Permission to Pause: Taking a Break without Guilt

Do you dare to stop and pause?

Do you feel guilty when you take a break?

Do you need permission to enjoy a “me-time”?

I am kind of going through a funk, where I am doing a little above minimum and constantly procrastinating, then feeling guilty for not being productive and wasting time (scrolling through social media). I feel there are many things on my plate, big rocks and small pebbles, crowding my life. I spend almost as much time and energy attempting to do my work as avoiding them, especially when they don’t have urgent deadlines.

Rest is God’s Design

During this time, God is reminding me that He has established a time to work and a time to rest, just like what He did in the creation of the world. Our bodies are designed to rest after work, or it will break down and insist upon it. There is always enough time to do the work God has assigned to us. So if we are feeling overwhelmed, it is a sign that we are overloading ourselves with non-essential work and/or inundated with distractions.

“On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.”

— Genesis 2:2 (NLT)​

Jesus Invites us to Rest

In this hectic life, we are constantly striving. It has become a norm – we sometimes forget to ask what are we really striving for. Jesus is inviting us and giving us permission to take a break from the hustle bustle of life. He invites us to rest and trust in His providence, His protection and in His timing.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

— Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Stillness Reveals God’s Presence

In the midst of all the noise, it is only in the stillness that we can listen to the soft whisper of God’s voice. He wants us to be still in His presence. He wants us to experience Him in the stillness.

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

— Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: give yourself permission to take a break without guilt, and be still in God’s presence as He refreshes your soul.

Stuck for 38 Years? Get Up and Walk

Have you been stuck so long and you can’t remember what it was like before being stuck? Or are you waiting for the perfect time or circumstances to get unstuck?

The Guy at the Pool of Bethesda

This is the Bible story of a guy who was sick for 38 years, who tried without success to enter the Pool of Bethesda to get healed. I couldn’t help but wonder, how on earth could he be stuck for so long?! Then I realize: it might not be 38 years, but there are some areas of my life that I have been stuck for the longest time!

Jesus’ Question

Jesus asked the man: Do you want to be well? John 5:6

It might seem obvious, but the man didn’t answer Jesus in the affirmative. He replied, “I have no one to help me… Someone else goes down ahead of me” – John 5:7

I can’t help feeling this reply is so familiar! We always find excuses or justification for being stuck. This begs the question: do we really want to be healed? Have we been so comfortable being stuck, and our identity has become ingrained in it, that we unconsciously sabotage our efforts towards healing? Has the mat we are lying on become our so-called “security blanket”, like how a child clings to his/her security blanket for comfort and security?

Jesus’ Command

Then Jesus said to him, “Get Up! Pick up your mat and walk” – John 5:8

The man didn’t need the Pool of Bethesda, because he has Jesus to heal him. All that is required is his obedience – to get up, pick up his mat and walk.

All of us have our little “mats” that we are lying on and keeping us stuck – limiting beliefs, fear of change or fear of failure, past hurts and unforgiveness, waiting for perfect conditions, relying on others to help us, etc. And we have our metaphorical “Pool of Bethesda” – external circumstances, traditions or rituals that we rely on.

What Jesus is commanding us to do is to get up from lying on the fake “security blanket” mat and walk in obedience and faithfulness to God. Then true healing comes, and with it, freedom.

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: Get Up! Pick up your mat and walk.

From Scarcity to Blessed Abundance

I started my personal blog in 2019 as a gift to myself – and to share my journey from scarcity to abundance. I was always worried about money, and anxious about almost everything. So when God revealed Michael Hyatt’s article, “Perceived Scarcity in a World of Outrageous Abundance” – I had an epiphany!

Perceived Scarcity

Social media is a constant reminder of what we think we’re missing out – vacations, promotions, and achievements that others are posting on their social media. We compare other people’s highlight reels with our mundane daily lives, and feel that we are lacking, or not good enough.

It is a perceived scarcity because we fail to recognise the many blessings and achievements we have. When we look back at how far we have travelled, we should be so proud of what we have achieved. We are constantly worried about being good-enough, achieving-enough, and social media-worthy! We fail to remember – we have our own paths and our standards to live by, not someone else’s! And God has His divine plan for each one of us.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:31-33

Outrageous Abundance

Yes, not just abundance – OUTRAGEOUS ABUNDANCE!!! This really knocked me off my socks. I absolutely loved this idea of Outrageous Abundance. God excels in doing the impossible – and He can certainly do Outrageous Abundance – when we ask for it and seek His will for us.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” – Ephesians 3:20

From Scarcity to Abundance

It was a profound mindset shift – and it is through the Lens of Gratitude that we travel through our lives to make this shift from scarcity to abundance. It is also a call to pursue our boldest wildest divine dreams.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” – Psalm 100:4

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: dare to ask God for – Outrageous Abundance..

The Shift from Let Them to Let Me Be Empowered

Last week, I talked about Mel Robbin’s book, The Let Them Theory. This week, I want to continue on the shift to Let Me – to empower me to grow, to shine and to walk boldly in my divine dream. I know it can be challenging, as I sometimes struggle to get out of my comfort zone.

Let Me Show Up Imperfect but Willing

Most of the time, I would prefer to plan properly and get things ready before starting anything. Or maybe it is my excuse for procrastination. God is seeking our obedience, not our effort and skills. In fact, He wants us to obey Him and rely on Him to do His will. I read this quote: God does not call the equipped, He equips those He calls. Therefore, trust God to equip you – just show up and do whatever He asks you to do. He is a God of “Mission Impossible” – so be willing to do the impossible and give Him all the glory for HIS great works (yes, not my works).

Let Me trust and obey God.

Let Me show up and be empowered.

Let Me learn and grow.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

Let Me Shine Unapologetically

Sometimes, it seems safer in the shadow, than to be in the spotlight. We become comfortable in the shadow, as it can be quite uncomfortable to be in the spotlight. Not only that, the shadow also keeps people around us comfortable.

Yet God has called us to shine – to reflect God’s glory in our lives. We are God’s masterpiece. We are called to live big, audacious and bold lives. He gives us divine dreams to pursue boldly, even outrageously. Yet, too often, we shrink to fit into our limited beliefs and the expectations of people around us. How are we giving glory to God when we continue to stay in the shadows?

Let Me Shine.

Let Me Be Unapologetic.

Let Me Level Up.

“For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…” — Ephesians 2:10

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: trust and obey God wholeheartedly – to pursue your boldest and wildest dreams, so that you can shine unapologetically and give glory to Him.

Let Them: The Freedom of Letting Go What You Can’t Control

Last week, I read Mel Robbin’s book, The Let Them Theory. I was quite blown away by the simplicity and impact of her theory. People all over the world are raving about it, even having tattoos of “Let Them”. She has made it so practical and easy to understand. For me, I became more aware of the stress and frustration of wanting to control – and learning to let go of it. For my faith, it meant letting go and letting God.

Let Them Be Who They Are – and Be Free from the need to fix them

Mel Robbins said that human beings have a hardwired need for control. With that, comes the need to repair, fix and change people. Her theory advocates to simply let people be who they are, thereby freeing you from the responsibility of changing their behaviour, and you can let go of the frustration of trying to change people, which is an impossible task.

Let Them disagree.

Let Them talk or say whatever they want.

Let Them go or do whatever they want.

What we gain is the emotional peace, self-respect and healthier relationships, where love is not based on control, but on freedom.

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)

Let Me be True to Who God Called Me to Be

The other side of the coin for the Let Them Theory is – Let Me. It is to remind myself – to give myself permission to grow, to be who I am, and to walk in God’s calling for my life

Let Me choose peace over people pleasing.

Let Me set boundaries without guilt.

Let Me make my decisions with courage.

What we gain here is boldness, self-compassion and alignment with God’s calling for our lives.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10)

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: to embrace the Let Them theory of choosing peace over pressure, growth over control, and freedom over frustration. Then Let Me take back control of my life and be the best version of me.

Sowing and Reaping in God’s Economy

Have you heard of the saying: “you reap what you sow”?

Are you still waiting for your financial breakthrough?

Do you think God even cares about your finances?

In the world, we either work hard for our money or invest in businesses, unless you’re fortunate enough to inherit vast amounts of money. We want to make money, buy the things we want and be happy. Sadly, it doesn’t always work out that way.

In God’s economy, He operates under the Law of Sowing and Reaping – like how a farmer sows his seeds to get his harvest. You reap the harvest based on the seed that you sow, and it takes time from sowing to reaping.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (Galatians 6:7).

Sowing in Faith Activates God’s Economy

I used to worry excessively about money. Then God convicted me to tithe. God doesn’t need my money, but tithing was an exercise of my faith to trust God to provide for me – especially when I was going through some financial crisis. He showed me that holding back out of fear leads to lack, but generosity leads to abundance.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. (Luke 6:38)

The Hidden Key to Living Your Dreams

What excited me when watching several of Terri Saville Foy’s videos was her message on sowing your seed whenever or wherever you have a need. She said, you must sow your seed for each of your dreams and name the seed so that you will recognise the harvest when it comes. When you donate to God’s Kingdom, you are opening wide the door for God to give in return. When you invest in someone else’s dream, you are helping them as much as helping yourself. Sowing your seed according to your dream is how you get God’s attention to bring forth His blessings for your dreams.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:24-25)

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: sow your seed and give generously as you trust in God’s protection, provision and abundance.

The Hidden Fear Behind Change

This is one of my favourite quote – by Marianne Williamson:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

For me, the real question is: Who am I NOT to be? Why I am shrinking and playing small to fit the mould that my society, friends and family have so comfortably put me into – the person that they are so familiar with?

My Identity in Christ

I am a child of God. He has created me with His purpose and has great plans for me. God has created me to shine brightly in a world of darkness and fear. God has given me the power of the Holy Spirit to manifest His Love.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

From Fear to Faith

Sometimes, it is not our fear of failure holding us back, but our fear of success! We need to step out of our comfort zone, and to leap in faith into the exciting and wild adventure ride that God has prepared of us.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV)

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: step out of your shadow and into your light. Have faith in God that He wants so much more for you!

When God Makes You Wait

Have you waited for a prayer for a long time?

Have you asked God why your prayer has not been answered?

Have you ever wondered if God has forgotten your prayer?

In our world of instant gratification, our timing rarely matches God’s timing. We expect God to answer our prayers in our way, in our timing. And when God fall short of our expectation, we are disappointed with Him. For me, waiting on God’s timing is a constant struggle as I wonder if He has forgotten about my prayer. I am usually tempted to wonder if I have heard God “right” and start doubting.

God Prepares us while we wait

What we don’t realize is that God’s timing has a purpose – He is preparing us through a season of reflection, growth and sometimes, suffering. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” (Lamentations 3:25)

God Trains us in the delay

What seems like a delay in our prayer is actually a training ground for God to teach us patience, trust and wisdom. Joseph endured betrayal, slavery and imprisonment for 13 years before he was promoted to be the second-in-command in Egypt.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3)

The Longer the journey, the greater the Purpose

Like any travels that we prepare for, the further and longer the journey, the more we have to prepare for it. Similarly, the greater the purpose, the longer God prepares us. If you feel like you’re in a season of waiting, trust that God is orchestrating His plan behind the scene. He is preparing you because your journey is worth the wait. David was anointed as king as a teenager, but had to wait years – facing battles, rejection and hardship – before taking the throne as king.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

This is my invitation to you today: trust that God is preparing you for something far greater than you can imagine.

The Goal of Repairing Relationships – No Regrets

How to repair broken relationships?

How do we avoid the temptation to get back at someone who has hurt us?

How often do we blame others for the breakdown of our relationship?

I was listening to Andy Stanley’s podcast entitled, How to Start Repairing Broken Relationships? The goal is: No Regrets. In his words, do everything within your power to reconcile so that, no matter the outcome, you won’t look back in regret.

What was counterintuitive was that the goal of repairing our relationships is not reconciliation – The reason is that this creates an agenda for us. This revelation was an eye opener for me.

Take Responsibility for Our Part

This is the hard part – taking responsibility for our part in our relationships with our spouse, family or friends. We tend to feel offended or wronged, and seek to avenge for the hurt, pain, and betrayal we suffered. More often than not, we do not see how we can be responsible for the pain inflicted upon us.

”Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?.” (Matthew 7:3)

Making the First Move

When we humble ourselves, God will reveal to us the truth about ourselves and our part in the breakdown of the relationship. It is usually our pride that convinces us we are the innocent victim. It takes courage to make the first move, regardless of who is in the wrong.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23)

Trust God in the Path of Healing

One of the fear of making the first move is that we might not get the outcome we expect. That’s the part where Andy mentioned that we not should approach it with the agenda of reconciliation. Our part is do whatever we can so that we don’t regret when it’s too late. Then leave the outcome to God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not in your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

This is my invitation to you today: humble yourself before God to seek His wisdom in repairing your broken relationships and trust in God.

Unlocking God’s Favour in Your Life

I recently watched Terri Saville Foy’s videos on God’s favour – she spoke enthusiastically how all of us could receive God’s favour. I was hooked!

What is God’s favour?

God’s favour is His supernatural grace that position us for opportunities beyond our ability. It’s when things happen for you, instead of by you.

In the Bible, we see these examples:

  • Esther found favour with the king and saved her people (Esther 2:17)
  • Joseph was promoted from the prison to the palace (Genesis 39:21)
  • Mary was chosen to carry Jesus because she was “highly favoured” (Luke 1:28)

However, God’s favour is for everyone – we just need to believe it’s ours to receive.

“For you, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favour You will surround him as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12).

Recognising God’s Favour in Your life

Sometimes, we experience favour without even realising it—divine protection, unexpected blessings, or meeting the right person at the right time. It is not a coincidence, but a God-incidence! And when we acknowledge even the smallest favour, we attract even more of it in our lives.

These are signs of God’s favour in our life:

  • Unexpected wins or opportunities beyond our expectations
  • Connection with people or resources that we need
  • Doing impossible things that only God can do, like how I published my book in 52 days

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless” (Psalm 84:11, NIV)

How to Activate God’s Favour in Your Life

Terri shared how to activate God’s favour in the following ways:

  • Speak Favour over Yourself – declare God’s promises daily
  • Expect Favour– live with expectation that God is orchestrating His divine plan for you
  • Sow Seeds of Favour – bless others, show kindness and give generously, knowing that God multiples what you give
  • Stay obedient to God’s Direction – align your actions and purpose in obedience to God

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV)

This is my invitation to you today: recognise, declare and expect God’s favour, and align ourselves with His principles, so that we can walk in His blessings.

Redeem Time: Wisdom from Your Future Self

Time is our most valuable resource, yet it’s often the easiest to waste. We are constantly distracted by hundred and one “shiny” things. We keep ourselves busy with countless things that seem “important” but have no lasting purpose. We rush for “urgent” things only to procrastinate on what truly matters, like our health. We are fooled into believing “The Myth of Tomorrow” – that we always have tomorrow.

Let’s invite our Future Self to grant us the wisdom of redeeming our time:

  1. Redeem Time by Focusing on What Truly Matters
    How do you envision yourself in 1, 5 or 10 years’ time? How are you going to achieve that vision? How do you pursue the abundant life that God has prepared for you? Start planning for the fulfilment of that vision and work towards it intentionally.
    “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
  2. Redeem Time through Bold Faith in God
    We waste so much time fretting and fearing the worst when pursuing our dreams. However, when God gives us His divine dream, He makes the impossible possible. He invites us to take the leap of faith in Him and dare to have impossible dreams, strengthening our faith through boldness and audacity.
    “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
  3. Redeem Time by Learning from Setbacks
    Our Future Self can remind us that our setbacks are not wasted time if we learn from our setbacks and grow in maturity and wisdom. Setbacks can also direct us to new opportunities and let go of what did not serve us any longer. God always turn our greatest setbacks into precious lessons that help us grow extraordinarily. God redeems us and restores us from our lowest depths to our greatest heights.
    “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

This is my invitation to you today: redeem your precious time through the wisdom of your Future Self – Focus on what truly matters, be bold in your faith and embrace setbacks as lessons for growth.

The Courage to Pause: Find Strength in Stillness

Courage is usually associated with doing big bold things. Today, I want to talk about the Courage to PAUSE – to stop where we are or what we are doing – and to reflect.

Why is it good to sometimes pause?

  1. Pause to Reflect on God’s Purpose
    In our bid to pursue our dream, we sometimes lose our way. It is always good to pause along the way, to realign with God’s purpose and to review our progress to see if we are still on the right path. It is easy to detour or get distracted or get sidetracked from God’s purpose. Hitting pause gives us a chance to review and realign our plans with God’s purpose. It is in the stillness that you can hear the soft whisper of God’s voice.
    “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
  2. The Strength to Wait in Faith
    Sometimes we become impatient with our progress and feel we can’t afford to wait, especially when we are waiting on God’s timing. Waiting on God is His way of strengthening our faith – as we trust Him in the waiting. Rest assured, He is working behind the scene to prepare us. Just like brewing soup takes time to extract its flavours, growing in maturity takes time and patience.
    “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)
  3. Rest as a Source of Courage
    God sometimes call us to rest, but we are reluctant to do so. We feel guilty when we rest, so we continue to push ourselves. However, rest is necessary to restore our strength and creativity. Rest gives us a way to step back so that we can see that we are moving in the right direction. Rest gives us a moment to review our journey and see the progress we have made. Rest gives us the courage to reflect and make bold decisions intentionally.
    “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

This is my invitation to you today: have the courage to pause and find the strength in your stillness.

The Power of Micro-Clarity: Small Choices, Big Impact

Do you feel overwhelmed in achieving your dream? Or feel stuck figuring out how to start, or how to proceed?

It is exciting to pursue a dream, but sometimes, it can get overwhelming. We sometimes can’t see the big picture yet, or visualize all the steps leading to our dream. So this idea of micro-clarity means that we can make small daily choices that is in alignment with our purpose in the pursuit of our dream. In other words, micro-clarity means: small choices, big impact.

  1. Micro-clarity brings Focus to Daily Life
    Start each day with clarity, intention and focus on what God wants us to do. It starts with daily choices and actions, big and small – that are in alignment with God’s purpose. The best way to start the day is prayer and devotion.

    “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

  2. Micro-clarity creates Consistency in Obedience
    Most of the time, we don’t see the big picture from God. He usually shows one or two steps ahead, expecting us to obey Him as He reveals more steps along the way. He will be faithful to lead and guide us to bigger things.

    “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6, NKJV)

  3. Micro-clarity builds momentum towards Bold Dreams
    It is in our consistent daily choices that builds our momentum towards the bold divine dream. Our obedience and faithfulness can leads us to something far greater than we can ever imagine, so be open and be prepared to God’s abundant blessings.

    “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20, NIV)

Just imagine playing a game: you start with small tasks, which leads to the next level with more challenging tasks. You need to practice regularly to improve your game, and move up the next levels until you reach your game’s ultimate quest.

This is my invitation to you today: start each day focusing on God and what He wants you to do, obey Him faithfully every day and trust that He will bless you beyond your imagination.

Why Defying Limits Starts with Consistently Showing Up for Yourself

Why does it seem that some people can achieve their goals and others would give up too soon? How does some people overcome insurmountable obstacles and others would not even start anything? What is holding us back?

As children, we believe we can do anything. As we grow up, we are fed into the lies of “cannot” and “don’t” and “no”. We inherit our limiting beliefs from our families, friends and society.

I believe one of the ways of defying our limiting beliefs is by consistently showing up for ourself. This is one of my greatest challenge. I find that I have a tendency to go all out to help someone, but usually fall short when it comes to – me.

Hence, God is showing me its importance:

  1. Consistency Builds Strength – it is through consistently showing up for ourselves that we slowly build resilience and inner strength to overcome our limiting beliefs. It is like how we need regular exercise to build up strong muscles and improve fitness.

    ”Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

  2. Consistency Overcomes Fear – we commit to daily actions to overcome our fear, hesitation and procrastination, by trusting that God goes before us to show us the path and He stays closely with us in our journey.

    “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

  3. Consistency Honours God’s Purpose – we honour God by showing up for His purpose for our life. When God called Gideon, he was reluctant as he felt unworthy and unqualified, being the weakest in his family and his family being the weakest tribe in Israel. God gave Gideon a new identity, as a “mighty warrior”. Then God sent him to show up with His strength to overcome their enemy.

    ”The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?'”

This is my invitation to you today: trust God daily to help you to overcome your limiting beliefs and to show up consistently.

Starting a New Chapter with Courage

What are your dreams and hopes for 2025?

What new chapters are you starting in 2025?

What do you want to achieve by December 2025?

Starting a new chapter in life requires courage – courage to dream boldly, courage to defy limiting beliefs, and courage to act consistently, especially when the going gets tough.

Start a new chapter is liken to painting your first stroke on a blank canvas:

  1. Where to put the first few strokes? Always start with small steps – steps that you can start on today. Seek God’s wisdom to lead and guide you, as He will always establish your plans.

    Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”

  2. What if I make a mistake? It’s okay to make mistake. In fact, the faster we make mistakes, the faster we learn and improve. Change your mindset of making mistakes to learning from mistakes and seeking continuous improvement. Learn to embrace imperfection and go with “good enough” to keep the momentum, instead of being stuck with perfect.

    Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

  3. What if it doesn’t turn out alright? It is most likely going to turn out quite different from when you start out, but that’s part of the adventure. You trust in the process, and sometimes the winding path will lead you somewhere unexpected. Nevertheless, know that God is able to do more than what you can ever imagine. When He puts a divine dream in your heart, He will certainly bless your journey.

    Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

This is my invitation to you today: take courage to pursue your divine dreams and trust in God to establish your ways, knowing that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than you can ever imagine.

Start 2025 Strong: Dream Boldly with Clarity

As we start an exciting year ahead, we are full of possibilities and new beginnings. It is also a time of pursuing bold dreams for the year, letting go of the things that used to hold us back in the past year(s).

The idea of dreaming boldly starts with clarity – being clear of what the bold dream that makes us excited, and why it matters to us so much. This clarity will fuel us to pursue our dream, and sets the direction of our new path. More importantly, this clarity identifies our “why” for pursuing our bold dream – which will sustain us when the going gets tough.

This is how we gain this clarity for your bold dream:

1. Reflect on your current situation – where in my life do I feel stuck, stagnant or misaligned? Are you restless for something more, or something better, or something new? What is holding you back? What can you do to overcome your limiting beliefs?

2. Visualise your Ideal Future – what do you want to achieve at the end of the year? Imagine it is December 2025 – what would bring you the most fulfilment, satisfaction and pride for your achievements? Imagine in great detail how this ideal future look like, feel like, even taste like!

3. Write down your Bold Dream – My Bold Dream for 2025 is… Next write down why it is important for you – the deep longing for it and what it truly means to you. And lastly, write down the steps you can take in pursuit of your bold dream. You don’t have to write down everything, as you will eventually figure out the steps as you go along. You just need to write down the first few steps to start.

My bold dream for 2025 is to be a speaker.

This dream matters to me as I want to share my key message:

Dream Boldly – Discover New Chapters – Defy Limits.

At the same time, I want to share my framework of Clarity – Courage – Consistency.

This is my invitation to you today: write down your bold dream and why it matters to you, and list the first few steps to achieve your dream.

How 2024 Shaped My Framework: Clarity, Courage and Consistency

As you look back on this year, what moments stood out the most—those that challenged you, grew you, or filled your heart with gratitude?

At the beginning of the year, I made a decision to post my blog every week. I wasn’t that confident I would make it through the year. Now, on week 52, I am proud to say that I have posted my blog every Monday (maybe a little past midnight on a few rare occasions) this whole year.

I am most grateful for this “win” in my life, as I can proudly pat myself on my back for keeping my word to post every Monday. It has challenged me, I have grown through my writing, and I am most grateful for the feedback I get from my friends for my posts.

In the process, it has shaped my 3C Framework:

  1. Clarity – knowing what I want and why
    I want to post my blog every Monday, as I want to share my insights and inspire others to pursue their dreams
  2. Courage – taking courage to do what I want
    I had announced I would post every week in my blog, even though I was very hesitant at first. Taking that first step was a leap of faith – faith that God would see me through and reveal to me what He wants me to write every week. There were weeks when I felt it was not “perfect” – I have to overcome my doubts and the fear of whether it is “good enough” to post. Just Do It!
  3. Consistency – show up and do the work
    It has become a habit to post every Monday. So I am always on the lookout for things to share, e.g. books or videos. There are times when something cropped up on a Monday, but I would make a decision to post, not wanting to miss a single Monday. Once I have made that decision, I will find ways to make it happen. Show up, whether you feel like it.

This is my invitation to you today: to get crystal clear on what you truly want, summon the courage to pursue it boldly, and stay consistent in your efforts to make it a reality.

Would You Get Rejected on Purpose?

Have you been rejected before? Do you fear rejection? Do you avoid rejection at all costs?

I recently watched an Instagram post by Maureen Evelyn, who created the rejecto app (I have not tried it yet). She decided to make it a challenging game to get rejected everyday. She even applied to Harvard to get rejected, but she was waitlisted instead! She purposely did crazy things to get rejected – to get herself out of her comfort zone and try new things, without letting her fear of rejection stop her.

Her mindset posed a reflective question to me:

What if rejection wasn’t something to fear, but something to seek?”

You could embrace rejection in practical ways:

  1. Set Rejection Goals – like what Maureen is doing with her app, set rejection goals to achieve every day or week, make it into a game and get over the fear and embarrassment! If possible, make it fun or funny!
  2. Celebrate Every “No” – celebrate overcoming your fear, and let it be a stepping stone towards your goals, and cheer yourself for taking the courage in the first place.
  3. Reflect and Learn – ask yourself what you can learn from the experience and how to improve next time, you can learn to turn every rejection into a lesson.

You can start with small rejections. Every rejection helps you to desensitise from the fear, embarrassment and judgment of rejection. Eventually, you will build the muscles of courage to take bold actions towards your goals and dreams.

I believe that this Power of Seeking Rejection can help you overcome your fears and build resilience. In fact, it can lead to unexpected opportunities, learning and growth. By overcoming my fear of rejection and impostor syndrome, I have published not one, but three books, in the past two years!

This is my invitation to you today: challenge yourself to get rejected on a regular basis, build your muscles to combat rejection, and take action to pursue your boldest dreams!