My Notes from the book Own Your Everyday // Part One

Today, I'm going to be sharing a few notes I took while reading the book, Own Your Everyday by Jordan Lee Dooley! I highly recommend reading this book if you struggle with finding your purpose, or if you have unfigured-out dreams!

I hope you like reading through these notes I took as I read this book! And just FYI, I will be quoting some of the book, so I didn't come up with most of these notes but these words are from the book, Own Your Everyday...

Intro:
The world puts a pressure on us to "have it all figured out" but this perspective on finding your purpose can be dangerous because it implies that our purpose is something we have to search for, find, and grab hold of, whether it's a job, a title, a degree, or a business. We have shrunk purpose down to what we do on the outside rather than who we are on the inside.

Chapter One: You can't walk through walls

-Doors are essential in life. Doors are the only way we allow others in and the only way we step out. They are also the only way we move beyond the little walls we tend to build around ourselves.
-There is profound purpose in simply meeting other people right where they are at, in stepping into, not away from, their struggles and sharing them.

Chapter Two: What are you really after?

-The Truth? We'll miss who we're made to be when we focus on what we think we're supposed to be.
-God always has a bigger purpose for us than we have for ourselves... we can be so small minded sometimes, focusing only on making it through the door in front of us instead of opening the door of our hearts to see what God has for us.
-Don't try to find your purpose in roles, seasons, or spaces.
-Small steps (before it all makes sense) are really the big steps.

Chapter Three: Breakthrough begins with you

-We waste a lot of time building an image we want the world to see instead of taking responsibility for breaking through the limits we create in our own heads and becoming who we're made to be.
-Covering up the surface only causes more problems beneath the surface, allowing the pesky insecurities to linger longer and have way more power over out lives than they deserve.
-We need to start looking at what's going on deeper, often in our hearts, instead of picking ourselves apart.
-We've got to stop the surface level "show" we put on to prove ourselves.
-To build something great, you must first go beneath the surface. You've got to start in the heart.
-Own up to your insecurities. Acknowledge they exist, and then take action for how you'll deal with them at the root. You get to take responsibility for how you respond.
-If you wouldn't say it to your friend, don't say it to yourself.

Chapter Four: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Intentional Action Steps

-You haven't lost your purpose just because you missed an opportunity or failed on your first try.
-I think we cling to the labels more than we realize because labels give us something to quickly impress others with.
-Start envisioning your life as a path to walk on, not as a box to sit in.
-Don't nearly expect failure, but actually prepare for how you will respond when it comes.
-It's not failure, it's learning.
-Don't try to be the person you perceive others expect you to be. Be you, with your wild ideas and funny quirks and unfigured-out dreams and lack of expertise.
-Try stuff before it makes sense, because it doesn't need to make sense in order for God to use it.

Chapter Five: Overcoming Disappointment with a Different Perspective

-We long for clarity, but perhaps true purpose requires closeness with God.
-The most important lessons are the hardest to learn.
-Worry and insecurity lose their grip when you com to grips with the fact that you're not in control (no matter how many prayers you pray) and that you can't trust anything outside of God.
-Maybe we need to fail at what we think we want so we can learn to be faithful with what we already have, right where we are.
-Don't overlook the purpose and opportunity right in front of you. Get back to what really matters, not what you think you missed out on.

Chapter Six: Overcoming Shame by Sharing

-When we see ourselves through a lens of shame, we don't see reality. Wee see what's "wrong" with us rather than who we are. We see a distorted view of what's really there.
-Our insecurities and unrealistic expectations shape the person we believe we should be and lead us to hid who we really are just to prove we are worthy.
God doesn't see us as a set of labels, He sees us through a lens of love-- and love breaks through the warriors we build.
-Humility + vulnerability are necessary for faith and freedom.
-Vulnerability is the key to overcoming the trap that shame sets.
-God gave me a story because it needs sharing-- even when I'm afraid that others will think it's lame.

So those are the first half (Chapters 1-6) of notes I took from reading Own Your Everyday! I hope you liked reading what stood out to me the most! If you haven't read Own Your Everyday, I suggest you go get yourself a copy!! It's so worth it! Trust me. 

Part Two will on Wednesday... So stay tuned! 

Have you ever read Own Your Everyday? What chapters notes stood out to you the most? Is this book something that you think you would want to read? 

Talk to me in the comments!