Today’s Gem of Insight #169

Today’s insight journey led me to the idea that even silver linings have silver linings. I was recently thinking back on a challenging situation that I faced not too long ago. I’d just formally launched a new business and was quickly becoming overrun by the many responsibilities that occupy a new entrepreneur’s mind and heart.

Thankfully, I had already taken care of a number of key tasks long before I even realized that starting the business was something that I would actually consider and eventually do, such as create a logo, come up with a catchy name, and even develop a blog with a growing readership.

But little did I know, so much more would be required than that. I faced seemingly ever-multiplying decisions left and right, and I soon reached a point when I began to seriously contemplate my choice to go down that path in the first place. I was reminded of the many reasons I had previously given myself and others for never wanting to launch my own business—the time and effort it takes to even get it off of the ground, the fact that when you start a business you’re essentially launching several sub-businesses at the same time, as you’ll serve as your own marketer, publicist, publisher, CEO, HR representative, and more, and the necessity of constantly networking. Don’t even get me started on that one.

All of this thinking and pressing forward despite the challenges and the odds was taking a toll. I was mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted, and I knew I needed help. And, while in the midst of the swarm of thoughts and ever-surfacing responsibilities, an idea to revisit an app that facilitates people of like purposes and ideas being able to get together in groups came to mind.

At first I wasn’t sure about it, especially considering the fact that when I’d previously used the app it hadn’t really resulted in any benefit to me. And, in full transparency, I was also hesitant to use it again because let’s face it, the world had become even more dangerous, and the Internet was (and still is) an extension of that.

But something inside said to go ahead and give it another try. After all, I was located in a different state than I was when I’d previously used the app, and my motivation for using the app was also a bit different.

So I gave the app another shot, and lo and behold, I found something I’d been missing out on—community. I found groups that were beneficial from a social aspect, as well as others that were geared toward helping with the business or serving as outlets for my hobbies, and others still that were a mixture of all of the above. And there I had it—my silver lining.

And as time went on and I utilized the groups and all that they provided more, I began to become aware of tools and resources that I could check into, learn about, and even try that filled me with more knowledge and experience. They also filled me with questions that then led me to even more tools and resources that ended up, in many ways, serving to meet known needs that I had, and others that I wasn’t even aware of—the silver lining in the silver lining.

I say all this to say that the little blessings that find us when we need them the most oftentimes carry with them a path to even more blessings. It’s up to us to look for them and to be open to them when we encounter them—our own little silver linings and their friends. Are you looking? Good. I am too! Be blessed. #lovebythedrop