Finding Abundance in Unexpected Places
On pursuing dreams while staying open to guidance
In April, I stared at a list of 10 goals I'd set for myself a year prior, many of which were unmet. Fresh off maternity leave and full of determination, I had mapped out exactly how my year would unfold: the photoshoot with professional styling, the merchandise line with my new branding, and the expensive professional development program.
As I reviewed that list, my first instinct was disappointment. I wouldn't hit several of those targets the way I'd envisioned them.
But then something shifted. After reflecting on a sermon highlighting the ways God provided for Elijah using sources we wouldn't expect to get nourishment from (1 Kings 17:2-14), I started noticing what had happened instead of what hadn't met my expectations. I shifted my perspective and reframed my understanding of success.
When X's Become "Oh Yeah!"
The Headshots That Found Me
Original vision: Full photoshoot package with styling, makeup, perfect backdrop
What actually happened: While serving on a Wealth and Wellness panel, a photographer captured candid shots of me speaking, engaging, and reflecting. I walked away with almost 10 professional photos that felt more authentic than any staged shoot could have been.
The Merch That Mattered
Original vision: T-shirts and branded products with my new logo and key phrases
What actually happened: I created stickers, fans, and bookmarks for speaking engagements and vending events. These small items brought joy to my work and were physical reminders of my mission during a year when I was stretching beyond my capacity.
The Professional Development That Developed Me
Original vision: Continuing coaching education program
What actually happened: Three free opportunities I didn't even know existed last year:
SpiderHub program at the University of Richmond, where undergraduate business students helped me create deliverables, including a strategy map for growing my impact in new markets
Free coaching program through Chase, which provided resources and accountability for practical business steps
Small Business Development Center coaching track with someone who graduated from my same high school—full circle community support
I not only got what I needed, but I got it without the financial strain I had prepared myself for.
From Struggle Season to Abundance Season
I used to call this a season of struggle. My bank account was low, my expectations were high, and my needs were evident. But as I've deepened my grounding practices, I've been able to stay lifted and open to receiving from sources I didn't even know existed.
This is my season of abundance. My season of faith.
I've grown in ways I didn't even imagine, all while being at ease with the lack of free-flowing funds I thought I'd need to be successful and fulfilled.
The Leadership Lesson
Here's what this year taught me about leadership and wellness:
We must be open to possibilities beyond our limited frames of reference.
I'm still a strong proponent of having a vision, setting goals that align with that vision, and taking mighty (even if small) actions every day toward those goals. But there's a trap in relentlessly pursuing goals without pausing to reassess or reflect on our process and progress.
Are we open to the possibility that a successful end result may differ from what we initially anticipated?
If we refuse to accept anything other than what we originally set out for, how many blessings will we miss in the process?
The Wisdom That Comes from Pausing
To be open to guidance, I had to rest, meditate, pray, and fellowship. So much wisdom and direction come to us in moments of pause and reflection. But if we're too busy doing, doing, doing, we miss the calling, message, and blessing altogether.
I share regularly about pausing for breath, movement, and connection because these are the sources that sustain us.
Pursue and pause. Both are essential.
As we move forward, I invite you to consider:
Set realistic goals that stretch you. 1-3 goals are sufficient. Setting fantastical goals without grounding yourself in reality and capacity sets you up for unnecessary disappointment. Shoot for the stars, but don't distract yourself by diving into the ocean's deepest depths at the same time.
Be open to meeting your goals in ways you didn't know were possible. Success rarely looks exactly like our first draft. Stay curious about what abundance might look like in your life.
Build in reflection time. Create space to notice what's working, what's flowing, and what might be trying to guide you in a new direction.
Sometimes, the greatest gift isn't getting exactly what we asked for; it’s discovering that what we needed was available all along, just wearing different clothes than we expected.
Pause & Ponder
What unexpected abundance have you noticed in your life lately?
I'd love to hear about it. Hit reply or comment and let me know.
With abundance and appreciation,
Tamisha
P.S. If this resonates with you and you're ready to explore what flexible, wellness-centered goal setting might look like in your leadership journey, I'd love to connect. Sometimes the most powerful transformations happen when we're open to paths we never imagined walking.
