Recently, when debating a wise answer to a professional invitation, a seasoned-at-life family member posed the question to me, “Will it be a burden or a joy?” My initial response was, “Both!” However, as I ponder both the opportunity and the question, a part of me feels as if I am Drowning in Doubt. These emotions are not surprising to me as I have been walking through a very interesting season, as referenced in previous posts such as Raging Seas and Never Let Go; yet I deeply wonder “What’s the wise thing to do?” as Andy Stanley has burned into my mind to ask when facing a crossroads. Accepting this invitation means closer interactions with people I admire and cherish, the potential to influence emerging sport professionals, and embracing a challenge outside my comfort zone. Nevertheless, the reality emerges that I will be asked to invest valuable resources such as time, energy, and finances over an extended period of time, and this reality cannot be brushed aside.
So, the researcher in me starts digging through the beneficial wisdom I have found in so many resources over the last few years in efforts to rise above the feeling of Drowning in Doubt and to find answers to the two questions mentioned above. Although I treasure the guidance from many wise leaders, I admit to being drawn to authors who incorporate their faith and principles from Scripture into their philosophies of decision making, so let’s delve into Cloud and Thompson’s Boundaries. Based on the title, you can infer that I am aware that if I hope to establish a flourishing life, then creating a Habit of Margin is a necessary step. Cloud and Thompson encourage readers to grasp the importance that the absence of margin can easily lead to burnout for many people in today’s busy world.
In the opening chapters, Cloud and Thompson share, “It takes wisdom to know what we should be doing and what we shouldn’t. We can’t do everything…Just as homeowners set physical property lines around their land, we need to set mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual boundaries for our lives to help us distinguish what is our responsibility and what isn’t…In the physical world, boundaries are easy to see. Fences, signs, walls, moats with alligators, manicured lawns, or hedges are all physical boundaries…In the spiritual world, boundaries are just as real, but often harder to see…these boundaries define your soul, and they help you guard it and maintain it (Prov. 4:23).”
So, if I’m Drowning in Doubt about making the best decision, how can I implement the strategies outlined by Cloud and Thompson to establish the necessary boundaries so that the investment of my time, energy, and finances are focused clearly on essential personal, professional, and spiritual goals? Readers, like myself, are encouraged to consider the following when navigating this process: “address your real need; allow yourself to fail; listen to empathetic feedback from others; welcome consequences as a teacher; and surround yourself with people who are loving and supportive.” Some of these steps are easier to traverse than others. It was a simple process to reach out to supportive people and ask them to pray that the Lord will offer me guidance on the wise thing to do. If I’m willing to take a risk (kryptonite for Enneagram 5s) and not succumb to fear of failure, then the Lord might just Teach Me some valuable lessons during the endeavor. If I take the time to implement these strategies, I may no longer be Drowning in Doubt, but I’m still not confident that I can clearly see Beyond the Headlights.
In the meantime, until a clear answer emerges, I am going to choose to Be Still, to seek guidance from others and my Lord, and to create a list that weighs the pros and cons of accepting the invitation. Perhaps both the joys and burdens will be evident. Perhaps clarity will come.
In the comments below I ask you to share how you managed to navigate your way through difficult decisions, especially when those obstacles had you Drowning in Doubt.
References:
Flourishing @ Life 
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