Integrity, against all odds.
‘Women will not thrive if the cost of belonging is our silence.’ Jen Hatmaker
This month we’ve been digging into Integrity, and boy did it throw me sideways.
When God planted this seed in my subconscious last year, to change our March theme to Integrity, I didn’t question Him but I also didn’t give it much thought.
As March approached and I frantically started researching this topic, I quickly came to see I was ill prepared both in lived experience and wisdom. And guess what else? I was the host for Working Well on the topic of Integrity for Entrepreneurs. I blame Jesus for getting me into this mess.
But never fear, my community came to the rescue in a witty & pretty lady named Leane and a great book recommendation.
She said, you have to read Jen Hatmaker’s book Of Mess & Moxie, which I quickly devoured and led to reading Fierce, Free and Full of Fire. Go hard or go home girls, amiright?
You see, I had turned my nose up to Jen Hatmaker in the past. Which may not bode well when we ask her to be a Woman of Influence! Oh well, tis me. I thought she was a bubbly perfect Christian author who did all the things right in order to keep her status, boy was I wrong.
She is a curious, fearless, faithful, real, honest woman. In fact Leane gave me the book because she said ‘this woman is you Tammy. She’s the woman you’re looking for, she’s got the answers to your questions.’
Essentially Jen is a few years ahead of me in her self discovery and her understanding of the pain the church has caused in society. I’ll stop there cause that’s a story for another day, but today I want to talk about one of the paragraphs that took my breathe away.
‘I finally clearly know who I am and how I was made, how I thrive and what I'm here for, what I believe and what I care about, and I'm not afraid to walk in that, even when it doesn't fit the mold. I am finally the exact same on the outside as I am on the inside without posturing, posing, or pretending.’
I’ll say it again, DAMN! Cause I’m not there yet, but I’m REALLY trying.
If Integrity means you are true to yourself and would do nothing that demeans or dishonours you, then I have a ways to go and maybe you do too.
In fact, in coming up with March’s Working Well Leane had to reign me in on our content. Dear child, Tammy, this work takes decades. How much do you think you can accomplish in a 2 hour mini workshop!
Lol. Um, do you know who you’re talking to> but ok, I’ll listen to you. After a few hot exchanges, we’ve come up with a pretty sweet Working Well program. Plug inserted, go sign up now.
Girls, you deserve to be heard.
There are many things you think and believe, but you’ve been afraid to talk about.
It’s ok, we’ve created space for just that.
It’s ok if you don’t have it all figured out, nor do I.
One thing I do know, this is work that is best done in a community of support.
Trust the process, trust the right women, and trust yourself to know what’s best for you.
xo Tammy
