Just One Simple Thing

Journaling is a habit that I was never able to develop. I saw the benefits of journaling for other people, but could never make it work for myself. Until I found micro-journaling, and then everything changed. Join me for Episode 89 where you’ll learn all about this practice and how it can make a difference for you, too.
I bet you have a friend who is a journaller. That serene person who pours her heart out across the pages of a well-worn journal with flowery, introspective words. She seems confident in her own skin and has this amazing record of her life.
I never that thought that was achievable for me. I just don’t have that kind of time. And the big blank pages of a journal are more intimidating than they are comforting.
The benefits of journaling are obvious. A journal is a place to process your thoughts. It’s a way to preserve the moments and memories that matter in your life. And it’s a way to create a legacy. I saw these benefits in others and didn’t think it was possible for me.
During the pandemic lockdowns in 2020, I had trouble sleeping. I heard Pastor Craig Groeschel on a podcast mention how he loved his line-a-day, five year journal. I loved the idea... even I could write just a sentence or two every day, but five years is a long time, and I figured I wouldn’t see any kind of pattern or results for two or three years!
So I devised my own version of the line a day journal, and instead of cycling through every year, my version cycled through every month with numbered pages one through thirty-one. Every night before I went to bed, I went to the page for that day and jotted down a couple of sentences. Then I closed the notebook, put it in the nightstand drawer, and fell fast asleep. It was like I was capturing those swirling thoughts and giving them to God. After just a few weeks(instead of years!), I was able to see God’s faithfulness and my progress.
You probably have everything you need already to get started with your own journal. And the best thing is that it is so easy to do, pretty much anyone can fit it into their day.
There are so many ways to use a line a day micro-journal. Most people use it for daily reflections. But others use it as a gratitude journal, a baby’s first year, daily scripture writing, food logs or habit tracking.
A couple of years ago, I created the Move Forward Journal ... a small booklet-style line-a-day monthly journal. It’s the perfect size to tuck in the back of your Bible or planner to be handy every day, and it comes with a list of journal prompts on days when you might feel stuck.
Last year, I added a Deluxe version of the journal that includes goal planning pages to start the year, and quarterly and annual reviews to check your progress. You can learn more about the Move Forward Journal and order your copy at doanewthing.com/journal.
ACTION STEP
Give micro journaling a try! You can start simply like I did in any notebook laying around. If you head to my free Facebook group, Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing, you can grab a micro-journaling starter kit that includes one micro-journaling layout sheet, the list of prompts, and the instructions for creating your own journal.
RESOURCES

The Move Forward Journal

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?
I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it.
Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

What could you begin doing today that would impact your God-inspired dream for the long haul? Join me and my friend Merritt Onsa in Episode 97 of Just One Simple Thing as we kick off a month of equipping you to build small habits that can have a big impact.
We have just finished up our January Reset series, where we decluttered some critical areas of our work to make space for the new opportunities God will bring our way this year.
Now that you are starting to feel a little bit of space in your life, how are you going to keep it that way? The secret is developing good habits that are going to support the most important goals in your life. To help you do that, I’ve teamed up with my friend Merritt Onsa.
Merritt is a dream coach and the host of the Devoted Dreamers podcast, and she is an authority on what it looks like to pursue a God-shaped dream. In January, Merritt did a series of mini-episodes all about developing habits that will nurture your God-shaped dream all year long. Today, I’m going to share the first episode in Merritt’s series where she explains the benefits of developing these small habits.
Next week, I’ll share some tips for breaking bad habits, and the week after that, how to create good habits. If you dig into all of the habits resources, I know they will set you on the path to make progress on your dreams this year.
Ok, let’s dive on in to Merritt’s episode.
Building habits and setting goals and making resolutions are all the rage this time of year. There’s just something about making a fresh start.
The value of building new habits .... one or two at a time ... into your life:

• The consistency of building a new habit also builds competence and confidence.
• Building confidence builds courage.
• Consistency becomes self-perpetuating.Habits will nurture your God-shaped dream.

Don’t try to build all the habits at once. Just pick one or two to implement before you add another one. Tracking your progress helps you stick to a goal or habit.

I hope you’ll head over to Merritt's podcast and listen to all her episodes from January.
ACTION STEP
Grab the habit tracker Merritt mentioned and get started right away implementing one small habit every day. Snap a picture of your tracker and share it on social media for a little extra accountability.
And you know what else helps build new habits? Working on it with a friend. So share this episode with a friend and y’all work on your new habits together! You’ll both see the big impact that small habits make.
RESOURCES
Merritt’s Habit Series
The Devoted Dreamers Habit Tracker

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?
I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it.
Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

It’s been a long wait. You’ve been patient and trusted God through the waiting. But now, God says it’s time to go ... to jump into the dream He’s given you. So, what do you do now? Welcome to Episode 85 of Just One Simple Thing, where you’ll learn what to do when the wait is over.

I hope you got some good tips in Episode 84 about how to get out of the procrastination pit. But in Episode 83, we looked at what David did between the time when he was anointed as the future king, and the time that he actually became king. You might think that after years of waiting for God to release you to do your thing, it would be easy to jump right in and finally take some action. But that’s not always the case. You’ll have to create some momentum to get things moving.
There are four things David did to make that transition and move into the space God had created him for.

1. Leveraged his relationships
David didn’t have to go out and gather these people up. When he finally became King, they came to him. If you have been investing in people and relationships while you are waiting, when it is your time to step into the spotlight, people will rally around you and want to help you succeed.

2. Set up a home base
One of the first things David did as king was to take back control of Jerusalem and set up his home. As he continued to go out and battle for his people, he always had a safe place for himself and his closest advisors to come back to. Find the safe place for you, your team, and your followers to land in a strategic plan. Head back to Episode 78 for more details on the four strategies you need to stay focused and save time.

3. ​​ Kept his eyes on God
David recognized that the Lord had established him, not for David’s own benefit, but for the sake of His people. Like David, we need to keep our eyes on God and remember that any growth or opportunity He gives us is for the sake of His people, not our own benefit.

4. Made imperfect progress
We know the stories well of all the ways David messed up. Adultery, scheming, murder, lying. But one thing David didn’t do ... he didn’t quit. He learned to listen to his advisors. He asked for forgiveness and leaned into his relationship with the Lord. And he kept moving forward, for the sake of God’s people.

As you step out in ministry or business, I promise you ... you WILL mess up. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to quit. It’s time to learn from your mistakes, take refuge in God’s mercy and grace, and move forward imperfectly... for the sake of the people who NEED the transformation you can offer.

ACTION STEP:
What are you waiting for? Has God told you to go, but you’re still holding back? Look at these four things David did after the wait and decide which one will help you most .. then make a plan to do it! And if you need help making that plan, let me know!
If one of the waiting or procrastinating episodes 82 through 85 has been especially helpful for you, please share it on your social media and let me know.

RESOURCES:
Episode 78 Four Strategies You Need to Stay Focused and Save Time

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?
I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it.
Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

It’s that time of year where everyone is trying to be good. Kids are trying to be good so Santa will show up. Adults are trying to be good on their diet so they can indulge at holiday meals. But are we also trying to do good? Listen in to Episode 91 of Just One Simple Thing to learn eight simple good things you can do in this holiday season.
Author Stephen King once said, “Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful.”
“Doing good” can be thought of in two ways. It can mean “good” as in “beneficial”. Do something helpful for someone that they may not be able to for themselves.
It can also mean “good” as in “right”. Do the right thing at the right time. I think Paul had both of these meanings in mind when he encouraged the Galatians to do good.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
When we do things that benefit others, God will bless us in His way and in His timing. When we keep doing the right thing at the right time for our ministry or business, we’ll reap a harvest if we don’t give up. Either way, here are some good things you can keep doing, because it’s good to do them.
1. Stop checking social media continuously.
It’s good to have a solid social media strategy, but obsessing and measuring your value by the numbers is neither beneficial or the right thing to do.
2. Tweet in the morning.
If Twitter feels like a dark and negative place to you, try spending your time there in the early morning. A study showed that 5am to 6am is the happiest time on Twitter.
3. Volunteer to help others.
Volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment. It can be just a one-time thing that’s helpful at the right time.
4. Count your blessings everyday.
Good things happened today. I know they did. Counting them up is another good thing.
5. Send a note to someone you’ve never met, but admire.
Reach out to someone and let them know how much you appreciate what they are doing.
6. Ask “How Can I Help?"
If you aren’t sure what the good thing is in a difficult situation, ask that question and see how it changes the mood of the room.
7. Share overheard compliments.
When something good is said about someone and she may not know about it, sharing what you heard can help her quiet the voices in her head saying she isn’t good enough.
8. Make a helpful introduction.
People know you trust them when you are willing to extend your circle to include them.
ACTION STEP:
Pick one and do it! Normally, I invite you to share your action step on social media so I can cheer you on, but this time, let’s not do it for the cheers. Let’s do it because doing good is the right thing.
RESOURCES:
Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others with Losing the Best of Who You Are by Lysa TerKeurst

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?
I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it.
Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve talked to lots of women who are working while pursuing their God-inspired dream on the side. I bet you can guess the most common struggle they expressed. If you said it’s all about time, you would be correct. In Episode 86, we’re gonna chat about how to get all the things done ... and the way I do it might be a little surprising.

Hello friends! Welcome back to Just One Simple Thing. A couple of months ago I announced in Episode 80 that I’m narrowing the focus of my strategic planning and project management services to creative women (like writers, speakers, and podcasters) or small business owners, who are pursuing their God-dreams while they’re still working their full-time job. That is the situation I’m in and I feel like I have a lot to share in that area.

I’m sure you won’t be surprised to know that the most common struggle they face is having time to do all the things.

So today I want to share with you how I get all the things done. Okay, here’s the secret. I don’t get all the things done because no one can get all the things done.

It’s not about getting all the things done. It’s about getting the right things done. And guess what? I don’t even get all the right things done.

Here is what I get done: I get done what I can get done. Sometimes that’s a lot depending on what’s going on, and sometimes it’s not very much but it’s always what I can do. And the really cool thing is that because I can’t get all of the important things done, I have to rely fully on God to do the things that only He can do.

So let’s dive into the things that I can do.

I rotate my strategic focus every month. I have a clear strategic plan for my business ... specific things I want to implement in the areas of Marketing, Content, Finances, and Administration. (For more details about these strategic focus areas, head back to Episode 76.) I’ve learned that I can’t focus on all of these areas at the same time every month. But I can focus on them one at a time.

I commit to a small list of non-negotiables... a very few things that I do every week no matter what.

Some weeks the only thing I get done may be those non-negotiable items and I don’t have any time left to work on new content and or new products or different projects. Those very important strategic focus areas just have to wait until I can do them.

I don’t commit to things I can’t do. I have to be very careful about opportunities that come up and say no to things I’d love to do but I can’t do because it would impact my non-negotiables and other strategic focus areas.

Develop your network of partners. Sharing the workload with a friend can be a huge time-saver.
ACTION STEP:

Spend some time thinking about what your non-negotiables are and how will you fit those into your week. When you do what you can, I promise that God will show up and do what only he can.
RESOURCES:
Episode 78 Four Strategies You Need to Stay Focused and Save Time

Episode 80 How God Uses Boundaries and Barriers for Protection and Provision

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?
I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it.
Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.