Have you seen those posts on Instagram and TikTok about quick and easy ways to succeed? “Here’s how I got 10,000 followers in just TWO weeks!” Or “Here’s how you can make $30,000 blogging in only one month!” While I know these influencers mean well (and perhaps do offer good advice), their “solutions” to success have often made me feel like I’m not doing enough. When I see them cross my feed, I can’t help but think, “Oh my gosh, I only have 100 followers. I haven’t made that much money on my Etsy shop. I’m so behind, I’m failing!”
I’ve always been a creative person and a collector of hobbies. I love learning new talents, being resourceful, and turning ordinary items into something larger and beautiful. A few years ago, I decided to launch my Etsy shop to see if I could monetize my beloved hobbies. I told myself that I would just do my best, and if I wasn’t successful, no biggie. As the weeks and months passed, my relaxed attitude transformed into a rigid one. I spent every moment of my free time working on products. The craft that I once found to be a relaxing creative outlet soon became a chore. I meticulously churned out products and Instagram Reels in an attempt to gain traction. I developed a spirit of comparison, noticing how other shops and entrepreneurs appeared more successful than I was. Even if I was successful, I was losing joy in what I used to love.
Then one day, as I was driving through the Michigan countryside, I was hit by a truck that was going 50 mph. In a matter of seconds, I not only lost control of my car, but I also lost control of my life to an extent. Pain radiated from my hip as I limped out of my car and collapsed on the ground. My breathing escalated into hyperventilation. What was wrong with my hip? Did I have a concussion? Was I going to be okay? What did my future hold?
I had gotten so busy with facilitating my own success, I forgot that I am not and cannot be in control of my life. Through this dramatic event, I surprisingly experienced God’s presence. I saw God in the volunteer firefighter who was miraculously on the scene within seconds of the accident. I clasped God’s hand as a local farmer (who drove his tractor across the field to help us) guided me through grounding techniques to calm my anxiety. I entrusted my care to God through the EMTs who treated me with so much kindness and respect. I walked away with minor injuries (praise God!), but I did require some physical therapy for my hip. I encountered God’s healing through the therapists who helped me strengthen my muscles and reduce my pain.
Most people would describe such a horrible accident as exactly that — horrible. But for me, it put me on a path to seek what I needed. Though this incident was quite the speed bump (pun intended) in my life, it provided me with a much-needed slowdown.
In the following months, I took a break from my Etsy shop to focus on my healing. I re-prioritized my life and re-defined what success looked like. The accident was a reminder of how short life is and how it could dramatically change in a second. If this was the case, why was I so concerned about worldly success? I realized that my talents were gifts, blessings in my life for my own delight and joy. But perhaps even more importantly, when I was at my most vulnerable and helpless, I realized how loved and valued I was for more than my gifts.
It’s been a year and a half, and I have picked up my hobbies again and reopened my Etsy shop. But rather than madly scrambling to monetize, I’m uniting my creative energy to God’s. Can I call myself a successful entrepreneur? No, but I’ve found that I don’t need to either. Instead, I am finding richness in rediscovering the joy I once lost — the joy of discovering the creative gifts my Heavenly Father gave me.
