Even after my first post addressing the pandemic, I still didn’t think I would be starting off so many posts mentioning COVID. Like it or not though, the virus heard ‘round the world has impacted us all in some fashion and navigating the residual effects it leaves will take some time – and a lot of conversations because, let’s be honest, this has been a difficult season for us.

That being said, regardless of what officials are saying, I’m choosing to have faith and believe that we are on the up and up, however slow of an incline it may be. This space that we’re all in (I’m not sure what to call it, maybe a space of waiting?), it’s not a bad thing. Is it uncomfortable? Absolutely, but is it bad? No. All good things take time and I believe that this virus meant to do us harm will end up making us more resilient and committed to our businesses than ever before.

This is all easy to say now that I’ve had some time to fully process everything (and have a few breakdowns). After the virus made its way through South Carolina, there was a period of a couple of weeks where I felt so overwhelmed and even useless because I had just made it out of a slow season and now, here I was, being forced back into another. I had zero income coming – In fact, my business account hit a dangerous zone where I thought I may have to give up my website for a bit, which meant stopping my blog along with all the other hard work I had poured into creating this. I didn’t qualify for the small business stimulus package, not that I thought that was the path I needed to take. I didn’t have anything on the calendar. Between a pandemic, a civil rights movement, and an election year I wasn’t even sure how to market myself.

I felt stuck. I questioned if I was cut out for this and if I had hit the end of my run as a photographer, or at the very least if I would need to close up shop for a while.

As when I face all difficult situations, I again found myself rocking Layla to sleep and praying for some way to get my business (and myself) going again. I felt it in my heart that the beginning of this was connecting my business with God. I was led to start a simple, online devotional for entrepreneurs. It’s short and sweet, but it’s perspective changing. After reading the first day, where I was reminded that my Father has already given me all the resources and abilities I need to be successful, I knew I was on the right track.

I would wait until I had Layla down for her morning nap, then I would get myself a hot cup of caffeine and sit down with my journal to read the devotional’s daily excerpt, jotting down the key points so I can look back on them later. Each reading spoke volumes into not just my business, but my personal life as well. My favorite was day 7, which talked about the importance of thinking and speaking positively. This resonated so deeply with me, I even made an IG TV about it (you can watch it here). This excerpt addressed what drove me to this point in my business – I let the troubles of the world influence my perspective and my business began to reflect the negative thoughts and words I had been speaking. It’s a great truth that there is power in the tongue, the power of life or death, so it’s important to choose your words wisely!

At the end of the day, my feelings of helplessness wasn’t a virus problem, economy problem, or lack-of-resources problem. They were born out of a perspective problem and you know what happened when I realized this and addressed it? My thoughts changed, the words I spoke over my business and myself changed, and I began to see it reflected in my work.

No matter what business you’re running or what kind of season you’re in right now, personally or professionally, make positive thoughts and intentional affirmations a priority. Whether it’s in the morning before you sit down at your desk, during lunch, or before you close your eyes for the night – Speak life over your business, your relationships, your home, and over yourself. Positive results guaranteed. 🙂

Millennial Kingdom Entrepreneur Devotional
Storyteller App by Morgan Harper Nichols