10 years, and I’ve been in active ministry for 18 years. However I did not see growth in my career as a writer, or thoroughly love & enjoy my life until the last 6 years or so.

I made a few simple (yet profound) changes that have greatly contributed to this shift.

In the last 6ish years, I began being intentional about envisioning the life I wanted to build as a minister, my calling, my career, and my personal life. I started actively turning my home into the cozy, comfy, moody, whimsical, peaceful haven that I wanted it to be. I started actually getting my books written and published. I stopped waiting for someday, and planned the dang overnight solo hike & camping trip of my dreams. I created space in my life for the things that spark joy in my heart. I stopped waiting & wishing for the Church to change into the affirming, inclusive, and loving “place” I longed for, and I started actively & intentionally building a community of believers who valued these things.

In the work I do, I meet so many women who are called into ministry (whether they’re called as pastors, writers, artists, creators, or in their career). So many of these women feel that instead of building a beautiful life, and flourishing in their calling, life has been happening to them, they’ve existed in survival mode for a long time.

I feel that struggle because it was the same exact feelings that I too felt.

I mentioned that I made some simple yet powerful changes in my own life that have been tremendous game changers. I want to share those with you. I’m never gonna be the type of woman that gatekeeps from other women.

Every year I set aside a time of solitude to seek the Holy Spirit for direction and vision for my life. I take myself through some prophetic visualization exercises. And when I have full clarity of vision, I create a vision board that represents the vision that God has given me for the various aspects of my life.

It’s not enough to have vision and clarity for my career. I also need it for my personal life, for my relationships, my health, and my family/home life.

I know the idea of a vision board isn’t new, and it probably sounds basic. But I am a very visual person. When I create my vision board, I do it in a way where the overall aesthetic is pleasing to the eye and also fits the whole vibe of what I want to build. I ALWAYS set my vision board as my background and screensaver on my macbook. Why? Because I look at it every single day when I crack this baby open to work. I spend time looking at it and picturing what each thing symbolizes coming into fruition in my life.

Here’s the part where you roll your eyes and think “Amber that’s silly, you cannot just visualize something and then POOF, it comes to life like magic”

CORRECT.

This is why my vision board (as well as the prophetic visualization exercises) has been the game changer for me that it has been: When I see these images daily, I know what they represent. They represent the life I plan to build and create. When I see the life I want to build and create on a daily basis, I start choosing differently. I start behaving differently. I stop living by whims and impulsive decisions. It reminds me every single day, THIS IS WHAT KIND OF LIFE I’M WORKING TO CREATE.

A lot of people have a vague idea of what they wish and hope they could accomplish.

But until the small decisions and mundane every day routines in their life reflect those aspirations they wish they could accomplish, it will always remain a WISH. You can’t pray, wish, or hope something into existence.

A life of purpose is not built with big decisions and large steps.

A life of purpose and fulfillment is not created with big flashy choices and people applauding.

That kind of life is built with small choices, solitude, mundane steps, and little consistent steps.

I have ADHD, so I’m gonna be real with you. That phrase “out of sight = out of mind” is a real life struggle for me. If I don’t see something regularly, it doesn’t exist in my brain.

That’s why this works for me.

Today at 3PM Eastern time zone I am hosting a live virtual workshop, where I will walk you through the prophetic visualization exercises that give me clarity of vision & allow me assess the practical changes that need to happen in my life, in order to build the life that God has given me vision for. In this live virtual workshop I will also be personally helping you create a vision board.

In order to create an effective vision board, you need clarity and honesty about where you’re at right now. That’s where those 2 prophetic visualization exercises come in.

If you’re ready to flourish in your calling, and build a life full of purpose, fulfillment & peace, do yourself a favor and register for this workshop.