Is there a business dream you want to bring to life but can’t figure out where to start? 

I know that pursuing a side hustle or a full-fledged business can feel daunting, to say the least. When money gets funny and support is hard to find, the temptation to quit on your dreams becomes all too real. 

In the latest episode of The Sister Circle Podcast, I caught up with Lavida Samuel, founder and owner of Elle Vie Body Products. We had an honest conversation about the highs and lows of business ownership and the importance of perseverance.

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Do you remember when God’s voice was the loudest voice in your life? 

The privilege to connect with God on an intimate level can be easy to overlook in busy seasons of life. Slow seasons offer the margin needed to discern the voice of God, but when the noise and distraction increase, it doesn’t take long for time with God to decrease.

It’s important to take the steps to get still and quiet the noise in your life. Be sure you’re ready to listen when God speaks.

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Have you become comfortable with doing just enough to get by? What would it look like for you to go beyond what’s expected of you? 

We have the power to leave our homes, our jobs, and public spaces better than we found them when we do more than what’s required of us. Renowned author and speaker Devi Titus called this the “Also Principle,” and she modeled it in how she lived her life. 

As you focus on the Lord and build a habit of applying the “Also Principle” to your life, it will become a part of your character. You will shift the atmosphere just by asking “what more can I do?”

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How do you hold on to hope in moments of suffering?

Dr. Curt Thompson joined me to dive deeper into the believer’s relationship with suffering and hope. In his latest book, “The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope,” Dr. Thompson pairs his clinical knowledge as a psychiatrist with his own life experience, allowing him to engage with his patients and readers of his books with empathy.

What would happen if you, too, leaned into moments of suffering and supported your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? When you use tough moments as opportunities to lean on others in the faith, you can experience the glory and the goodness of God.

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Have you ever had someone go above and beyond for you? From as small as an extra smile during an exchange with a stranger to someone showing up in a big way when they didn’t have to, when people go the extra mile, it leaves an impression. 

I like to call this the “also principle.”  The “also principle” is the concept of going over and above as a way to live. It’s asking the right questions at the right time. It’s noticing what people need and volunteering to give it even when they don’t ask.

The “Also Principle” seeks to do more when more is within reach. It’s as if you are willing to say, “I’ve done my duty, but ALSO, what else can I do to go above and beyond what’s required?” 

You only get this one life, and the only thing that will be here after you’re done is the impression you left.

So, if you are going to leave an impression, sprinkle a little “also” on it so that it’s a good one.

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The busyness of life can often blind you to the very things God is trying to reveal to you. 

My daughter, Kariss Farris, sat down with me to talk about her new devotional, “Jesus Everywhere: 60 Days of Encountering God in Unexpected Places,” and what happens when we pay attention to the hand of God in our lives.

I pray that you experience Jesus in a way that causes you to love your life, even the parts that seem ordinary at first glance.

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Are your feelings trying to tell you something? As someone who feels deeply, I can assure you that the feelings you express (intentionally or unintentionally) are often an outworking of what is going on in your heart. (Luke 6:45)

When you keep your feelings inside, you might also be setting yourself up for them to come out in harmful ways or cause damage underneath the surface. Whether your emotions cause you to implode or explode, ignoring your feelings can be detrimental to you and your loved ones.

Honor your feelings by acknowledging your feelings, naming your emotions, and doing the work to repair the soil of your heart.

My prayer is that you live a thriving life, and that if you are not experiencing that life currently, that God will break up the dry soil in your life so that you can thrive again.

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Why are adult friendships so complicated? If you’ve ever wondered why making and maintaining friends is difficult the older you get, trust me, you’re not alone. 

In my own life, my friendships have shifted in different seasons. What I know for sure is that it was worth the fight. On the other side of hard conversations is support, love, and true connection.

Proverbs 27:17 puts it this way, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

You were made for connection. When you take the time to cultivate your circle of friends, you will surely reap the benefits. But you have to be intentional and prayerful in the process.

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Are you a good steward of your relationships? Do you make time for your spouse? Do you encourage your children? 

If you struggle to answer any of these questions, know that you will have a tough time pouring into others if you don’t first pour into yourself.

In this episode, Michael Todd and I chat about his latest book, “A Cup of Love: Relationship Goals for Kids,” and the importance of pouring into our loved ones.

When your cup runs over with God’s love, you are able to love your people well.

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