Ashlee Proffitt | Lifestyle Blogger | Mama + Business OwnerIn January I made a big scary decision to say no to one thing in order to fully say yes to another. 

In January I said no to all future branding clients. And I said yes to giving my undivided attention to The Morning: A community of hope for women finding joy after pregnancy or infant loss. 

Saying no to branding work meant saying no to future opportunities within this field, saying no to work I love and work I went to college for, saying no to the business I have built for the past 12 years, saying no to the possibility of helping clients do great things with their businesses, and saying no to promised income that has blessed our family tremendously over the past few years.

But saying no to all of those great things means saying yes to something greater. And when I say something greater I don’t mean more promised income or a more successful business or better and more amazing opportunities; I simply mean saying yes to what God is calling me to, no matter what that entails.

For the better part of last year I desired and felt led to invest my time, energy and creativity into The Morning, but I have since learned that I just do not have the time or ability to manage multiple things well. After nearly a year of making little to no headway on the project I realized that with my limited work time (and brain space!) available I needed to let go of one thing in order to fully grasp another. 

Transition is hard and change is scary and I would be lying if I didn’t say that over the past few months I have battled fear, anxiety and doubt as I turned away potential clients, setting aside the thing I expertly know how to do for the thing that I have absolutely no idea how to do. But just because something is familiar or known or dependable doesn’t mean it’s your thing; even if you can do it well. And likewise, just because something is unknown and unsure doesn’t mean it isn’t your thing; even if you can’t do it well at first, even if you have no idea what steps to take next, even when you don’t have the words… you step out in obedience and you beg God to show up. 

So, that’s what I’m doing. I’m stepping out in obedience. My knees are shaking. There’s a knot in my throat. Tears in my eyes.

And I’m begging God to show up. To make something out of nothing.

I am hanging on to this promise that God has been whispering to me over the last year through countless friends and strangers and teachers and counselors is this: 

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19

TWO NOTES

1. To all my previous clients: I am forever grateful for you. Working with you was the reason this decision was so difficult and took me so long to make. I’ve loved working with you and and am so blessed to have had the opportunity to help build such beautiful brands. Thank you for entrusting something so important to me. 

2. Moving forward I am excited to use this space to share not only the knowledge and wisdom I have gleaned over the last 12 years of building a business and creating brands, but also content that I hope will bring joy, inspiration, and practical help to your everyday life. As time allows I will be providing written content here as well as continuing to offer coaching services and brand assessments. If you are interested in either of those services simply complete the contact form and I will be in touch! If you have a question you would like answered here on the blog regarding business or branding or just everyday life, please fill out the contact form and I’ll be happy to try and answer!