Breaking free from the hustle
We are living in a world that glorifies the hustle. A world that tells us we need to make ourselves known and achieve a standard of success that even the billionaires don’t believe they have reached. We are a world of individuals with overwhelmed schedules and underwhelmed souls.
As an overachiever, Brooke Peterson, founder of Well Women Co, never met a goal she couldn’t beat. Her drive, grit, and tenacity brought her much success in the world’s eyes, but stress and strife were a constant. After a month-long sabbatical, Brooke realized God was calling her to a different life, where success meant something so much more. Beyond the hustle, beyond the stress, beyond the internal burdens of the world’s success.
About Brooke
Brooke D. Peterson is the founder and Chief Restoration Officer of Well Women Co and author of Food Freedom: Stop Hiding & Uncover Who You’re Meant to Be, and the host of Well Women Co Podcast living in Minneapolis, MN. She savors everyday adventures and green smoothies with her husband of 8 years and 5-year-old daughter. Brooke is on a mission to inspire women to cultivate Christ-centered faith and holistic wellbeing through authentic community and practical resources.
As an athlete through and through, Brooke’s driven nature lead her to success on the field and off the field. After listening to God’s promptings to change her career course from a hairstylist to ministry school, she ultimately found herself in a sales position where she achieved much success, at the cost of her health. It wasn’t until Brooke’s daughter was born that she decided to break free from the hustle and slow down. But it didn’t last long.
When Brooke’s daughter was 3-months-old, the hustle started all over again as she promoted her book, developed her podcast and launched her business, Well Women Co. “Every time she napped, I was like, ‘How much work can I get in?’” The hustle to fit it all in as a business owner and stay-at-home mom was evident even with her young daughter, “The first three years of my daughter’s life, she didn’t like me. We were fine, but there were literally times where she just… she didn’t like me. She wanted to be with dad. Because every time she was with me, I was anxious. I was like, OK, when can I give you something where you’ll be occupied long enough for me to accomplish something.”
After her most successful year of business, Brooke decided to take a month-long sabbatical to enjoy life and her family. In the last week of her sabbatical, God revealed His desire for her to lay it all down, “I felt such a clear sense from Him that He said, Brooke, I am re-assigning you to your house and to your family, and I’m re-assigning you to serve the body of Christ.”
In the past year, Brooke has had to learn how to reprogram her overachiever, driven nature and channel it into something that brings herself and God joy. Breaking free from the hustle has not been an easy task, and she has often had to fight periods of loneliness in the waiting, but Brooke has found four questions that have helped her during this time of slowing down and refocusing.
- Have you done the last thing the Lord asked you to do? Think back to the last time you heard clearly from God, and ask yourself if you have done what He asked you to do.
- Are you ignoring life’s distractions? Stay in your lane, set your gaze on the path before you, and be very intentional in staying on your path.
- Are you stewarding what is in your hands right now? Are you doing the best you can in your current job, in your home, and with your health? In the waiting, make sure you are still giving your best but not draining all your energy.
- Do you have great mentorship and community? Gather with a community of women, your local church, or your family and friends. Don’t hide out and isolate. Bring community around you during the journey.
At the proper time, God will provide you with the answers you need to realign your life and yet still achieve a greater purpose. His desire for us is to succeed and prosper and do it in good health while our soul also prospers. “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].” 3 John 1:2 (AMP)
More about this episode
Brooke’s journey of breaking free from the hustle is not over, but her wisdom and knowledge from her experiences are inspiring. Living a life free from the need to perform is the type of peaceful life God wants to give you. For more on Brooke’s story and tangible ways to start breaking free from the hustle, check out Episode 17 of the Faith Inspired Podcast.
Connect with Brooke via Instagram @wellwomenco or on Facebook
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Goodies mention in this episode
Food Freedom: Stop Hiding & Uncover Who You’re Meant to Be
Six Steps to a Miracle Morning
Embraced: 100 Devotionals to Know God Is Holding You Close
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