SMW 039: Why Doing What God Tells You To Do Will Help You Lead Out || Susan Madsen

Growing up, Susan R. Madsen didn't look at her future beyond getting married and having a family, but after she started having children, Susan realized she was being called by God to get more education. She earned a masters degree and then obtained a doctorate and now works as a professor at Utah State University. Susan is also the founder and director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project and is a global thought leader on women and leadership. In this interview, Susan warmly opens up with insights from her own life, including how she learned to follow personal revelation, despite going against cultural norms. She also discusses her new book, A Future Only God Can See for You: A Guide for Teen and Young Adult Women on Preparing to Lead and how the book can help Latter-day Saint women of all ages lead out by doing what God prompts them to do. Journal Questions Susan shared how another women once asked her why she was furthering her education while she had young children. Susan's simple response was, "Because God told me." What has God told you to do? Write about what you have personally learned by following what Heavenly Father has asked you to do, even when others' have judged your choices. During the interview, Susan pushed back on a question I asked and brought up how we sometimes have a mentality in the church that women's choices have to be "either or." How has this thinking affected your choices? What do you think you can do to change the "either or" culture around women's choices? By following the Spirit, understanding her strengths and figuring out how her brain works, Susan shared she has learned to trust herself and know God needs her and her unique strengths to do the work that only she can do. What is the Holy Ghost prompting you to do to learn to trust yourself and know that God knows you? What part of God's work is He saving just for you?  Take some time to ponder and write your thoughts and feelings. Episode Links Read Susan's book: A Future Only God Can See for You Visit Susan's website susanrmadsen.com Join the Spiritually Minded Women email list: spirituallymindedwomen.com/prayerjournal/ Follow Spiritually Minded Women on Instagram: @spirituallymindedwomen Watch the podcast on YouTube: Spiritually Minded Women channel Visit the website for more resources: spirituallymindedwomen.com