There’s Only So Much You Can Do

You can work and work, and break your back, and make every sacrifice possible and put every last resource you have on the table, but at the end of the  day, I’m realizing, there’s just only so much you can do.

Not everything is up to us.

We are not in control.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, feeling this tension because I want to inspire people to believe anything is possible, and want to give them the tools to go make their dreams come true. I want to remind you that you have what it takes, that you are beautiful and important and you matter (no matter how many people do or don’t follow you on Twitter).

And for most of you, that’s what you need to hear. Most of you think too little of yourself, rather than too much. Most of you need to know you are talented. You are capable. You are courageous.

You have more to give than you’re giving.

But lately I’ve been wondering if I need to say this, too:

There’s only so much you can do.

In the beginning of my journey, I needed someone to push me to do more, not less. I needed someone to give me permission to throw my whole weight into, to quit holding back, to put my money where my mouth was, to give this thing my best shot.

I needed to stay up later, wake up earlier, to work harder. I needed to know I was capable, and that it was possible to see success. I needed to see how I hadn’t reached my limit yet. Not even close.

But these days… I don’t know. I feel like I need to be reminded that it’s okay. I’m okay.

Not everything is up to me. Working hard is good. But the whole world doesn’t rest on my shoulders.

There’s just only so much you can do.

This is what scares me most about chasing what really matters to me —

At the end of the day, I can give it all I have, and what if it isn’t enough? I wonder if this is why so many of us hold back, like I did for so many years, accepting less than what we know we have to give.

I wonder if it makes us feel better, to keep our world’s small and manageable, so we can have control over them.

But now that I’ve stepped out of my tiny world into something bigger and better — something that is far too big for me to handle on my own — I can say from experience: It’s scary and wonderful out here. I don’t have control.

But I wouldn’t want to. It’s too big for me. And that’s a good thing. All I can give is everything I have.

All you can give is everything you have. It just might be more than you think it is.

I am enough. You are enough.

When it comes to releasing a book, or learning to sew, or becoming a full-time photographer, or homeschooling your kids, or starting a new business, or being the “perfect” mom or wife or daughter or friend…

There’s just only so much you can do.

Chances are, it’s more than you realize. You’re capable of bigger and better. But when you lay your head on your pillow at the end of the day, be careful how you measure success.

Be careful with measuring numbers and dollars and accolades and awards and praise from your kids or your spouse.

Because there’s just only so much you can do.

And if you’ve truly done everything you can do, rest easy, wake up, and do it again tomorrow.

You’re on the right track.

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