One of the greatest story edits I made in my life was the understanding that, on this side of eternity, life wasn’t a chase to a destination. It was an opportunity to show up, live, and grow.
Life is always a verb, not a noun.
I was recently listening to a podcast, and the guest (Zach Bush) said, “Trees aren’t “trees”; they’re treeing.”
I know that sounds weird and a bit out there, but I bring it up because he hit on a good point. Our language has become so factual. So matter-of-fact. So noun-based. When the reality is, all living things are in motion. There is not “arriving,” but we’re always growing, always changing, always moving. Anything less than that limits possibility and potential.
We’re truly always in process, whether we like to see it or not. You can either watch the train go by, or you can hop aboard and take part in it. And I really want the latter. To jump on the ride and participate in it.
It’s the beauty in the sacredness of sanctification. The “in-process” progression of every aspect of our story and the willingness to grow, expand, even choose how we want to participate in it. Which is where this started.
These monthly “story edits” are the in-process work of evaluating my life and the willingness to grow with it. They’re less of a highlight reel and more of a map, something that helps me not just move, but grow into who God made me to be.
I started a few months ago, and they’ve really set the stage for me to experience life differently every day. And I REALLY NEEDED something to help me with the everyday, because we seem to struggle there. Or at least I did.
I got so caught up in the one-year plan or the five-year plan that I missed that the daily plan is where the bigger plans are created.
I missed that all of the “mundane” stuff is actually the gold mine I’ve been seeking in the long-term plan.
That’s why I wanted to share my process, as inspiration and encouragement for you to write your own monthly story edit. Instead of focusing on how it went, what if you started naming how you want it to go?
Here are my September edits!
* The unedited version didn’t contain this section.*
I wrote this last week and had it all scheduled to go. Then yesterday, it wasn’t sitting right. I read it and reread it again and couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I thought about deleting it, and yet that didn’t feel right, because these story edits have become very powerful in my life.
This morning, I unscheduled the post and decided to sit with it for a minute. No judgment. Just to let it be. And I realized it wasn’t landing, not because it isn’t valid or useful, but because it’s missing context.
Without this section, the editing process could come across as any other editing system we’ve picked up over the years.
Editing that looks more like trying to wrap up this story to chase a better one. We might call it goal setting, or dreaming, but it can quickly become a dissociation from who you are and what God is doing in you and through you.
And that generally results in one of two places:
Living out your own version of groundhog day… repeating the same chapter over and over and over again.
Or, attaching yourself to someone else’s story. Obsessed with someone else’s way of living and/or mimicking how they do it.
It’s a jump-ship, burn-the-book, become-someone-different, imposter-syndrome situation. And one that quickly becomes its own form of insanity.
Here’s the thing: you can’t escape your story. You can try, but I promise, it’s only going to:
Highlight your problems
Leave you looking for an escape
Hating life
Trying all of the things and getting nowhere
Literally seeing no forward movement
Yes, it’s the cycle of insanity.
And I think it’s one of the greatest lessons of our life…. That you are here to live YOUR STORY.
The Bible is full of stories of this same pattern… people attempting to escape God’s good and perfect design for their life, chasing a different story. And YET every time, God rescues them from their own pattern of insanity, bringing them back to their story… His story.
All of that to say, this process only works if you’re living out your story. Otherwise, it’s just going to be another slew of words, good ideas, and solid intentions that you’ll feel disappointed in a month from now.
BUT if you come back to your story, and you see the past isn’t something you need to escape, but edit, then you have a little more drive and desire to make the changes and actually LIVE them.
Then this work isn’t just about writing things down, but actually living them. Because when you stop trying to escape your story, perfection flies out the window and everything becomes a lesson… which allows you to keep editing, month after month.
Freedom story is exactly this… It’s coming home to your story and editing it to get back to God’s design for your life.
**Looking for your own freedom story? Take part in the next freedom story workshop by signing up for the waitlist here.
My editing process…
I need to be clear, this process isn’t just about “good ideas.” Because good ideas, intentions, and goals literally do nothing for you if you won’t live them out.
The only way to really know how to edit the story is TO LIVE IT OUT. You can’t edit what you haven’t experienced. Because you can’t edit what hasn’t been written.
Which is a little motivation and my nudge to get out there and live.
To fall.
To fail.
To succeed.
To laugh.
To cry.
To play.
To work.
TO DO IT!
And when you do, we have something to work with. You create something to edit.
My process is pretty simple (and quite enjoyable):
I have a few big categories (even though I fully believe they’re all interconnected), and I process a few edits I’d like to make, based on the experience of last month and also what we’re moving into (seasons, schedule changes, etc), and what God has called me to (get back on the path).
My categories are:
Mind
Soul
Body
Lifes
Style
These don’t have to be yours. It just helps me get clear on the edits I am making.
Again, these are not based on “what went wrong.” But maybe better language is:
What you’re not a fan of
What you’re not crazy about
What doesn’t align with your path
What you’d rather not
What you don’t prefer
They’re also a movement toward what you do want to experience and create.
Before we get back into the original content… I need you to know, a lot changes when you stop looking at your life through a lens of what you hate, how you’ve failed, what went wrong, and what you haven’t said… because it’s here that you’ve scared yourself out of living.
Let this be your encouragement (or nudge) to not just set intentions, but live them, even if it’s messy. Even if you “fail.” Even if you end up not preferring it. You can always go back and edit it again.
Which is why I do these monthly…
September Mind Edits:
So much of my life is decided in my head before it ever happens anywhere else. Just like yours is. And yes, sometimes I think my inner monologue alone could run a small country, and not always for the best. That’s why I am always in progress with my mind edits:
More Doing and Less Dreaming. I don’t mean stop dreaming. But there comes a time when I start overdreaming and/thus overanalyzing. This month, I’m committed to more time doing what I’ve dreamed.
Do it imperfectly. I’m a big picture person, which makes it hard to see not only the starting line, but the first few wobbly, imperfect steps. This month, I’m choosing to take those steps, knowing that even in the imperfection of it, it’s still movement toward.
Set my worry interrupts. Worry is a choice. I’ve realized one of the best ways out of it is to create an interrupt. I use my monthly Bible verse as a worry-interrupt. When I sense myself spiraling toward worry and into panic, I go back to the verse I set for the month. To fix my mind on something different.
September Soul Edits:
Read the Gospels. I’ve been loving reading big chunks of the Bible at a time. It keeps me from getting lost in analysis paralysis. Hannah Brencher is doing a September Gospel Reading challenge. I’d love for you to join me.
Create prayer circles. I’ve always loved this concept and found my prayer life was more consistent. I’m getting back to prayer circles this month.
Get outside myself. I think about encouraging other people but then let the day pass and don’t follow through. This month, I’m committing to following through with daily encouragement to whoever comes to mind.
September Body Edits:
Tis the season of warm foods. Summer produce season may still be here, but as the days get darker and cooler, your body benefits from warmer foods. Here’s to drinking more hot tea and eating warm foods (even if it’s still 80 degrees outside).
Cut back on caffeine. This summer I exceeded my caffeine limit… and I’m starting to wonder if it’s impacting my skin. I’m determined to do a little experiment by cutting back on caffeine and seeing if it changes my skin. TBD.
Morning sunlight. Sunlight is my sanity. As the days get shorter, I prioritize all the sun I can get. Especially early morning sun. It’s like air in my lungs.
More intimacy. We’ve been busy this summer. While I’ve loved it, I’m also craving some deep intimacy. More couch snuggles. More laying in bed with Payton. More slow days. More last-minute bonfires with friends. Just the good slow togetherness.
Life Edits:
Get back to a regular schedule: This means planning out my days. Of course, with flexibility built in, but I’m not just rolling with the punches. This month I’m choosing to be more intentional with how I fill my days.
Continue to optimize my home lighting: Light has been an emphasis of study in my life, and I’ve found it's one of the most powerful predictors of your mitochondrial health (aka your health). Needless to say, I’ve taken lighting, specifically in our home, more seriously. We are slowly switching out all of our lightbulbs with circadian-friendly versions. And yes, our house looks like it’s on fire, or potentially like we’re living in some in-home greenhouse, but it’s been one of the best changes.
These are the bulbs we’ve used for over a year and still haven’t had to change one.
No phone until after school drop-off: This summer I got into a rhythm of scanning my phone first thing in the morning, and I realized it just wasn’t good for my mind or my habits. My new standard. No phone until after the kids are at school.
Warm Up My Home Aesthetic: We are quickly losing light, and one way I’ve found to combat my fear of winter is to cozy up my home. To create and cultivate an enviornment of coziness. That’s why I’m a fan of decorating for fall, bringing out the chunky blankets and getting a new candle or two.
Bring Back Day Trips: I want to reclaim the little adventures and experiences right in my backyard. Who said the only trips we can take are overnight stays? I want to find adventure in the backyard.
Eat dinner outside: I am determined to get as much outdoor time as we can before we can’t.
10 Recipes I’m cooking this month:
Homemade bone broth (I always cook mine in the garage because I hate the smell at night while I’m sleeping)
Slow cooker pot roast
Creamy Soups
Homemade chia tea
My September Inspiration:
My September Energy Fills:
Naming what fills you is a good reminder that sets you up to engage with it. Here are some things that light me up as the “ber” months begin.
Steaming mugs of tea
Wide-leg trousers
Morning sunshine
Cozy blankets
Time at the library
Last-minute bonfires
Couch snuggles
Crockpot meals
Slow Mornings
Low-Spend Fall Activities:
Farmers market trips
Nature hikes
Apple orchard days
Tailgating
Community fall festivals
Fall Style Inspiration
It’s cozy season. And I promise, little changes to your style and home can make a big impact, like lighting a candle in the evenings. Here are some things worth buying to cozy up your style and your home.
Things I’m buying this month:
Candles - can you ever have enough?
Ordering more of these because we’re obsessed.
These wide-leg trousers may be a stretch for me, but I’m trying a new style.
These pillow covers are an easy way to shift your decor without adding any stereotypical fall decor
I literally crave this in a bath when it gets cold.
Ever since we found mold in our old washing machine, I’ve become more aware of cleaning it regularly. I’ve recently been using this.
You can’t go wrong with a good, cozy throw. I just got one of these viral throws to try. Will it be worth it?
That’s my September story edit. It’s not a resolution or a rulebook. Just a direction. What’s yours going to be?