If you have moments when you feel overwhelmed, congratulations. You are on the right path to your next big accomplishment.

In the physical performance world, the overload principle simplified is the body’s adaptive response to physical stress. The result is growth.

“Overwhelm” can be viewed within a similar framework applied to the mind. “Emotional stress” resulting in growth.

However, this is the perfect moment for “doubt” to start humming.

Doubt is to “consider unlikely”.

The “hum” of doubt sounds like

“Will I….”

“Can I……”

“Should I……”

Doubt is the death of growth.

Give doubt even an inch and it WILL leave you floating in the ocean constantly tossed around by the winds and the waves of life.

The other day, I painfully watched as my 12-year-old aging dog, Chico, attempted to jump into my car and failed, tumbling to his back on the ground. You see, jumping into the car independently has been Chico’s normal routine his entire life—until recently, when his little legs are no longer able to generate the power.  If I am not on my “A game”, I forget to hold him back when I open the door, which was the case on this particular day. If recent history is any indication, tomorrow (if left to his own “will”) he will try again.

As a human watching this event unfold, I often get frustrated.  At myself (on the days I don’t stop him). But also with Chico. Why doesn’t he stop? Hasn’t he learned by now that he won’t make it? For the love, why can’t he just think like a human????? If I were a dog, and I was not 100% certain that I was going to make it, I would obviously select “plan B”….. wait for my loving caregiver to come over and lift me up.

Awe yes, adult humans. The “top of the food chain”. The “supreme” intellectual being. Why? Because we value safety and, more importantly, “certainty.”

I will be the first to admit, I have quite a strong aversion to uncertainty. Knowing ahead of time whether or not an action will succeed or fail, is far better. Even if it fails, at least I was prepared.

And it’s this need for “certainty” that opens the door, just a crack for doubt to creep in.

“Will I get better?”

“Am I capable?”

“Should I continue?”

“Is this effort worth it?”

And here is the potential problem to BIG goals. They will inevitably have moments of “overwhelm” which given enough attention, can lead to doubt. Thus, opening the flood gates potentially pushing you back to where you started.

Noah built an ark, believing that a flood was coming, even though it hadn’t rained on the earth yet. (Genesis 6)

God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations despite being of advanced age (and his wife being well beyond child bearing years). Abraham first laughed at the idea of this, but Abraham followed God and God fulfilled his promise. Genesis 17

But these aren’t just old testament stories. God created you and me to walk this earth and do good works.

This requires faith, the belief that God is who he says he is.

Faith is believing that you ARE going to improve because God can’t be mocked and He delivers on his promises.

He promises to give us life to the full.

To believe God will “deliver” is hard. Especially in the midst of a seemingly insurmountable challenge.  I will be the first one to say, I am probably on the extreme end of the “disappointment-avoidance” scale.

And I don’t think I am alone.

When it comes to “dreaming big”, this “self-preservation” strategy has proven to be the hole in the bucket.

Running your “race”……. As you watch friends, family, colleagues, fellow stroke survivors, MS warriors, Rocksteady boxers run ahead.

“Non-believers” build their perception of a compelling case using historical evidence, archeological evidence, “textual criticism”, philosophical arguments, and “scientific analysis” to prove God isn’t real. Whether you want it to be true or not, you will find the evidence you seek.

For me it is simple. God is real. Christ was sent by God to die on the cross for my sins and the sins of the world. For those who believe, you will have eternal life.

But this comes at a cost. You must believe in the unseen. The eternal.

You must believe in His grace – His unmerited favor.

You must believe in His mercy – His undeserving forgiveness.

You must believe in His patience – His enduring tolerance for our shortcomings.

AND,

His overwhelming desire to enrich our lives here on earth despite what we think we deserve.

But we must also have faith in His timing.

We must believe in His ability to see into the future and look out for our best interest,

and

His plan for our life.

Faith in the unseen isn’t something you can do “halfway.” You either believe God is who He says He is, or you don’t. If you aren’t “all in,” you might still be able to move forward, but the battle in the mind will be treacherous. The unreliability of your emotions will make the terrain challenging to navigate. Mountains and valleys interspersed, with “green pastures”.

Chico’s little tumble the other day was a rare occurrence. Our new routine is to hold him back until I am in a position where I can give him a little “boost” mid-air. As much as I hate being a witness to the penalties of time on my best friend, I can’t help but be somewhat inspired.  His perseverance. His unwavering “faith” that he will succeed. Without it, he wouldn’t be as strong as he is. So, I will continue to let him try. And of course be his wing man to offer an “assist” as needed. 

But there is more. It is as if he knows there is something amazing that is gonna happen if he just makes it into the car. He can foresee the amazing scenery that will be whizzing by as this strange tube on wheels traverses our typically much slower “walking path”. It is as if, for just a moment, the leap into the car is a chance to experience….. heaven on earth. So, without pause, he forgets about his ailments. He forgets about our “new routine”. He takes a leap of faith. 

Maybe humans didn’t get to the top of the food chain because of “safety” but in spite of it.

Safety has a way of holding us back from taking the leap. And instead, waiting for the “safer plan B” to reveal itself.

Faith and “certainty” can’t co-exist.

AND

Faith without action is just a “wish”.

However, faith IN ACTION is doing the necessary behaviors that the “type of person” who has what you want is doing.

Failing to plan, is planning to fail.

My moments of doubt always come with some level of insecurity about my level of Faith (not my salvation). Whether I am “all in” or not is unclear. But one thing I know for sure, I will continue to pursue it knowing that the prize is worth it.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. In fact, I think not being certain about your level of certainty will keep the flame of curiosity burning.

So, let the overwhelm in. Embrace it. Challenge the doubt. Seek out the “facts”. And at the end of the day, make sure that while you are “seeking”, you are moving forward. And if you let the doubt in and lost a little ground, that too is ok. Tomorrow is a new day and a new opportunity to start again.

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