I don’t know about y’all, but when I got on Instagram yesterday, the vast majority of my feed was full of images telling me I should “turn on notifications” and “follow along”, or frustrated rants about Instagram’s new algorithm updates.
And while I do understand and relate that it can be frustrating to adapt to something new, there are a few reasons why I’m not even going to allow myself to be concerned (or consumed) with it!
First of all, we should ALWAYS be growing.
Yep, I know! Change + growth can be tough! But that’s what makes us GOOD at what we do. If your small business relies solely on a social media platform to keep you going, I would recommend reevaluating some things. Do I love Instagram and has it opened doors for me to connect with some amazing people + clients? Yes! But is it the only reason why I have business? No. Change can be scary because it’s new and different. But if we adjust our perspective about change, it can actually propel us to even greater things. Growth is cultivated when we are pushed out of our comfort zones.
I’m not the owner of my business – therefore, I don’t carry the weight of it.
Okay, I know that sounds weird, because on every legal document for Jessica Lauren Photography, I am the owner and operator. But truthfully, my business is not my own – it’s the Lord’s. I don’t have to carry the weight of, “oh my gosh what if nobody every sees my images anymore and I never book a bride again?!” because I’m not trusting in myself to provide. That’s all GOD’S doing. Now – does that mean I can be complacent and be lazy and not do everything in my power to run a successful business? No. The good Lord has equipped me with workings hands, a brain to think, and resources to use! But as long as I’m working hard, I can surrender the rest to Him.
I was talking with a sweet friend on the phone last night, and we were talking about “growing up” and the crazy, weird things you have to do as an adult, like start a retirement fund and get life insurance (what?!) it gets daunting that everything revolves around money. It all seems like such a fruitless endeavor sometimes. And she said to me, “God didn’t even create money. It’s a silly thing us humans created to put value on things. But how petty is that to God?” and it’s just so true. Money is just money. We want more business because we want more money because then we feel like we will have rest, security, and fulfillment. But it’s just not true. My joy, my success, my security – it doesn’t lie in my business. It lies within my precious Savior, Jesus Christ. And when that is the heartbeat of my business, Instagram algorithms don’t really matter. It’s just a new opportunity to grow and build trust in the REAL Owner of my business.
So take the new Instagram update (or ANY kind of change in your life) and create something even greater than ever before. Get stoked about new opportunities! Don’t live your life in fear – you don’t have time for that nonsense. ;)
Much love,
Jessica Lauren
